Conversations with Dan Codiga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Codiga.

Hi Dan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

Music was something I started doing at 15. I had a good friend who’s dad was a professional musicians and he would teach us tunes, chords and scales, when we were hanging out at his place. This had a big impact and allowed me to keep growing with music at a formative age. A few of us opened, at various times, for our buddy’s dad at the local bar in town, playing a handful of covers, and I realized I loved the feeling of performing live.

I played in various bands throughout my 20’s, but I knew, over some time, that I wanted to start performing my originals. I started to do my own singer-songwriter thing when I moved to Denver right before the Pandemic.

Others have implied that the genre I’m doing is mostly Americana folk, but I like keeping the audience intrigued, crossing genres some at my live shows.

I’ve been playing shows at different bars and venues in Denver and throughout CO, for a few years now. A couple highlights would be opening for Will Hoge, and Jamie Drake at Lost Lake.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Its been a challenge, but in all the good ways. I’ve had to show up for myself even when there might not be motivation. I’m learning how to talk with the audience in between songs, play smoother when I am playing live, and ultimately have fun performing!

Recording my music has been a process, but one I am growing to really appreciate. The Spot Studios up in Evergreen have been really solid to work with! They’ve had a solid ear for my sound and what I am going for.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a musician in Denver. I play Alt-Country, Blues tunes around town. I’ve been playing solo gigs around Denver and in Colorado for around 3 years now. When talking about music and setting yourself apart, that would be in the eye and ear of the listener.

I’m sure when you listen to me play you can pick out some possible influences, but I always try to have a few slices of myself in every cover I do so I can bring something a little different. And in my originals I try to say something new, but your always going to have some influences from other artists moving through you in some way.

I do a little comedy during my sets to kinda mix things up. In between songs, if your listening, you might catch a joke or 2.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is in the doing. Having your experience. Staying true and working hard on your music. It feels great when others dig your music, but it seems to work out more in the long run, if your writing songs for yourself. Stuff that you enjoy. I feel others can really tell when you give of your true self in your songs.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d_codi/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1XeZmhDzVEtrtz9Lz9rwyr?si=KD6KdkJQSDCTjoXXLuYplA

Image Credits
Ashley Wells-Wood is the photographer.