Daniel G. Harmann, what's the G for?
Gustav, if you can believe it.

I can't really find that much information on you, besides music wise. Where did you grow up? What made you want to pursue music?
I grew up in a tiny town in Arizona. You know, a small minded, football town. So that kind of forced me to explore other options, and I started singing in choir, and playing guitar. When I moved to Seattle, I had some songs, and wanted to get them out. So that's how "Failures in Motion" happened.

Do you have another job besides musician?
Yeah, I work as an administrator at a college. It's the best job ever. They're totally supportive of me.

What are you aiming towards? Major label work, fame, just making good music?
Definitely not a major. I just want to keep creating. For me, it's not at all about when I'll "hit it big..." or whatever. I just want to keep making music until I can't any longer, or no longer want to.

Your bio is pretty slim on your website, yet you give a good list of what's currently in your stereo, do you believe in the High Fidelity idea that its not Who you are but What you like?
Yes and no. I totally feel like what you listen to is a representation of who you are, or maybe more specifically, what you need at that moment. But I definitely think that it finds you. Whether it's from your family, or a recommendation from a friend, there's a reason that we listen to what we listen to.

Mostly I see newer stuff in your listening and among your influences list on myspace. What did you listen to growing up?
Lots of Jim Croce, the Beatles, Willie Nelson. I still love all of that stuff. I think that Willie Nelson - Stardust is in my top 10 for life.

Why the move to Portland?
A girl, a change of scenery, plus, it's much cheaper to live here than it is in Seattle. You know, the usual reasons. But I miss the hell out of Seattle.

What would you do if you weren't making music?
That's a tough question. I mean, if I wasn't creating, I'd have to find something that was totally involving. I'd probably work for a labor union or something like that. Something that helps people, even if it's in the long run, you know?

When and where do you write songs? How often do you do so and how often are they worthy of being played in front of others?
Haha. Well, I've learned something about myself. I don't remember anything. So I have to either write it down immediately, or if I'm at home, I'll record it right away, if I have a melody in my head or something. It's the weirdest thing. I wrote one of my most recent songs when I was on lunch a few months back, walking to get food. I heard a melody in my head, so I called my voicemail and sang into it. It was totally cheesy, but also one of those epic moments where everything comes to you, lyrics, melody, title, all of it. I wish that happened more often, believe me.

I have a tough time throwing stuff away. If it's not working out, I'll just save it, and tear it apart later. I'd like to think that eventually, I'll use every part I ever wrote. It might be a pipe dream though. It might also be awful.

Who�s the most famous person you�ve ever met and how did the experience go?
Probably Cameron Crowe. I was on tour w/ Robert Deeble, and we'd just played w/ Low in LA, and he was there. It was like 3am, and we were loading out. I rarely get star struck, but I'm such a huge fan, I was like, "If I don't talk to him, I'll fucking kill myself." So I grabbed some CDs, and went for it. He was like the nicest guy you'll ever meet. I mean, it was fucking 3am, and he could have been a dick, even if he didn't intend to. It was like talking your best friend.

What musicians do you find overrated or underrated and why?
I won't dip my toe into the "who's overrated" territory, but as far as underrated goes, probably the biggest is Brent Amaker. He's one of the best songwriters I've ever heard. He was the frontman for Dorkweed, and now he has like three solo bands, which is totally ridiculous, but also completely genius. Robert Deeble doesn't get enough respect either. I think he was pigeonholed early on as a "Christian Artist", and unfortunately, he can't shake it. Both of those guys, man, I swear. They've been working so hard for so long, and putting out incredible records for years.

What is The Lake Effect? and why did you pick that name as the title of your album?
It doesn't happen often, but Lake Effect snow is something that rolls in when cold air passes over warm water. I think that's beautiful, and I think there's a lot of different ways of looking at it. Like, how something huge and obscure can alter someone that it normally wouldn't.

You used to write record reviews, how would you review your own work? What would you say about it? Do you have any negative criticisms for yourself?
That's an interesting question. You know, because I've always wanted to make the kind of records that I would listen to, from start to finish, you know? Sequencing is super important to me, so if nothing else, I'd think that it made sense, because I put a lot of time & thinking into that. Did that even make sense? I think I might have just given you a Dubya-style answer.

What do you want people to come away with after listening to your music?
You know when you listen to your favorite band or whatever, and you think, "Man, I'm really inspired, I just want to go home & write." For me, if I could somehow make people feel that way, I'd be happy.

What's in the near future?
I've got a split record coming out w/ this really great songwriter from Missouri, called Nathaniel Carroll. It'll be out in December. Three songs each and one song that we wrote and recorded together in three hours, back in June. Besides that I'm recording my new record, and that's ongoing. I'm tracking it at my home studio, Pastoral, and I'll most likely mix it in Phoenix at a friend's studio. I hope to have it out by the end of next year. Hopefully I'll make it to the east coast next year too.