Rearview is a solo project by Binghamton, New York, native Dan Clarke. Despite being a one-man project, Rearview is renowned for its innovative partnerships with numerous artists in the field. Rearview pushes to break down the barriers and stigmas that surround manufactured music and has no fixed genre, allowing art to go back to its purest form: pure expression.
In October 2021, Rearview released its debut single, “Ill Be Ok,” which featured JT Tollas of Famous Last Words. The project is now back with an Indie Rock EP that features Tom Jolu, a musician of enormous talent. Check out the latest EP “Do Your Best” EP and the exclusive interview with Rearview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
REARVIEW: I’m from Binghamton, New York. I’ve always loved music. I started out playing violin and cello when I was younger and then moved to guitar when I was about 14.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
REARVIEW: I was in orchestra in middle school and then started taking some guitar classes my first year of high school. I took some private lessons for a couple months after as well. From there I taught myself a lot more on my own, including teaching myself to play some bass, drums, and piano. Nothing too serious but just enough to fill out the guitar parts I was writing.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘REARVIEW’?
REARVIEW: My first major influence was definitely Green Day. I remember hearing American Idiot for the first time and then running to buy their entire discography.
The name Rearview means that I’m watching everything, whether good or bad, pass me by. Every day that passes is behind me now and I just have to keep going. Or who knows, maybe it means that I can see something else catch back up to me. Either way it’s a reason to just make sure I keep moving forward.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
REARVIEW: Rearview is a little different than any other projects I’ve been a part of. It started with me just doing some guitar covers to get myself playing again after a couple years of not doing much at all. I was going through a lot at the time and not being able to play wasn’t helping the situation at all. I needed to be able to create and express myself through music again.
Me being the only member of Rearview gives me the freedom to write whatever I want, so I can’t really boil it down to any specific genre. The first Song I wrote for Rearview was very Emo while this new EP is Indie Rock.
REARVIEW:
I love when people can relate to something I’ve written in their own personal way. They don’t necessarily need to know the exact meaning or story behind the song for it to mean something to them too.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
REARVIEW:
I definitely think music is a great way to get out any message you have for the world, or even just as a way to get your feelings out. I’ve always felt like I shouldn’t really worry about what anyone else thinks as long as I’m proud of what I’m writing, and if someone else ends up liking it too then that’s awesome. I’ve written sad songs, silly songs, and serious songs, but they’ve always been what I wanted them to be.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
REARVIEW:
Its definitely very fulfilling. Like I said before, I love hearing that someone else likes what I’ve written, but its more for me than anything else.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
REARVIEW:
A lot of times I start a song by accident, usually messing around while playing and then thinking “Oh wait that sounded cool”, and then running with it. Ill usually record a little demo on my phone so I can listen back and play along while trying out things to add or continue it until its finished. I usually have A LOT of rough drafts before a song is finished though.
9. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
REARVIEW: I’m always open to criticism if its constructive, but I don’t entertain anyone who just wants to hate on something because its different than what they like. A lot of people have the mentality of whatever they listen to is “real music” and anything else isn’t, and I hate that. There’s a fan for everyone so don’t be afraid to put your work out there.
10. What would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
REARVIEW: The best things in my life are my wife and two children. They’re the only things that keep me going and they keep pushing me to do the best that I can in everything I do. They’re definitely my biggest fans and that’s all the success that I need.
The first song Rearview released was actually written for my wife and son during a pretty dark point in my life. So that’s a nice little sentimental piece of my music career that will stay with us forever.
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