Dany Horovitz is a Canadian singer-songwriter known for delighting audiences with his memorable melodies and beautiful storytelling through vivid lyrics of love, loss, and life, drawing inspiration from ancient poets, modern philosophers, and personal experiences. Born to a middle-class Jewish family in Montreal and raised outside Toronto, Dany‘s music is infused with modern takes on familiar sounds: melodic guitar and piano chords, popping bass licks, and toe-tapping percussion.

“Roads and Roses” is about more than a break-up, it’s about breaking promises. The new single features an all-star cast of collaborators: The Strumbellas‘ Izzy Ritchie on fiddle, The OBGMs‘ Colanthony Humphrey on drums, Shade‘s Sean Royle on bass, guitar, and keys.

• What can you share with readers about your new project?

Roads and Roses is an upbeat, folk-rock instant classic. It’s the first single from my next album, Days Never Know, and my first time collaborating with Izzy Ritchie from The Strumbellas, who plays fiddle on the track. And she does an amazing job. 

• How does this release compare with your other projects you had in the past?

I’ve added strings on music before but usually to add depth of emotion, for a sweeping ballad like Downward Into The Dark. This is the first time that we added fiddle to add energy and drive, make the song roots-rock. And wow does it work.

• What about this single makes you most proud?

That’s a good question, and a hard one to answer. I love the way it came together, it sounds like everyone’s been playing together for years. For my part, this song took me longer to write than most. For some reason, I had it in my head to write a song with two specific metaphors: a flower bed as a metaphor for building a relationship and a highway as a metaphor for leaving it. I’m pretty satisfied that I was able to pull it off. 

• Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

The last few songs I released, No Heroes Here or Be Good, for instance, each had a very chill energy to them. And I love those songs. But with Roads and Roses, I wanted to kick up the energy and remind everyone that I still know how to rock. 

• What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

Probably it’s less motivation than the fact I love doing it. I love writing songs and playing music, and getting into the recording studio. All of it.

• If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.

I’m so lucky to have collaborated with some of Toronto’s best musicians already: Sean Royle, Cola Humphrey, and Izzy Ritchie on this song alone. Plus my next song, Simply Because, is a collaboration with trumpeter Rudy Ray Kwaku, who is one of Canada’s best brass players. So I’m a very fortunate guy.

Cola’s band, The OBGMS https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Sp7HTc7BNbSx0SPiHVeRI?si=pvJTwXTfTXWalsySxMu4pQ

Izzy’s band, The Strumbellas https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ujr1NkqbZpYOhquczUUfl?si=yz53RrjrRoqzgaWPyBknkQ

Sean’s band, The Bleedjng Idahos https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bdGk9dULCDvZORh5iCVUY?si=vmra81d5QdSFKo-IfzphEQ

Rudy’s trumpeting playlist here https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vVetb0LSEEix4NmZLJJh0?si=PpRQZ9D1S1mUemPTx_AMew&pi=u-q6HlX6-jSSyZ

Someone I’ve never worked with before but came across recently in classical artist named Alexandra Stréliski. She’s a wildly acclaimed composer but I had only just discovered her, and her music blew me away. That’s someone I’d love to work with. I recommend to anyone and everyone to check out her outstanding album Néo-Romance, which gave me real Ludovico Einauldi vibes. Tremendous.

• What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?

Speaking of the greats, my favourite band of all time is The Beatles of course and the very last song I was listening to as it happens was In My Life from Rubber Soul.

• Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

The best thing of course is to listen to me wherever you get your music! 

Aside from that, I am on instagram @danyhorovitz and that’s the best place to connect. I am also on all the other platforms, easily found by searching for me by name, Dany Horovitz.

• I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off?

I’ll be playing at The Cameron House in Toronto on June 12 as part of the NXNE festival. For anyone who wants to hear some tunes please do come check out my show and the festival overall. Aside from that, thank you for making space for me and music.