Finding new music can be a long hard task, very rarely you find something you like from the moment you push play and often anything life changing needs to be listened to multiple times to get on the same wavelength as the artist that wrote it. Don’t even get me started on the crap the “Top 40” pumps in our faces ten times a day… Don’t you just wish you could find something with some real substance, a little thought provoking and yet in a contradicting way be a little light and easy to listen to? For today your search is over; meet Cowboy Dan.

Cowboy Dan is a four piece band from Auckland that formed late last year. Up front, with all the swagger and lead vocals we have Leighton Edwards also playing the guitar (known for his solo work on Folk Cat), Jared Edwards on drums, backup vocals (and sexiness… previously solo career with Harvey Warbanger). Both Edwards boys have come from Nomadic Snails which disbanded when they travelled overseas in 2013 and have teamed back up with Sean Timlin on bass. And Chris Warne on guitar and vocals (who Jared drummed with in Summer Haunts).

They write and play songs that exude both energy and sentiment, but really just make you want to get up and dance the night away. Cowboy Dan’s style is best described as alternative, jangle pop with alt-country rhythms or simply put “Jangly as, Bru!”

Secret Dog Society:  Your first two singles ‘Like Kerouac’ and ‘Happiness’ are quite upbeat and it’s been known to make my toes tap the ground and even dance around, will we hear more songs like this?

Leighton: Yeah, we have a couple of slow builders in our set, but the tendency with this band has been to keep it upbeat and full of energy. It feels good playing live and seeing the dance floor move a little. We still brood and get a little introspective, but we are trying to do so with a little more danceability.

Do you have a first EP or album in the pipeline and due out anytime soon?

We are in the process. We are tossing up between doing an EP or a full album. We have the material for an album and then some. At this point, it’s about whether or not to get carried away with an album or keep it trim as an EP. Regardless, by Christmas this year we will have something physical.

Having an album released at Christmas is a smart business move… and sorts out what I’ll be getting most people as a present. Your first single is called “Like Kerouac” do you want to live a bit like Jack Kerouac?

Sometimes I do. I mean not the dead-at-47-from-alcohol-abuse part, but the freedom to travel and write and live uninhibited by the drudgery of the modern 9-5 shit has a certain romantic appeal, does it not? I guess that’s what ‘Like Kerouac’ is about in essence; a feeling of freedom to move and do whatever, whenever.

I know you used to ride commuter bikes in Melbourne, what sort of bike was it?

It was a Reid Condor road bike. Essentially the biggest piece of mass-produced shit on the market. It did the trick.

They are the perfect commuter bike, in the sense that they don’t cost much. Are you still riding bikes in Auckland?

I am, it’s not quite as carefree riding as it was in Melbourne, but I enjoy it. I have some kind of 80s Japanese bike by Fukaya. It rides, it could use a tune-up, to be honest.

Any tour dates? Or scheduled shows in Auckland? Wellington has some excellent venues that would be great for a band like yourselves… just saying.

Jared’s in the States at the mo so we are in limbo till he is back. Our next gig is on 19^th of August at the Portland Public House in Kingsland, Aucks. We are in the works for a few out-of-town dates. Wellington is on the cards for a little later in the year.

Your new song Happiness is unreal! Congratulations! It really stirs up feelings about my carefree time in my twenties, and your new video clip really adds to this. How did you come up with the idea for the video?

Thanks man! The video is all thanks to the Director Declan Cooke, a wonderful man. He had a listen and we had a chat about the tune and what it meant to us. He pitched the idea and we were sold. It captures the essence of the song perfectly. The ups and downs of travelling and living in your 20s.

If you want to hear more from Cowboy Dan you can check out the usual channels on Facebook, Soundcloud and YouTube. Cheers guys you’ve been great!