Dan Smith from Siloam Springs, Arkansas is The Listener,
he's also part of the collective Deepspace5. The Listener
used to be in a group called Labklik, together with ILLtrip,
from 1995-2002. The Listener has evolved into a band and is
now called the Listener Project, since September 2007.
Hobby
Dan started to listen to D-Boy's Plantin' A Seed (1989) and
his love for hip hop turned into a hobby, which evolved into
the artist he is now The Listener.
Tools
The Listener is a non-conformist hip hop artist, who uses
storytelling and poetry as his tools for his raps. He
adresses social issues, like the consumer driven society and
the choices people make. This and his indepth lyrics mean it
takes time to digest his songs as a listener. The reward is
a better awareness of the world, man creates or has created
around him.
Ozark Empire
The concept album "Ozark Empire" (2005) tells the story
about a traveling sales agent in knives. He eventually gets
stabbed by his wife with one of his own products. The
following album "Not Waving, Drowning" was meant to tell the
story from the wife's and sons point of view, regarding this
man's grim life of alcohol abuse and women. But this project
turned into a poetry book and spoken word album (2009).
Tour
In 2005 the Listener was on a "Tour of Homes", where he
performed in living rooms of fans' houses all across the
United States. In April 2006 he has traveled to Europe for
his "European Tour of Homes".
Concerts
During the Tour of Homes (2005/2006) The Listener uses
infomercials as a visual enhancement, while performing parts
of his album "Ozark Empire" (2005).
Live band
After his Tour Of Homes a new aspect is added to the live
experience of The Listener. In 2006 the MC is being
accompanied by a live band consisting of a guitar player and
drummer.
Name Change
These new musical dynamics would result in a name change in
September 2007, the solo MC becomes a real band: the
Listener Project.
But due to confusion among fans Dan changed to the original
name again in November 2008: "I've decided (after talking
with everyone on the road) that using the word "Project"
after Listener in the group name has been confusing for a
good amount of people, so I'm going to drop that word. The
project will be known as Listener just like it always has
been."
Listener Project
The Listener Project or the Listener consists of:
- Dan Smith: MC
- Kristen Smith: bass guitar
- Chris Nelson: drums & guitar
The Listener writes the lyrics, while Kristen Smith and
Chris Nelson compose the music.
First release
The band's first release is "Return to Struggleville" in
2007. The record is a remake of the original Ozark Empire
album of 2005 and contains new tracks and music. The album
was first only available at concerts.
DVD
Also a DVD entiled "Asphalt Dreams and Other Secrets"
containing live footage of the band will be released. The
trailers can be seen on the "Return to Struggleville" (2007)
album.
New Album
The Listener's most recent project is called "Not Waving,
Drowning", and the EP "Train Songs" both released in 2009.
The album is released on March 26th, 2009.
The poetry album includes a booklet with the 13 poems. The
recording contains spoken word with no instrumentation.
1. You have never lived because you have never died
2. Falling in love with glaciers
3. Seat belt hands
4. Failing is not just for failures
5. You were a house on fire
6. Save up your hopes friends
7. Maybe we are all beautiful
8. I'd like to offer you my dearest apologies
9. Death by shotgun
10. Put another rock in my hand
11. Stick this in your ear
12. The music that the angels do
13. This is it
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The EP is released on March 26th, 2009.
The recording of the Listener Project celebrates the 5th
year anniversary of the "Train Song". The EP features 5
versions of the song and a music video.
Extras: video, live video, lyrics, original sampley song by
Luxor Star.
1. Train Song (Fienix)
2. Train Song (Live)
3. Train Song (Dust)
4. Train Song (Spoken)
5. Train Song (Original)
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The album is released on September 14th, 2007.
It was first only available at concerts, until the
international releasedate of January 14th, 2008.
The enhanced CD is a remake of the original Ozark Empire
album (2005) and is the first release as the Listener
Project. It also contains trailers of the upcoming DVD
"Asphalt Dreams and Other Secrets". The release of January
14th, 2008 was made in a first pressing of 1.000 copies.
Credits
All songs written and recorded by: Dan Smith, Christin
Nelson & Kristen Smith.
Addition percussion on tracks 2 & 6 by W. Andrew Gibbens.
1. Death by Shotgun
2. Ozark Empire, or a Snake Oil Salesman Comes to Your
Town
3. It's Time for Drastic Measures They're Not Taking You
Seriously
4. My Five Year Plan
5. I Have Nothing But Attention When I Scream
6. What Would You Do If I'm Not What I'm Supposed To Be,
Because I'm Not
7. When No One Else Will Ne Your Friend I Will Do the Job
8. The music That the Angels Do
9. Officer You Have the Wrong man, I am Not That Man
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This limited edition live album is released on December
15th, 2006.
1. We March To A Whole Different Drum (Live)
2. Ozark Empire, Or Snake Oil Salesman
3. Stick This In Your Ear (Live)
4. Your Life Will Never Dull Or Your Money Back
5. The Music That The Angels Do (Live)
6. You Will Be My Music (Live)
7. Train Song (Live)
8. I Have Nothing But Attention When I Scream
9. Deepspace Songs (Live)
10. Mourning In The Morning - featuring Mars ILL
11. That's It
12. Sweet Bitter (Whispermoon extra)
13. Life Is (Poem)
14. Older Than I Was Before (Whispermoon extra)
15. ABC News, Tour Of Homes Desk Banter
16. What Would You Do If I'm Not What I'm Supposed To Be
(Live in Amsterdam)
17. All Of This With Words (Poem)
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Listener & EQ released this limited edition of a 1000 copies
in 2005. Also available with a brown cover.
1. Backwoods preacher man
2. Ozark empire
3. I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, hold
on
4. In the woods you know where your enemies are
5. You're so special because you're so unique
6. I'd like to offer you my dearest apologies
7. When no one else will be your friend I will do the job
8. The music that the angels do
9. It's time for drastic measures they're not taking you
seriously
10. What would you do if I'm not what I'm supposed to be
11. They always say your life will never dull or your money
back
12. Officer you have the wrong man I am not that man
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1. The moon cries out
2. FYI
3. You're so underground
4. eMotional
5. Winter life
6. Train song
7. Decadence
8. I'm beginning to hear whispers
9. Ways of the wind
10. You will be my music
11. Behind these doors
12. Wundering
13. Crystal methods
14. It's a lonely world
15. Untitled
Rating:
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