Dan DeVita is an acoustic rock musician based out of the Adirondack region of New York. He combines dynamic rock vocal stylings with a wide range of acoustic guitar techniques, such as the percussive tapping and slap harmonics popularized by modern fingerstyle music, flat picking, slide work, alternate tunings, and his own personal brand of slap-strumming. Influenced by musicians like Myles Kennedy, Joey Eppard, Andy McKee, and Michael Hedges, Dan’s music is a fusion of the most intense, intimate, and subtly intricate elements of the singer-songwriter style.
Dan originates from the small town of Andes in upstate New York. While he was drawn to music at a young age, it was shortly after he was given a copy of Metallica’s Black Album that his musical journey really began. A largely self-taught guitarist, Dan’s attention was split throughout much of his younger years between playing in numerous rock and classic rock cover bands, and his own solo acoustic music. He eventually went on to attend college at the State University of New York in Oneonta, where he was a founding member of the hard rock band Gravia. Gravia performed for several years and released their EP, The Battle, in 2010, before life drew its members in different directions.
Dan’s first solo acoustic release, the 2012 EP Vagrant, showcased his unique musical style with the songs “Broken Glass” and “Firefly,” the first to use the sorts of acoustic flourishes that would come to define his sound. He played many shows in the northeastern U.S. to support the release, and as time went on, Vagrant became the foundation for his solo act.
After that, Dan spent several years performing as the frontman for thrash/power metal band Sacred Ash near New York City. The band released their Beneath Blackened Skies EP in 2013, featuring the epic lead single “The Serpent’s Rise.”
In 2015, Dan moved back to upstate New York and returned to his acoustic roots. The following years were filled with more gigs than can be counted, as he cut his teeth on the regional music scene, playing traditional venues as well as regular street performances. His mixed set lists of boundary-pushing original music and uncommon cover songs set him apart from the typical bar musician, featuring acoustic renditions of rock hits like “Crazy Train,” ballads like “Hallelujah,” and fingerstyle odysseys like Andy Mckee’s “Drifting.” But as time went on, Dan’s own music grew to be more requested than the covers, and his focus on his original catalog sharpened.
2020 was a year of trials and triumphs for Dan. While lockdown prevented him from getting out and playing live, it also paved the way for several new releases. “The Shape of the Great Design,” a single which was partially written while he was street performing in Lake George, marked his first solo release since the Vagrant EP. It was quickly followed up with the acoustic rock anthem “Compassion” several months later.
October 2020 brought the release of yet another batch of original music: Live at EXT, a three song performance taped live at the WEXT radio studio in Troy, NY. Recorded barely a month before the lockdown began, Live at EXT captured the energy and power of Dan’s live performances for the first time ever at studio quality. Featuring the progressive acoustic epic, “Full Circle,” Live at EXT was was a high note amidst the end of a challenging year.
The pandemic also kicked off a pretty big change for Dan’s overall vision as an artist. All that time at home gave him a lot of time to practice — and learn some more of those wildly intricate acoustic instrumental songs he’d always meant to tackle. His set evolved to include more and more pieces from the likes of visionary fingerstyle artists like Michael Hedges and Andy McKee.
Dan’s latest batch of live studio performances were recorded at Skyfall Recording Studio in Greenwich, New York. All three songs from that session are available on YouTube, including a cover of Michael Hedges’ seminal acoustic instrumental piece “Aerial Boundaries.” He’s currently writing and recording songs for his next release.
Dan DeVita 