San Diego- Saturday, May 5- Ruby Room in Hillcrest  (21+) (9pm)

Des Moines, Iowa – Saturday, May 12 – State Capitol (All Ages) (All Day- Hosting) w/ Legaci

Denver, CO- Monday, May 14- Denver University (All Ages) (Evening)

For more info: Hello@DANakaDAN.com

In case you haven’t seen it yet…was super thrilled to partner up with Cathy Nguyen and Kevin Lien on this latest vid. We did a Take Care DRAKE cover. Always was amazed by original version- the minimalism, the truthi-ness…all equates to a great track. Also, below it is the second collab I did with Cathy on the Alicia Keys Unthinkable remix with Drake. A Drake heavy post. huzzah

High Five my Friends! I’ll be seeing ya soon w/ the rest of the afterschoolspecial crew on a few concert dates coming up. If you want to come and say hello (and we hope you do), be sure to check out the concerts/events section. Here’s some notes-izzles. You can click event to go to facebook page with more info.  Will be announcing more official dates soon to include Denver, LA, and San Diego! Keep em’ open!

Thursday March 29- Oklahoma University for InvAsian Event 

Friday March 30- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Campus: MAASU Conference

Friday, April 6-Indiana University- Taste of Asia

A big thanks to my folks at BDQworks + Imaginary Zebra for getting this new site up! It’s been a little while in the making, but it’s been worth every moment putting it together! Spread the good word! A spring concert tour is in the works…along with some new videos and new material…So..hurrah! This section will be mainly for strictly news. To get more of the personal bloggggg feeling, be sure to subscribe to the tumblr site: DANakaDAN.Tumblr.Com

OH! And we got the coveted ALLKPOP feature. ALLKPOP is the go to (and maybe the #1) site for Korean Pop (they’ve obviously made some exceptions on what Korean Pop is….for instance this song/video. Thanks to them for posting it up! here’s the story, CLICK HERE

It’s officially released! A few notes on the background of how THE DREAMERS Music Video came to be.

My first note and most important, beyond the work that The Dreamlapse Project and myself put into this video is that it wouldn’t be possible without the backing and work of afterschoolspecial who need their due credit- Jaylen Green, Keane Aranita, Todd Olson, Brian Figueroa, and Victor Velasquez. *******

I first started talking to Scott Yoshimoto, originally from MOVeMEDIA Productions, about doing another music video for myself for the song DREAMERS, a little under a year ago.  I knew that the song needed an appropriate music video, and as we’re both low budget types of guys with big imaginations, he was the guy to go. I also know that the video needed to be epic in scope. We were looking for something that would definitely go beyond just being a performance video, and wanted a bigger concept then what i’ve come out with recently.

The original idea was still going to involve cameos, and because of the quick paced nature of the video, I was thinking that it would be cool to do something along the lines of a race to “something” in California.   The song is about really pursuing your dreams, and typically those that are interested in pursing entertainment, especially music or film, try to make their way out to strike it big in California. I envisioned it as a Gold Rush of sorts (Know your Cali history? i barely do..but something in my text books had a large section on the California Gold Rush).  I envisioned an old western-y kind of look, and a bunch of groups making their way in the most ridiculous way possible racing to “something” in California.

Scott and I mulled over the treatment for a little while, and decided against it. For numerous reasons we thought it wasn’t really realistic and felt that the energy of the song could be contained in another way. That’s when he brought in Daniel Seo to help. I’m not sure how they know one another, and I actually didn’t realize this until a few days ago, but it was because of this video that they created The Dreamlapse Project.  It was the catalyst of them working together, and since them, amazingly, they’ve not only worked on this video, but A TON of other projects like Jason Chen’s BEST FRIENDS video and a video for Lil Crazed.

They came back at me a few weeks later after Scott and I threw away the last idea to see how I would feel about a first person perspective video.  I immediately said yes.  I loved the concept, without knowing what it was, and already knew we could get some innovative shots by doing a video like this. ALSO, and maybe the most important reason, is because we’re in different parts of SOCAL, they could shoot parts of the video without me.   I was also inspired by these two videos that i’ve been big fans of. They showed me this adidas video as the reason they choose to do the First Person Perspective style….but I was immediately brought back to one of the most innovative videos of its time, SMACK MY BITCH UP, by THE PRODIGY.   If i could have a video in the vain of this one…..oh buddy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2SFBy76Sc4&feature=related

So obviously the video you’re watching today isn’t as graphic as the Prodigy one, haha.   The concept of this video still maintains the idea of a chase. The character (my character), is running around picking up items and going through scenarios that lead to another scenario, which lead to another scenario..etc. It’s all intertwined. The most important thing is that the video takes place in areas and has activities that are distinctly “Californian”, like Disneyland (or a place that looks like Disneyland….), In and Out Burger, Surfing, running through the mountains, etc.  It’s an ode to the State that has provided so much for myself, a place I love to live, and also an ode to the state of mind that entertainment, specifically Asian American entertainment is in today.  It features some people that I once only dreamed of working with, creating a video that’s so community driven, and even in the song, it features an indie state of mind as to how the track came together.   It’s a great way to kick of 2012 and I’m thrilled to have it finally available for you all to watch.   Even for those that aren’t in Southern California, I think it’s a loving way to see the state from the eyes (quite literally) of someone and to experience a character who’s dreams live out through the song.   Share + Pass on the good word!

