Cendrine Marrouat: Introduce yourself briefly.
Daniel Fusco: I’m a 17-year-old, Independent Solo Artist. I live justoutside of Pittsburgh, PA, and my debut single “Strong” will be released oniTunes on September 22.
CM: Isthere a particular event that triggered your desire to become a professionalmusician?
DF: When I was12, I went to see Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics Tour with opening actsDanity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls. I was in awe of the entire show. I knew Iloved music at that age but I didn’t have that passion to perform and become arecording artist until that moment.
Five years later, I have grown into someonewho loves every aspect of music, performing, etc.
CM: Whodo you work with? Or do you do everything yourself?
DF: I write,record, and produce all of my own music. I started to write and produce 4 yearsago and I’ve grown so much since then.
CM: Whatgave you the idea of creating the single “Strong”?
DF: I decided towrite “Strong” because, while I was sitting outside one day just thinking aboutstuff, I realized that so many people go through so many struggles in life anda lot of those people give up. “Strong” is about when times get hard juststay strong and keep on keeping on through the tough times.
CM: Howlong did it take you to write and record the single? And how was theexperience?
DF: The songtook me about three days to finish. It was an exciting experience because it wasthe first time I’d ever thought about doing a song like this. I’m normallywriting pop songs with a edgy rock influence but this is so different and Ilove it. My single is pop but has influences of african drums and world sounds.
CM: The music video shows clips from the Olympics, Third World Countries, HurricaneKatrina, etc. Why did you choose those?
DF: After, Icompleted the song I thought about the video. I wanted to have video clips thatwould represent struggle whether it be fighting for your gold medal, fightingto live day by day in a third world country, trying to make it through ahurricane, or fighting for our nation in war.
However, I wanted to also haveclips of the rise after such a low point. One clip in my music video hassoldiers fighting over seas and then later it has clips of soldiers coming hometo their families. My music video can be very emotional for some people.
CM: Halfof the profits from the sales of the single will be donated to severalorganizations. How and why did you choose them?
DF: I have chosen three charities: theAmerican Cancer Society, the National Veterans Foundation, and GLSEN: Gay,Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. each organization is doing really great things for a lot of people.
I have had family members with cancer, which is why I decided to help theAmerican Cancer Society. I have family members deceased and living who haveserved or are currently serving in the services, which is why I wanted to helpthe National Veterans Foundation. With teens committing suicide in the LGBTcommunity in recent times, I took heart and decided to donate money to GLSEN,which is a gay-straight alliance organization.
I firmly stand strong in mydecision to support each organization.
CM: Whatwould you like to achieve with “Strong”?
DF: I reallyhope to spark a light in people’s hearts.
CM: What,according to you, is the role of an independent artist in today’s society?
DF: One thing Ilove about being an independent artist is that everything I release comes fromme and only me. I’m not told what I have to sing, how I have to look, I’m justme. I would rather start my career this way and build a fan base of people whodo support me for me, than to be a puppet and build a fan base up of people whosupport a fake me.
“Strong” will be available for purchase on iTunes on September 22, 2012.
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