“Shapes” feels like a reckoning with the past, and a meditation on the shapes our lives take as we change, cope, and eventually heal.
Daniel Blake’s “Shapes” is a hauntingly evocative EP that plumbs the emotional depths of resilience, loss, and self-discovery. Using familiar chords, Blake crafts songs that showcase his nuanced storytelling, each lyric probing the places where we hold our fears and nurture our hopes. The EP, which grew organically through word-of-mouth support and radio play, resonates with authenticity, reflecting Blake’s journey as a “struggling singer-songwriter” who’s learned to wield heartbreak and nostalgia as creative fuel.
One of the standout tracks, “In Circles,” reveals the inner turmoil of a restless soul who feels hunted, both by external forces and internal doubts. Lines like “I’m talking myself in circles / Don’t know which way to go” capture the relentless cycle of self-questioning and anxiety. The song evokes an urgent desperation to escape with its repetitive lyrics and driving rhythm creating a sense of claustrophobia—a visceral need to “run until they fade away,” yet tinged with a tragic knowledge that running might never truly end.
Then there’s “Some Days,” which softens the darker, frenetic energy of “Shapes” with a hopeful but weary realism. Blake’s lyrics acknowledge that while some days “are made just to knock you down,” others “are made for you to get back up.” It’s an anthem for resilience, meeting heartbreak with a kind of quiet bravery. The imagery of being “somewhere in the middle, between a wound and a scar” feels like a powerful metaphor for the transitional, raw spaces that we all occupy after a significant loss. In “Some Days,” Blake allows listeners to acknowledge the difficulty of moving forward, while still encouraging us to find strength in each new day.
“Dreaming About It,” on the other hand, is a bittersweet ballad about lost love and the haunting aftermath of unspoken regrets. With lines like “I’ve been using it for padded walls / Nothing tender on the concrete,” Blake depicts a bleak portrait of emotional insulation—a self-defense mechanism built from heartache. The repetition of “I’ve been dreaming about it” suggests the endless loop of yearning and memory, where each recollection only heightens the sense of loss. It’s a poignant reminder that, while dreams can be beautiful, they can also trap us in the unresolved past.
Blake’s latest work taps into the organic artistry that the music world seems to be aching for—a return to raw, honest storytelling. “Shapes” feels like a reckoning with the past, and a meditation on the shapes our lives take as we change, cope, and eventually heal. For fans of artists like José González and Iron & Wine, Daniel Blake offers a familiar yet distinct sound, filled with the raw vulnerability of a songwriter who’s found his purpose through struggle.
We had a one-on-one with Daniel as he shared his thoughts about this latest release and then some. What a gem of a person! Read on…
PRESS PONDER
What’s the most unexpected or surprising thing that happened during the recording process? A few of the tracks including “Dreaming About It”, “Chasing After Midnight” & “Weight of the Words” weren’t originally intended to be part of this project. However, after placing them next to the other tracks, I felt that they provided a good counter balance to some of the other acoustic tracks on the album.
If you could only recommend one song from the album to someone who has never heard your music before, which would it be and why? “In Circles” would be a good first introduction. I just think it has a fun energy about it.
If you could only recommend one song from the album or single to your longtime listeners, which would it be and why? “Some Days” would be a good one. I feel that the simplistic style is sort of a throwback to some of my earlier work.
What’s the most personal or vulnerable lyric on the album, and what does it mean to you? “When you don’t know just where you are and you’re somewhere in the middle between a wound and a scar, when the road is rough and the wait is long, some days are made for you to just hang on.” –Some Days. The idea behind the song is to embrace the moment in between the falling down and getting back up. After all, it is in that place where we spend most of our living.
What role does experimentation play in your songwriting process? Are there any risks or challenges you’ve taken in this latest release? I feel that most of the songwriting process is somewhat experimental. I commit to a few lyrics and see where they lead me. As far as risks, I added “Burn Reprise” which is the original demo version of “Burn” at the last minute. Risky only because my approach to the demo was a bit experimental with the vocal effects. It doesn’t really sound like anything I have done before and I wasn’t sure if it would be confusing to my long time fans. Either way, it was an impulse decision and I’m happy with it.
PRESS PLAY
If you could collaborate with a fictional character, who would it be and what kind of music would you create together? Phoebe Buffay. We would probably write some amazing jingles.
What’s the most unusual or unexpected object that has inspired a song for you? I have a song called Ashtrays on Airplanes which isn’t released yet. You could probably guess that it was inspired by an ashtray.
What’s the most memorable or embarrassing onstage mishap you’ve experienced? Someone asked me to perform one of my earlier songs. I completely forgot how to play & sing it. I ended up making up a new version that sounded nothing like the original.
Imagine you are transported back to the 1920s and can only bring one modern piece of musical equipment with you. What would you bring, and how do you think it would change the music scene of that era? I would bring a multi-track recorder and re-create all of the songs of the time to sound like Elliot Smith tunes.
If your music were the soundtrack to a movie, what genre would the movie be, and who would you cast as the lead roles? Science fiction – Jim Carrey
Track listing
1. Weight of the Words feat. JOYNER 3:14
2. Burn 4:04
3. In Circles 3:29
4. Dreaming About It 3:05
5. Some Days 3:05
6. Chasing After Midnight 3:57
7. Burn – Reprise 2:28
PRESS BIO
Daniel Blake is a compelling singer-songwriter who began by playing open mics, coffee shops & bars in L.A. Daniel’s eclectic melodies, authentic finger picking, & sincere lyrics caught the ear of music mixer Ryan Lipman and Producer Bill Lefler. In November ’18 he released his debut EP, Circle Mountain, mastered by Hans Dekline.
His songs have been used in Pieces of Her, Maggie, Big Shot, Station 19, Teen Mom, 16 & Pregnant, PLL: The Perfectionist & The Blacklist. In April 19′ he released a single ‘Here With Me’ originally written & recorded by Dido. Daniel’s version of the song was featured in the Season Finale of the CW show Roswell New Mexico. After the airing the song reached the #7 spot on Billboards top 100 songs in TV.
Born in Az, Daniel was introduced early to his parent’s favorite artists such as Van Morrison, Carole King, The Beatles & James Taylor. These music greats he credits for musical influences as well as Tom Petty, David Gray, The Postal Service & Band of Horses. Although music was always on Daniel’s mind he didn’t play live until his early 30’s. Dismay set in during his teens when he tried forming bands with no success. Later moved to SoCal where he worked in construction full-time while putting himself through college. He thought he had let music go, but melodies kept filling his head on his long drives to construction sites & he could no longer ignore. The final push came from inspiration after visiting music venue, The Hotel Café in Los Angeles.
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