If you’d want to support afterschoolspecial and myself, please purchase the track (and others like it) on ITUNES: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-all-in-your-head/id402340432

LYRICS

What up world, oh yea these people are strange

They be California dreaming, they be spitting their games

They be weaving their webs, choosing the music instead

Working this life over sleep, love, family, and friends

Oh what a world, oh what these people have done

From North Park in San Diego to the land they go dumb

From Dub Step to Club Left Indie Rock in the basement

This Californication is invading the nation

Strangers in a strange land, yea we continue

You’ve been doomed, lest your learn what you have been through

And us too? Hell No, won’t even pretend to

It”s peace to the West and what up to the Fresh dude

What Up World, how you doing today,

Said i’ll be doing fine hanging down by the bay

Yeah I’ll be doing fine when i’m drifting away

Cuz i’m a California Dreamer yeahhh

What Up World, how you doing today

Said i’ll be doing fine when i’m flying away

Yeah, I’ll be doing fine flying high and away

Cuz i’m a California Dreamer Baby

Yeah that’s whats up, we’ve built ourselves on this scene

Suckers bleed to be seen, do what it takes to succeed

What up to struggling bands, piled in broken down vans

Traveling up and down the coast just to play for their fans

I was a fan first, inspired by their verse,

Tired and unversed just diein’ to rehearse

Compete with the rest and since every moments a test

It’s much respect for the vets that be setting these steps

So i pick up the mic, live it up tonight, continue my path

It’s still rock and roll, california soul, and if you know the math

The redwoods, the nightlife, hell even your mom please

Are built better when they’re from the land of the palm trees

It’s on! I’ve seen the final cut for the #DREAMERSMV and it’s looking pretty good……

I’m excited to announce that we’ll be releasing the official DANakaDAN x afterschoolspecial x The Dreamlapse Project Music Video for DREAMERS.   This Wednesday, This Afternoon, This Youtube Page, It’s on! Spread the good word….

I’m really, really searching deep to think about another year that was as memorable as 2011.  So many things professionally, creatively, and personally happened that are really tough to top (speaking of course on behalf of DANakaDAN/afterschoolspecial perspective).    I mean, don’t get me wrong, every year brings it’s challenges and rewards. For instance in 2009, I thought that THAT was the best year and that it would be impossible to top.  Lots of accomplishments including the first time recording professionally (our EP, NOT ONE FOR WORDS), the album release party, opening for National Acts like the FLOBOTS and SOULS OF MISCHIEF, we were nominated for two San Diego Music Awards, touring for the first time in Southern California, and finally headlining and getting sponsored in one evening by Osiris Street Wear at the House of Blues.   Some great memories!

Then 2010 happened and it was EVEN BETTER. We recorded our full length album and hosted a sold out album release party for ITS ALL IN YOUR HEAD, we toured nationally for the first time ever getting invites to play in Pennsylvania, New York, Iowa, and Michigan,  we met and got to build with some INCREDIBLY talented members of the community like Magnetic North, Taiyo Na, AJ Rafael, etc, in recording the album- we locked down a bunch of incredible collaborations for songs including Paul Dateh, Just Kidding Films, Dumbfoundead, and one of the top emcees from the underground hip hop world, Pigeon John, DANakaDAN got invited to assist with the ongoing International Secret Agents Concerts as a production director and had the opportunity to tour with Far East Movement, and finally it ended with being able to shoot and release a dream music video collaboration for our track NAME with Wong Fu Productions! I mean…c’mon. How do you beat that year.

WELL…. 2011 is how you absolutely destroy 2010. 2011 went hard with a vengeance all over 2010′s face.  We had the opportunity to perform at EVEN more national shows and visit places I never thought i’d EVER get to go including Indiana, Seattle, back to Michigan and Iowa, and hands down the best two weeks of my life touring on the east coast doing 9 shows/events in 11 days which included stops in and around Yale, Boston University, Boston (the city), Tufts, NYC, Philly, and Brandeis University, we got invited to perform and speak at a Korean Adoptee Camp in Denver, we built with even MORE members of the community, really got the chance to push the youtube channel and are currently sitting at around 15,000 subscribers with a ton of video content which included 2 new music videos (maybe one more too by end of year?) and alot of collaborations, was accepted and performed at the Nokia Theater for the largest Asian Pacific American oriented talent competition- Kollaboration, and finally I got to tour Seattle, Bay Area, and LA with International Secret Agents not only as production director, but also as a host and performer.

What I think I need to personally emphasize is how much that this is NOT a personal bragging list of how awesome I am (although i’m feeling kind of awesome), it’s a look back at what can be accomplished when you truly follow your passions, utilize the right resources at the right time, and of course work hard.   I consider myself very blessed and am thankful every day for what’s been provided and am grateful to have even had the opportunity to share with who ever is reading this my favorite highlights from the year.  Hopefully there will be even more to share next year- til then Happy New Years.

Maybe one more video or highlight will be added by year’s end…we’ll see how it goes..haha.  Seriously though..thanks for reading!

In mean time. #DREAMERSMV is almost done…..swear!

Here’s the second to last update video that Scott and Daniel from the DREAMLAPSE Project posted up with America’s Best Dance Crew’s Instant Noodles Crew and me sleeping in a bed. You decide what’s more exciting.