Life & Work with Dan DelVecchio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan DelVecchio. 

Hi Dan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As soon as I turned 8 years old, my life had changed forever. My mom had introduced me to a little band called The Beatles, and the rest was history. They were the group that inspired me to pick up a guitar and from that point on I had a dream to create and perform music. I was blessed to have been under the instruction of some of the best guitar teachers including Dennis DelGaudio (who performed with Billy Joel in 2009), Chris Jusino (Movin’ Out / Broadway), Artie Blaurock (Sweet Revenge), and Rick Stone (Jazz Instructor at Hofstra University). Each teacher for me was a gift and I credit each of them for the guitar player I have become and still aspire to be. From Clapton, Hendrix, Zeppelin, to Van Halen and beyond I had studied the styles of various guitar virtuosos to create my own. 

I had performed and wrote music in a number of bands throughout High School and College, but the first band that found some success was FACE THE KING. Face The King was an alternative rock band that had signed with CI Records – performing at major festivals such as the Rockstar Uproar Festival, Vans Warped Tour, Milwaukee Summerfest, and the CBGB Festival in Times Square to name a few… We were also 3-time winners of the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands competition and one-time national finalists (1 of 4 bands chosen in the country) who were flown out to the House of Blues Hollywood to perform for a panel of judges including John Feldmann (Goldfinger) and publishers of Alternative Press. As a result, we had shared the stage with the likes of Coheed and Cambria, PVRIS, Billy Idol, Janes Addiction, Bring Me The Horizon, A Day To Remember, Zac Brown Band, Pat Benatar, Staind, Godsmack, Shinedown, Flyleaf, Static X, and more. We had a great run for 7+ years and to this day I am proud of the music we had created and all that we accomplished with it. 

In the midst of FACE THE KING, I had also found my way into the music scene as a session guitarist – building a reputation playing for various singer/songwriters including Robbie Rosen (American Idol Season 10), Erin Willett, Pip Arnold & Marissa Ann (All seen on NBC’s The Voice). I also had become a player for hire for an Alternative Rock band called A SECOND LIFE. This brought about some incredible opportunities like sharing the stage with artists like Shawn Mendes, Aaron Carter, Melanie Martinez, Jax, Jake Miller, Sal Valentinetti (AGT), Sarah Barrios, and Alessandra Guercio (The Voice). By the time Face The King had disbanded, I had used all this experience to gain a social media following through documenting my career and adding guitar video content. On the side, I also began to set up my own teaching business for private guitar lessons. 

At this point, my endeavors have enabled me to gain sponsorships from companies like PRS Guitars, KORG, VOX, Ernie Ball, Planet Waves, 64 Audio, and more. More specifically, I had written music for and starred in 5 commercials for KORG/VOX Amplification. I was also hired as a product demonstrator to showcase their latest digital amp – The VOX Cambridge 50 at the 2019 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. 

Eventually, this would lead me to my next and most current original project – DON’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS. I had met Steven Nathan (singer) a few years prior where his previous band and mine performed together at the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. It just so happened we were both from New York and both our bands had many of the same fans. Needlessly to say the stars had aligned – his band was done and he was starting a new project, for which he reached out to me to become a full-time member. 

DON’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS is an Alternative Indie Pop band that I am proud to be a part of. In just a few short years we’ve had singles at alternative radio stations across the country, had 2 million+ plays on Retail Radio, charted at #2 on All Access, performed an east coast tour, and have partnered with Alternative Nation and VEVO for music video releases (including one featuring Gibert Godfrey). This was all before the band had even signed to Imagen Records/Warner ADA in 2020. Since then, we have been out in the Midwest performing with COIN. Our single, “Put Your Head Back,” was featured on the soundtrack for “We Crashed,” on Apple TV – starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway. In addition, we can be seen performing on stage during the third episode. Our latest single, “This Is Paradise,” has also made its way through Alternative Radio stations across the country. In support of the new single, we had traveled to Cleveland to perform at “The Gathering” Radio Convention where we performed at the House of Blues. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, every journey has its rough patches. It was not always easy convincing my parents that I was going to be okay pursuing a full-time career in music. During this time, I had worked a number of different temp jobs, most of which made me miserable. This was certainly a struggle and a test of mental fortitude. 

Another thing that I struggled with was a battle of egos. It’s never an easy feat to live, breath, eat, sleep and create music with four or more personalities without anyone budding heads. In many ways it is like a relationship and needs to be managed as such – that means sometimes even therapy sessions are necessary. 

Thankfully I can proudly tell you that I don’t deal with either of these issues now! 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a musician, songwriter, session guitarist, and private instructor. I am known for the music that I created/create with my bands, FACE THE KING, and DON’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS. I am also known for the guitar content that I post on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. 

I am most proud of the accomplishments I have had over the years and throughout my career with each of my projects. I’m proud of the stages I’ve performed and most importantly the music I’ve created that may have affected someone in a positive way. 

What I feel sets me apart from others is my work ethic, reliability, and perseverance. 

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Music has been moving in an interesting direction for a long time. Currently, artists get exposure by getting their singles on Spotify or Apple Music Playlists, posting TikToks, and utilizing Google ad words, Instagram, and/or Facebook campaigns. 

Within the next 5-10 years my guess would be that apps like TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook will be replaced with new popular trends that require even less of an attention span for viewers and listeners. 

Pricing:

• Private Lessons – $85/hr

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dontbelieveinghosts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dandelvecchio/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dandelvecchioguitar
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/dandelvecchio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DanDelVecchio

Image Credits
Steven Michaels
Estelle Massry
Devon Keller