Get To Know – Dana Gavanski

We Say…

Quickly becoming one of the year’s break-out new voices, Toronto-based songwriter Dana Gavanski has been operating in the fringes of the folk scene since her 2017 EP, Spring Demos, which came out on Fox Food Records. Now signed to Full Time Hobby, Dana looks destined for great things, yet it could all have been so different if Dana had stuck with her original plan to follow her father into the film industry. Thankfully film’s loss was music’s gain, after an ex-partner left Dana with a guitar and she began crafting the songs that would maker her name.

This week Dana will share her first release for Full Time Hobby in the shape of a 7″ single, One By One, a track described by Dana as, “a tender embrace of the feeling of being alone in the world, and moving on with it”. The track has a gorgeously wistful quality, the unwavering, stoic vocal accompanied initially by a gentle flutter of acoustic guitar, the whole track gets gradually weirder and more intriguing, as a simplistic, and unusually prominent, bass-line propels the track, while synths and backing vocals drift in and out of earshot. The accompanying B-side, Do You?, is an exploration of moving cities; of struggling to connect with new people and a new place in the world, set to a delightful piece of finger picked guitar and that rich, Joan Baez meets Sharon Van Etten vocal. Not content with all that, Dana also has some upcoming high-profile shows in the UK supporting Chris Cohen and Tomberlin, as well as contributing three songs to the final instalment of the, Song By Toad Split 12″ series. A songwriter as busy as she is brilliant, Dana Gavasnki won’t need any introduction for long.

They Say…

000056 — *Photos by Marija Strajnic- http://www.marijastrajnic.com*

FTR: For those who don’t know who is Dana Gavanski?

Just me at the moment making melancholic weird folky music. Currently working on putting a band together!

FTR: What can you remember about your first show?

It was weird. I wasn’t writing my own songs then but I got asked to play for a private Christmas function – a dinner thing. I put together a three-piece band and played about an hour of just about everything I knew how to play at that time. It was a super awkward experience. I’m not sure anyone knew what was going on.

FTR: Why do you make music? Why not another art form?

It’s really the only thing that’s stuck the strongest throughout all the experimentation. I mean, I’ve dabbled in all kinds of things…I thought I wanted to be a filmmaker for a time. And in a way, I still do and am looking forward to working visually with my songs. But, truth is that, at this moment, I’m just not as focused and determined in other things as I am in music…

FTR: What can people expect from the Dana Gavanski live show?

Hmm. Quiet introspection? A bit of goofiness and crooked smiles.

FTR: What’s next for Dana Gavanski?

Well! I’m gonna be touring the UK in late May. Got some shows supporting Tomberlin and Chris Cohen which I’m really looking forward to! Got some solo shows too in between. I’m also currently working on my first LP and I’m really excited to share it. Lots of touring and songwriting I hope.

They Listen To…