Woodbury resident releases song in honor of "The Avengers"
Woodbury resident Ryan Daniel recently released an original song called “The Avenger” that he wrote in honor of the recently released "The Avengers" film.By: Amber Kispert-Smith, Woodbury Bulletin
- Ryan Daniel
Like many moviegoers, Woodbury resident Ryan Daniel anxiously awaited Friday’s release of Marvel Comics “The Avengers.” However, Daniel has a bit stronger connection to the movie than most people.
Daniel recently released an original song called “The Avenger” that he wrote in honor of the film.
“I sat back and looked at the psyche of the superhero and the fact that people are so enthralled with them,” he said. “It speaks to who the real avenger is – it’s kind of a mosaic.”
Daniel’s YouTube video for “The Avenger” has already received over 600 views in just over a week.
In fact, Daniel has the goal of having his song included either on the soundtrack, on the movie’s DVD release or just be associated with the movie despite the movie being released on Friday.
“I’m talking with Universal Studios right now,” he said. “So we do have some feelers and some conversation.”
A life of music
Daniel, 37, is no stranger to music. He has been involved with music in some form for nearly 20 years.
Daniel came to Minnesota 14 years ago from the Caribbean island of Trinidad where he was very involved in music.
“I got turned onto the hip hop and dance hall scene in the 80s when it was pretty popular,” he said. “It just kind of grew from there.”
You might say that music is in Daniel’s blood – his cousin his platinum-selling recording artist Nicki Minaj.
“I have a superstar cousin I guess,” he said. “It’s always good to have one of those.”
When Daniel moved to Minnesota to study at Northwestern College in Roseville, he took a break from music for a while.
But he returned to the scene and has released two albums — “Life in General” and “The Prophets and the Planet.”
Daniel runs and owns his own video production company called “Zandolee.”
Over the years Daniel has had his fair share of successes, including reaching No. 39 on the Billboard Chart with his single “One Time.”
‘The Avenger’
It was about three months ago that Daniel decided he wanted to release a song based on “The Avengers” since there wasn’t really a title song for the movie.
“We’re making sure we’re strategic to what is happening in popular culture,” he said.
Daniel said it took upwards of 40 hours to record the song from its concept stages to finally being complete.
“The challenge is to write attractive hooks,” he said.
Daniel has undertaken similar YouTube marketing campaigns in the past.
In 2010, Daniel re-released a previously recorded song titled “The Saints” and timed it with a video of the New Orleans Saints, when the team was competing in the Super Bowl.
Daniel said this type of “creative positioning” as he calls it is a new trend for independent artists who are trying to market themselves in unique ways.
“The record companies, they’re kind of losing their power,” he said, “and the artists are realizing that the carrot isn’t real – they can actually achieve goals themselves.”
“We’re trying to take the power of man back into the (independent's) hands.”
Daniel realizes that the likelihood of his song being included in the film may be slim, however he is still happy to simply circulate the song to as many people as possible through downloads and radio.
In addition to being available for download on Daniel’s website, “The Avenger” is also going to be included on Daniel’s upcoming album to be released in June.
“We want people playing it at their superhero parties,” he said. “We want them driving to the movie with it.”
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