Seventeen-year-old electronica musician Daniel Hunter has a bright future.
“When [music] labels started talking to me, I realized I might be able to [make music] on a more serious scale,” the Fort Worth, Texas, native said. “Not just out of my college dorm, which is what I was planning on doing.”
Hunter, whose stage name is PlayRadioPlay, self-produced “The Frequency EP,” which showcases six songs he wrote more than a year ago. After posting his information on PureVolume.com, a Web site for up-and-coming artists, Hunter uploaded his songs onto MySpace, where he received a staggering 5.9 million hits.
“The Frequency EP” sounds a bit like a hybrid of indie group The Postal Service and electronic-pop duo Frou Frou. And while some electronica might make you feel like waving glow sticks around, Hunter?s musicis much more complex, with great lyrics, vocals and beats.
The musician recently signed with Stolen Transmission, a subdivision of the Island Def Jam Music Group, to record a full-length debut album, slated for release next January.
“[The Frequency EP] is six songs that I recorded over a year ago, and I feel like I?m in a different place musically now,” Hunter said. “I think from a songwriter perspective, I have my own unique style. I?m still electronica-based. So the new album won?t be vastly different, but it will be more mature.”
Hunter, who graduated high school a few months early because of extra credits, is holding off on college to pursue making music ? but just for now.
“I was planning on going [to college] for music production, because I want to be a producer,” he said. “Then I started talking to labels, and thought it would be a great opportunity to talk and work with some great producers. And of course it will be amazing to play my music.”
“[Daniel] is electrifying onstage. When I saw him, I was blown away,” Island Def Jam Media Specialist Aishah White said.
IF YOU GO
PlayRadioPlay! with Young Love and Under the Influence of Giants
» When: 7 p.m. today
» Venue: The Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St., Baltimore
» Details: $12; www.myspace.com/playradioplay
