Today we’d like to introduce you to Darren Quam.
Hi Darren, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started playing the guitar around the age of fifteen. Although I had been involved in some music growing up before this, like being in choir and band in school, also took some piano lessons. But all of these early interactions with music were there because I was put there in that situation and didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have. At that point in my life, I would have rather been outside playing in the woods or riding my bike.
Finally, around the age of 15, I had convinced my parents to allow me to quit the school band and choir and I decided I didn’t want anything to do with music. Shortly after this, I was introduced to the great music from the 60s and 70s thanks to my older sister Amanda. Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and Janis Joplin were the first musical heroes that captured all of my attention. Then I picked up my sister Amanda’s guitar and was obsessed with trying to learn all my favorite guitar music. Which I still am obsessed with. I knew I had to start a band so I approached a classmate that I knew played guitar and asked if he wanted to jam.
At this time my classmate Todd and I did not get along but we became the best of friends. He decide to play bass and we played with many different drummers over the years. We played anywhere that would hire us. We played so many shows and learned a lot doing so. We also just jammed together every day for many years. We played in the band Confusion for almost fifteen years. We still occasionally play shows together. More recently I have been playing a lot of solo shows using a looper pedal to be able to play multiple guitar parts at once. Also, I’m playing in a band called “Darren Quam and Friends”.
I have been writing and recording my own music, releasing 2 albums and a couple of singles in the last few years. I have been more focused on writing and playing my own music but also love playing covers of classic artists. In the last few years, I have been escaping the Minnesota winters and traveling the world. When I get back in the spring I’m refreshed and ready to play as many shows as possible throughout the summer and fall!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not easy trying to make a living as a musician. Going on a bit of an alternative lifestyle is always a little difficult.
Just going out and trying to get shows and get hired in different places is difficult. You also have to be vulnerable to put your work out there. I’m painfully shy and was even more so when I was younger so getting up in front of everybody to perform seemed almost impossible.
But the power of the music is much stronger than that fear. Staying true to yourself is also a challenge. When there are maybe easier ways to get to a place that is considered more “successful”. Shortcuts. But I have found that my own view of success is maybe different than the majority. Staying true to yourself is a process that has no shortcuts.
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. I play guitar and sing. Also, I play harmonica, bass, and keyboards.
Although I really love the guitar. I would say I’m most known for my guitar playing. I’m proud of the music that I have written, recorded, and released.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I don’t see any major changes in the music industry.
On my local level, we have a very good local music scene with many places that will give you the opportunity to do your thing. With the trend of microbreweries popping up everywhere, there are more and more places to perform.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.darrenquam.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darren_quam
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarrenQuammusic
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCg6BsBMkIibJ7vmRo2P8WHw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vpv4qxvwz8GuSpzqzZRHL
