Melbourne singer-songwriter Daniel Trakell writes soul-nourishing indie-folk music that’ll calm even the most delicate nerves. Today, Trakell has unveiled his first new song of the decade ‘Let Me Be’, and boy is it sonic soup for the restless soul.
The dreamy track is built on a foundation of double-tracked vocals and gentle dreamy acoustic guitar. It’s incredible soothing stuff, that evokes a comforting sense of solitude.
‘Let Me Be’ is the first of a slew of releases we’re set to receive from Trakell in the coming months. To celebrate the release of the single, we asked Daniel to answer a few burning ‘Get To Know’ questions. So make yourself a brew, pop on the track and see what he had to say below.
There is a real 1970’s, Yacht Rock aesthetic to your music. It feels reminiscent yet modern, as if the yardbirds meet Garrett Kato. It is your double-tracked vocals that really create this world for me. Is this something you are actively trying to achieve or is it just happening naturally?
My love of double tracked vocals comes from one of my all time favourite artists Elliott Smith, there’s something I really like about that sound.
How would you describe your music to your grandma?
I don’t know that she would’ve known any references I’d use so I’d probably just play it for her.
So, we are in pretty unprecedented times right now. It’s wild out there. What are you doing to keep yourself from going insane?
Well, I’m only a few days into lockdown as my work just closed on Monday but already I’m finding it hard to resist the urge to go and visit mates to catch up. I’m definitely using the opportunity to work on some new songs and start on books I’ve bought but never gotten around to reading. Other than that I’m getting outside to walk the dogs a couple of times a day, reducing my social media and news intake and slowly working my way through all the booze in my house.
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Is there something, in particular, you wish would ‘Let You Be’ within this track or is it just everyone and everything who is being referred to?
Good question, I think when I wrote it my state of mind was just generally everyone and everything, needing to be left alone and have a break to recharge.
If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life. I call this the Bart Simpson conundrum. What would it be?
I generally do this anyway, for me it’s jeans, Bjenny Montero t-shirt and my LA cap
What is your ideal notion of relaxing?
Staying home, working on music, reading a little and probably watching the Office in between.
One song for:
So my answer for these will be different every single time but at this particular moment it’s these 3 songs:
Relaxing: Arthur Lyman – ‘Yellow Bird’
Dancing: Lou Reed – ‘Charley’s Girl’
Pumping Up: Front End Loader – ‘Pulse’
What’s next on the horizon?
Well, I’ve been sitting on a bunch of songs for a little while and have just written some brand new ones which I’m very excited to say are all coming out this year, one at a time followed by my very first album in October.
