Conversations with Dan Hochman

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

Hi Dan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up just south of New York City, I was raised on a melting pot of music. My childhood home was filled with diverse sounds that ranged from Joni Mitchell to Otis Redding. Naturally, a deep affinity for music developed in me which led me to pick up my dad’s guitar for the first time at the age of twelve. At sixteen I formed my first project “Passing Cars” with a group of High school buddies. After college I moved to boulder and formed my second project “The lone bones trio” with fellow singer-songwriters Taylor Tuke and Trace Jory. After that project completed, I decided to want to pursue my creative direction as a solo artist, releasing my first two EP’s hearts alive & Midday muse within a year of each other. I completed my first interstate tour this past June and have my eyes set taking things to the next level in 2023.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If I’m honest, My relationship with being an artist is a complex one. I know that I would be creating art, whether or not I was getting payed for it. For me, it’s a basic nutrient. That said, it’s still a struggle at times to stay focused and inspired. Much of the world we live in still largely undervalues the artist’s role in society. Which is mostly reflected in the lack of robust support systems in place for artists to really flourish. That being said, I feel fortunate that my community has been behind me the whole way. Each one of my albums has been crowdfunded, and I am incredibly grateful for that support.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’d say I’m a soulful singer-songwriter. I say soulful because my music is inspired by the grit of the human experience. I’m not here to make pop hits and I’m okay with that. I’m here to share my heart, my pain, and my tussle with the human experience in a way that ideally inspires my audience to feel more deeply. When I look out into the audience and see teary eyes, wide smiles, and softened gazes, I know that I’ve done my “work in the world”.

I’m most proud of my courage to keep making honest music. It’s vulnerable to stand on a stage and share vulnerable art, but that also feels like the point to me. There was a moment when I was sick with Covid and a 103 fever back in December of Last year. Funnily enough as I was lying there, pretty heavily hallucinating, I kept receiving insights into my life. The one that stuck out to me was that I wasn’t “digging deep enough”. Ever since that realization, I’ve completely shifted gears from creating the art, I though I was supposed to make, to creating that art that is true.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
To me, luck is actually just being in alignment. As of late, I’ve noticed the more I’m in alignment with myself the more the right opportunities seem to present themselves. Currently, I’m at an artist house in Guatemala called “experience house” an opportunity I could have never dreamed of, but I feel came to me as a result of being in alignment. I trust that the more I continue to share myself fully with the world, the more I will meet other humans that are doing the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danhochman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan.hochman/?hl=en
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7HtTx1wffqNseAbZ3vYXvO?si=qleRjmMXT3qZIN1yqF3TNg 

Image Credits
Shay Munroe – Hat Image