“Gracelandia,” the new album from Sir Daniel, Esq., is a lush trip into mid-century exotic pop where fantasy and heartbreak intertwine. Created by composer/producer Daniel A. Balis (Silver Skylarks, Bastards of Soul, Dorrington Drive), “Gracelandia” is built on analog synths, vibraphone, vintage drum machine samples and cinematic Mellotron strings. It evokes cocktail lounges, starlit terraces, and dreamlike encounters. At its core is a flawed, philandering narrator who falls in love too easily and imagines an affair with a woman from another galaxy.
“The character inside the album is a guy I’ve been thinking about for quite some time; an amplified mirror of maybe the worst versions of my past self,” says Balis. “I could see his actions like a silent film in my brain, and I finally decided to make a soundtrack to those thoughts.”
Conceived and mostly tracked at Balis’ home studio in East Dallas, Sir Daniel, Esq., was originally a creative urge as opposed to a desire to create a new moniker and release an entire album of material.
To help flesh out the vision, Balis enlisted several of the DFW’s top musicians, including guitarist Nick Earl (Polyphonic Spree/Tripping Daisy), vibraphonist Nigel Newton (Silver Skylarks ), and drummer/studio wizard Jordan Richardson (Quaker City Night Hawks/Son of Stan.)
Echoing Les Baxter’s exotica, Chet Baker’s cool, and sly funky undercurrents, “Gracelandia,” exists in a timeless space as an intoxicating soundtrack for late nights, dim lights, and the irresistible blur of seduction and delusion.
SAVE THE DATE
On Thursday, September 18th, join Sir Daniel, Esq., for a special “Gracelandia” Listening Event & Live Stream presented by Eastwood Music Group, Josey Records, and The Cirque du Sirois Show. The newly renovated Akai Speakeasy & Japanese Cocktail Lounge, in the heart of Dallas’ Arts District, will host the listening party. More details coming soon.
“Gracelandia” is the inaugural vinyl release on the ••• – , pronounced “three dots and a dash,” imprint under the Eastwood Music Group umbrella. Eastwood Music Group was founded by Jeff “Skin” Wade and Luke Sardello, and is the parent company to both ••• – and Skylark Soul Co. ••• – was created with the collector in mind, specializing in quirky, kitschy, and esoteric releases with a highly stylized aesthetic.
Stream “Gracelandia” here.