The story of Daniel Wylie can be as inspiring and terrifying to any young musician struggling to make it in the music buisness. In the late ‘90’s, the Glasgow-singer, not keen on recording under his own name, began releasing his trademark Byrds-inspired jangle-pop as The Cosmic Rough Riders. Two albums and a few years later, it seemed like The Cosmic Rough Riders had pretty much turned into a full band, and suddenly everyone began noticing the songwriting gifts of Daniel Wylie. The Cosmic Rough Riders was signed to Alan McGee’s Poptones-label and in 2000, ‘Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine’ was released, not only to great critical acclaim (one critic named CRR ‘the best band on earth right now’), but also to an audience who quickly took to the band’s melodic and classic West Coast influenced rock. ‘Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine’ sold more than a 100.000 copies, but on the height of his succes, Daniel chose to leave his own band, citing creative differences as one of the reasons. While the rest of CCR carried on without the band’s founder – and, when it comes down to it, only member, Daniel began to write and record under his own name, and now, half a decade and three soloalbums later, Daniel draws a line in the sand with his first career-spanning collection. Meet a man one critic dubbed “a pop genius”, but also a man who, to put it lightly, got fucked over when he should’ve been fought over.

Interview by Soren McGuire.