Daniel Luke is from a family of musicians that includes the riotous Kojaque. His solo debut is an album of beautifully delicate piano pieces
Luke says he began to work on his solo debut, Shadow Dance, just after the band had given up the once-realistic dream of making a living from their music. What mostly inspired Shadow Dance’s beautifully delicate instrumental piano pieces – part Erik Satie and Bill Evans, part vulnerability, meditative and pure – was his decision to take jazz lessons in 2019.
“It started almost by accident, in that over the years I had written little bits and pieces on piano but for no particular reason or purpose. The jazz lessons were just wanting to try something different, but they kicked something off for me. With classical piano, the emphasis is on a different type of creativity that revolves around technique and discipline. For me it isn’t really about creating your own music.
Luke knows that the difference between good propulsive rock songs and genteel neoclassical/ambient pieces is the dividing line between radio play and virtual silence, but he seems a resilient, canny, deft musician who is wisely looking to use Shadow Dance as, among other things, a calling card for soundtrack work. “Its niche neoclassical piano tracks aren’t going to be played on mainstream, daytime radio.
That takes some of the pressure off, he says as he finishes his second flat white. “The goal isn’t to have a hit record but to keep making things I like, which is good music, videos and live shows. I’ll see if I can build it that way.”We said: “Intended as a balm for our times, a quiet, reflective and meditative safe space to take refuge from the commotion. Tracks such as Puzzled Love of the Light and The Front Bench are gorgeous gems to enthral and delight.