Transcendental Album Experience from Brighton-Based Audio Nerd Dan From Upstairs

Dan From Upstairs has recently released his debut album, *Hopeless Fables*, which took over five years to complete. As the songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Dan, based in Brighton, UK, played guitar, bass, and contributed backing vocals throughout. The album also features a range of vocalists, with some horn sections outsourced. Dan mixed and mastered the entire project in his small apartment, using a makeshift acoustic setup made from draped acoustic blankets.

The recruitment of vocalists came from a variety of unconventional methods, from asking friends and scouring Fiverr, to even matching with a vocalist on Bumble – who Dan still hasn’t met in real life! The result is an album that flows through a diverse range of genres, including electronica, funk, hip-hop, jungle, and rock, before concluding with a dark, theatrical folk track. Each song is connected by Dan’s unique production style, blending song transitions and conceptual themes to create a continuous, dream-like experience.

*Hopeless Fables* explores the idea of flawed fate, questioning whether the spirits that control destiny are as hopeless as the rest of us. The album contemplates the clumsiness of love and death, asking if, amidst chaos, we still strive to find order.

A music video has also been released, offering a glimpse into one of the more pop-oriented songs from the album. It carries a moody, emo-like atmosphere, with layers of guitar and striking vocals. The highlight, according to Dan, is the explosive ending, which contrasts dramatically with the rest of the track. You can check out the video if ‘Love’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACA9bVE0gCk

IG: https://www.instagram.com/danfromupstairs.music

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4O6A2nIMvl2JlhdAKYai29?si=Pd7gInmnSoiDXlfxDKWvqw