Meet Dan Epand | Songwriter, Producer & Drummer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan Epand and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up with music all around me. My dad was a guitar player, then a music journalist (Rolling Stone Magazine), and then eventually worked for Polygram Records to develop their music videos department in the 80s. The first moment I locked eyes on ‘Animal’ on The Muppet Show, I knew I wanted to be a drummer. My Grandma Lou was always making up songs about my siblings and cousins, and my mom would sing me lullabies to sleep while my dad joined along on his guitar. This was an activity that bonded my family together and I saw it was something that we all enjoyed to do from a young age and to this very day.

My musical pursuits brought me from the east coast to the west coast, I joined a band called ‘Nico Vega,’ as the drummer and toured the world fulfilling my childhood dreams of becoming Animal-like on stage. My wife and I met when I was on tour in Texas and she shared a love for music and adventure. We fell in love and were blessed with two amazing kiddos. We were a family on the road, even while pregnant, my wife, a photographer, was often seen climbing around the stage taking pictures of my band and other bands we were on tour with.

When Beckett and Lennon were born they came on tour and took in the rock n’ roll scene. The same magic of music is what brought our whole family together and is our way of connecting with each other.

When my daughter, now 8, was stuck at home during Covid, to blow off steam and to give my wife a break I would bring her into the studio to write songs. The more we built on it, the more we saw the father/daughter duo was something that the world enjoyed and it brought a whole community together. Our project kept building and more parents and kids joined in. We love the way that ‘Homescool’ has connected parents and children together with music. Hence the name, because being HOME is COOL.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The first time my band went on tour, I quickly realized how much time was wasted; hung over, strolling social media. I remember thinking that I could have studied to become a Doctor with the amount of down time, while driving cross country or waiting around before sound checks. I decided after that first tour, that I was always going to have a project during my time on the road.

During the next several years, I made a point to always use my time on the road to take on projects that required me to learn new things like video editing, music production, songwriting, guitar, or piano. So, at this point in my life, I have a pretty diverse set of skills and a broad set of projects on my resume. I am equally a songwriter and producer and directer and editor.

My newest personal project is singing, which gets the biggest workout around bedtime when I put the kids to bed. The truth is, I love to learn, and I think that part of the job of an artist is to find new ways to be inspired.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It’s hard to remember after almost 2 years locked at home!

I would take this friend to Cinespia for a picnic and movie at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. In the morning we would go for a hike at Griffith Park, Mount Wilson or at several of the awesome hikes around the city. We would get sushi in Little Tokyo. We would get dressed up and see a magic show at the Magic Castle. We would go to Matador Beach in Malibu. Then to Venice Beach for some exploring, checking out the skateboard park and then bike along the boardwalk to have dinner at Gjelina.

We also love having people over. So more than likely we would host a party and introduce these visitors to LA by having them meet a bunch of our favorite people sipping mezcal from Highland Park Wines or orange contact wine from Vino Vohre on York.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would LOVE to SHOUTOUT Aja Volkman, my longtime musical partner with Nico Vega & our new project, TWWO. I learned so much through her keen taste and uniquely creative spirit. A lot of my artistic slant I attribute to ways that working with her rubbed off on me. She is also my daughters favorite singer, and if you watch Lennon perform, it’s obvious how much of an influence Aja is on her. I am so grateful to have been in such a longterm partnership that continues to grow in flourish through our different projects together and with raising children. She is a wonderful mother and somehow manages to balance that with an always inspiring creative edge. SHOUTOUT to you AJA!

Website: http://www.danielepand.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan.epand/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielepand

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/depand

Other: https://www.twwoband.com https://homescoolband.com

Image Credits
Photography by: Cameron Jordan