Sandersfeld released debut EP in 2017
Northrop's Music on the Plaza 2019 concert series continues this week with a concert by Dave Sandersfeld. We asked Sandersfeld about his music and his band, which he explains below. Don’t miss this free concert starting at noon on Wed, Jul 31 on Northrop’s Plaza. It’s one of the many interesting #GopherSummer events on campus this summer.
In 2017 I decided to take off running with my music career as a solo artist. The crazy thing about art, I feel, is that no one is ever going to love something you create quite as much as you do. I feel like that was a big reason for the change to my solo direction. I thought it might be easier to dream up where I want to take things with my music if I was the one in complete control. However, that isn’t to say that I could do it without the incredible musicians backing me up.
I met Scott Berman from a Craigslist ad back in 2010 and we've been making music together ever since. He is, in my opinion, one of the best players around. Anyone that knows him or has seen him play wouldn't argue with that statement. Aside from being a great guitarist, Scott has an amazing ear for songwriting and structure. He is constantly opening my eyes to what is "modern" in today's music.
Adam Couch studied bass performance at McNally Smith College of Music and navigates the low end just right. I also met Adam on Craigslist. We've been playing together for half of a decade. He somehow always finds just the right bass lines to play on my songs. He is a professional player and tone master.
Michael Frahm is an absolute beast on the drums. He is an incredibly well-rounded drummer. He can get technical when he needs to, but can also sit real tight in the pocket and always knows exactly what to play on the songs. As I am writing this I am realizing how incredibly lucky I have gotten with Craigslist.
My debut EP, "Better Than This," was released in 2017. It explores failed relationships, new beginnings, and belief in hope. I am very proud of it. It is a very transformative piece. I was going through tons of changes in my life from a failed relationship to branching off as a solo artist. The EP was a slice of my world. It was recorded all over the Twin Cities from my bedroom to Humans Win! to the Hideaway. We are currently working on the follow-up EP and I couldn't be more excited for it. I can't say much about it as it is in its infancy, but it should be released in early 2020.
City Pages featured one of my songs/videos in "This week's 5 must-see Minnesota music videos” and Rift Magazine wrote, "A well crafted indie pop song is hard to come by. Dave Sandersfeld seems to have the right stuff to pull it off."
Over the last 2 years we have played all over the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. We played the Uptown Art Fair, Stone Arch Bridge Festival, and RibFest in Mankato opening for Sugar Ray. We frequent such places as the 7th Street Entry, Moto-I, and the Cabooze. We are thrilled to add the Northrop Music on the Plaza series to that list.
