Dan Cote

Story

Drummer and Lyricist for the Indie Rock band The Reverse Engineers. My 2 brothers are also in the band and we form a rock trio. I have been hugely influenced by the lyrics and music of Neil Peart. I wouldn't be writing lyrics and playing drums without the inspiration he provided me throughout my music career.

Profile

Instruments

Genres

Influences

Equipment

Languages

What is music to you? What does it give you?

Music is an expression of the mind and spirit. When playing music it elevates me.

What is your music dream?

To be able to make a living making music.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

That's a big question. I can only make changes to what I can control. I'm an optimist and believe that supporting the dreamers, the people with big ideas can change the world.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

Force Ten by Rush

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Rush, The Police, The Fixx, R.E.M., Sting, Midnight Oil, Death Cab for Cutie

What inspires you to make music?

I write lyrics about ideas and stories that I find interesting. Since I'm the drummer in a band, I get the satisfaction of seeing the lyrics come to life in a song.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

Some of my band's lyrics deal with overcoming obstacles. And other songs deal with the hope that things can get better. Some songs are story driven. The power of the individual is evident in our lyrics.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

I enjoy performing in front of an audience. There is nothing the feeling of applause when you know you've put everything into a performance.

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

Streaming is not a musician's income, it should be treated as a way to get exposure. Live performances are one way to earn money. Music licensing is a huge opportunity to make a living. The experience for the listener online could be improved by allowing for a more interactive music experience.

What do you think of Drooble?

I like it so far. The concept of a site where musicians give feedback to other artists and in return you get feedback on your own music is very rewarding. Some of the most supportive music listeners are musicians, so it makes sense to have a social network for musicians.

What frustrates you most as a musician?

There is never enough time to write and record music when you have a day job. I hope to change that in the near future.

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

Yes I do. I try to attend shows of local artists.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

You have to know how to use direct online marketing such as Facebook Business Ad Manager. Basically any online targeted advertising where you can reach your target audience is hugely important. You need to warm up your online audience by advertising. You have to be social media savvy. You have to be patient and not afraid to tell the world about your music.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

Nuns of the Tundra, they have a great Indie rock sound. The Racing Pulses are another Indie rock band with a unique sound.