Dave D’aranjo
bass guitarist ~ drummer 

Okay, I'm going to take a new approach with this, because writing in the third person just doesn't fly!

I'm currently studying in New York City at The Bass Collective, an absolutely tremendous school with some super serious instructors and fantastic, practical, and down-to-earth program. In September of 2008 I'll be moving to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, which I am very excited about, though I think I've been spoiled by this incredible City of New York.

I'm a musician focusing on the rhythm section, meaning bass guitar with a drummer's background. I wouldn't have it any other way, I love what I do!

Currently I am gigging with Chad Parks & the Near Death Experience. I'm also planning to focus on music production and audio engineering.

At the end of 2007 I was spending a lot of time with Kamal Mahtani and Pete Hendricks of Sound Advice Studios Singapore to finish up tracking for several projects due this year. First and foremost, I have been choogling away at the sophomore album of The Ocean Band, of which I've devoted a tremendous amount of time, money, and soul. This will be a very exciting release, with nearly 30 guest musicians, due in March 2008!!!)


Aside from the regular lineup of Neve Chen, Sammy Arvis, Uwe Vogel, Angshu Chatterjee and myself, look out for cameos from Christy Smith (bass), Nicole Duffell (tenor sax), Preachermann (sermonizing), Alemay Fernandez (vocals), Gayle Nerva (vocals), Trevor Nerva (vocals), Joe Murray (skits), Curtis King (harmonica), Chris Robinson (organ), and many, many more! Please root for me as finish up the mixing and mastering here in NYC before taking it back to Singapore and trying to get endorsement from Tiger Beer and distribution from a major label. :) You can hear some early mixes at The Ocean Band's MySpace page.

Secondly, I am producing a 3-song EP for a Singaporean group called Fuzebox. From humble beginnings, this album will feature some great local sessionists doing two blitzing cover songs and one totally funky original. Featuring Adam Shah, Ryan Lim, Annabelle Ling, and myself, also again look out for the excellent work of Chris Robinson, Alemay, Nicky, and the stellar Jackson Twinz from Atlanta, Georgia.

Finally, by the end of the year we hope to release the debut album of Abacus, an electronica side project featuring Sean Nerney, Per Byhring, Floods Winterflood and myself. This will be something completely different - the union of popular electronica and live musicianship, created in the low-cost, high quality digital realm. Keep your ears open!

These three projects represent the end of my "Singapore chapter", a 23-year long journey that has been equally enthralling and unnerving, but most certainly educational in the positive and the negative. 2008 opens the door to the unparalelled creative possibilities found in the USA. It may be somewhat hackneyed to call this the land of opportunity, but it is most certainly true.

Here's to excellent times ahead; the beginning of a new progressive zeitgeist for all starting this year!

~ Dave D'aranjo, NYC, January 2008.

© 2008 DaveDaranjo.com