Biography
Daniel Smith’s passionate and eccentric indie rock took shape through Danielson Famile, a shifting collective that incorporated his siblings alongside other contributors. Their earliest recordings appeared under the full moniker Danielson Famile, beginning with the gospel-oriented debut A Prayer for Every Hour in 1995; by the time Ships arrived in 2006 the project had shortened its name to Danielson. Playful and off-kilter rock continued into the following decade, culminating in the 2014 collaboration Solid Gold Heart between Danielson and Jad Fair.
At Rutgers University, Smith submitted material for his senior thesis that became the group’s first album, A Prayer for Every Hour. The record earned an A and simultaneously launched his enduring career in gospel-tinged indie rock. Tooth & Nail Records issued the album in 1995, with Smith supported by siblings whose ages spanned from twelve to the early twenties. The family ensemble conveyed orthodox Christian themes without relying on conventional Christian imagery, instead cultivating an inventive, offbeat sound reminiscent of an improvised roadside revival. Kramer, known for work with Galaxie 500, Low, and Palace Brothers, produced the follow-up Tell Another Joke at the Ol’ Choppin’ Block, released in 1997.
Three separate musical paths—solo, familial, and the rock-oriented Danielsonship—prompted Smith to introduce the Tri-Danielson banner in 1998. That year saw the release of Tri-Danielson, Vol. 1 (Alpha), while Tri-Danielson, Vol. 2 (Omega) followed in 1999; both garnered substantial mainstream attention despite their explicit spiritual focus. Capitalizing on the exposure, the band moved to Secretly Canadian Records in 2001, parting ways with Tooth & Nail, and enlisted Steve Albini to produce Fetch the Compass Kids. Smith next oversaw his own solo outing, Brother: Son, issued in 2004 under the Br. Danielson name.
Ships, the 2006 album released simply as Danielson, assembled every past Famile participant and featured additional contributions from Sufjan Stevens, Chris Cohen, and Greg Saunier of Deerhoof. After departing Secretly Canadian, the group placed several singles on Kill Rock Stars, Sounds Familyre, and Fire Records before reconvening with an entirely new lineup for the eighth studio album, Best of Gloucester County, in 2011. The subsequent release, 2014’s Solid Gold Heart on Joyful Noise Recordings, paired Danielson with Half Japanese founder Jad Fair: Fair supplied lyrics and lead vocals, Smith wrote the music, the Famile supplied accompaniment, and Kramer handled recording and mixing. Joyful Noise next issued the Snap Outtavit EP in 2018.
At Rutgers University, Smith submitted material for his senior thesis that became the group’s first album, A Prayer for Every Hour. The record earned an A and simultaneously launched his enduring career in gospel-tinged indie rock. Tooth & Nail Records issued the album in 1995, with Smith supported by siblings whose ages spanned from twelve to the early twenties. The family ensemble conveyed orthodox Christian themes without relying on conventional Christian imagery, instead cultivating an inventive, offbeat sound reminiscent of an improvised roadside revival. Kramer, known for work with Galaxie 500, Low, and Palace Brothers, produced the follow-up Tell Another Joke at the Ol’ Choppin’ Block, released in 1997.
Three separate musical paths—solo, familial, and the rock-oriented Danielsonship—prompted Smith to introduce the Tri-Danielson banner in 1998. That year saw the release of Tri-Danielson, Vol. 1 (Alpha), while Tri-Danielson, Vol. 2 (Omega) followed in 1999; both garnered substantial mainstream attention despite their explicit spiritual focus. Capitalizing on the exposure, the band moved to Secretly Canadian Records in 2001, parting ways with Tooth & Nail, and enlisted Steve Albini to produce Fetch the Compass Kids. Smith next oversaw his own solo outing, Brother: Son, issued in 2004 under the Br. Danielson name.
Ships, the 2006 album released simply as Danielson, assembled every past Famile participant and featured additional contributions from Sufjan Stevens, Chris Cohen, and Greg Saunier of Deerhoof. After departing Secretly Canadian, the group placed several singles on Kill Rock Stars, Sounds Familyre, and Fire Records before reconvening with an entirely new lineup for the eighth studio album, Best of Gloucester County, in 2011. The subsequent release, 2014’s Solid Gold Heart on Joyful Noise Recordings, paired Danielson with Half Japanese founder Jad Fair: Fair supplied lyrics and lead vocals, Smith wrote the music, the Famile supplied accompaniment, and Kramer handled recording and mixing. Joyful Noise next issued the Snap Outtavit EP in 2018.