Leaning Into Adversity with Daniel Lew

RFU 070 - Daniel Lew
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Rosalyn Intro: [00:00:00] Hey friends, I'm Rosalyn Dennett and welcome to season five of Refolkus. Each episode I am joined by incredible guests from all areas of the music industry, for good conversations and informative chats with a focus on folk. Hello, our guest today is Daniel Lew. 13 years ago, Daniel Lew woke up from a nightmare to find that he had lost hearing in one ear. This shocking experience redirected his life and supercharged his love for music. Now he writes introspective songs that are anchored by folk also surfed between rock, soul, and Hip Hop. His melodies shine with honesty, Merging soulful vocals with catchy guitar riffs and groovy rhythms. He aims to sing every song as if it's the last, and hopes his vibes help make the world a better place.

[00:01:00] His heartfelt performances have caught the attention of Ed Sheeran, Jacob Collier and Dan Mangan. He has released four albums received, CBC Radio Play showcased nationally and internationally, including as an official showcase artist at the Full Canada Conference in 2025, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Currently. Daniel is delving back into writing and recording with a new album in the works for 2027.

Hello, Daniel. Welcome to Refolkus.

Daniel Lew: Thank you for the warm welcome, Rosalyn. It's a pleasure to meet you and great to be here.

Rosalyn Intro: it's great to have you here. And, at the end of that bio, I was teasing that you're working on a new record. And when you logged into the call, I saw you had a guitar in hand. What's the process like for you right now, and working on this new record?

Daniel Lew: I feel like I'm playing catch up on some songs that were actually written about a year and a half ago, but I need to. Revisit and tune up and polish lyrics primarily, and then enter the recording. But my, I think my process is kind of all over the place. Like I'm [00:02:00] always just grabbing at bits and bobs of like what I've made, whether that's, what song that's pretty much done and ready to be mastered or one that's still, needing to be polished.

So I don't really operate very linearly. I'm literally just like this mosaic.

Rosalyn Intro: that's. Really interesting. if you're approaching it, with a non-linear perspective, is that the same way that you've approached your other albums as well and you can just flow with it? Or are you, is this a different approach this time around?

Daniel Lew: Um, I'm notoriously this person that just goes on tangents with every aspect of my being. So I think it's actually just like how I operate. So if I don't have deadlines and things that provide external structure, it ends up being, just a free flowing. Joy,

Rosalyn Intro: And where in this process do you feel like you are, right now? do you have a producer lined up? Do you record yourself? Who are you working with to get this new music out there?

Daniel Lew: Yeah. For this project, most likely just a mastering engineer. Then most of the writing, recording, production [00:03:00] and mixing, I'm gonna handle. So it's pretty, pretty insular.

Rosalyn Intro: And you have your own studio, or do you use another studio?

Daniel Lew: primarily a home studio. But right now, I wanted to like start leaning into some of the rock energy a bit and so on some of those tracks where I, I'm not able to kind of program midi drums to the degree and create dynamics that I want to, I have a friend, uh, his name's Lucas McKinnon.

He operates Silverside Sound Studios in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island. And so, we'll utilize that studio to record jump tracks, and then I'll have those beds to then lay everything else on top. But for the most part, I'm able to do everything like in a home studio.

Rosalyn Intro: you identified any themes to this new music that you're writing?

Daniel Lew: There's this one song called Silence. I Am, and it was very much. I guess inspired by all these, I dunno, pseudo spirituality, self-help books I've been reading. But, I guess one theme kind of drawn and inspired from reading this type of work is, tapping into the awareness, so to speak, That is behind our thoughts and our, lived human [00:04:00] experience or what's observing all this, if beyond the thinking brain, and I know it's very heady, but, that theme is recurrent. maybe even just saying the simple, term self-help.

Maybe that's in that genre of books, like what, you know, whatever drives an individual to, to read that type of thing. I feel like some of those themes are coming through

Rosalyn Intro: Is there any, one of those books that you found like particularly inspiring or that you would recommend to, let's say, like another artist that wants to start on that journey or is interested in that sort of thing?

Daniel Lew: I'd say the Power of now by Eckhart Toll is a pretty solid staple. There's another one from my, probably one of my favorite, philosopher fellows. His name's Alan Watts. he's got a short one called The Wisdom of Insecurity. find myself revisiting that one. I'll reread that like every couple of years.

I would say those two, I I, maybe the power of now might be a little easier to digest. And then the wisdom of security is just like, it's, I would say it's more of like, it's got some extra spice to it. I think you gotta really wanna nerd out on this kind of concept you wanna [00:05:00] get a little more academic about it, then go that direction.

Rosalyn Intro: Yeah, you, mentioned how, this kind of reading has, you know, influenced some of the, the material. has it influenced your approach in general creatively has it, influenced the way that you approach making music?

Daniel Lew: I think it's helping me get out of my own way. I think you hear this kind of, you know, I've listened to so many great gurus of songwriting and production talking about, you know, just not being so critical of our work. Don't be the perfectionist. And I think just learning more of these concepts and to, to, to live in this way.

Yeah, it does bleed over into the creative process where if I can catch myself thinking and recognize that and then let go and then just continue to just. Whatever music wants to flow through, just let it flow through and not, to pigeonhole it with, the left side of my brain.

Rosalyn Intro: yeah. and you mentioned, learning from some other, producers and songwriters. who are some of the folks that have, been an influence on you? Like who are you looking to, when you're,

Drawing [00:06:00] inspiration from Producers or other songwriters or other artists.

Daniel Lew: Yeah. Like in that moment, right when you asked the question, Rick Rubin popped into my mind because like he's totally embodying that energy and Oh yeah, she mentioned his book, the Creative Act and, Just, whatever that guy's view is on, on just creation of art in general I resonate with that.

So, tapping back into that is, is helpful. I always think I have to remind myself of, there was a quote I read from, I think it was John Lennon he was in an interview and being asked about his songwriting process, and he was saying how he liked to have a book of poetry and lyrics and then he would write the music and he would, he would marry them together.

But then he met Bob Dylan and was like, what? This guy's literally just like speaking his mind as he's playing his guitar. That, just thinking about that interview alone, just hearing the two, just those two processes, I was very much more leaning. Like again, there's no right way, but I was definitely more in like John Lennon's camp and then just seeing his admiration over that and then just like trying to lean into that more, of what Bob Dylan was [00:07:00] doing.

I love to think back to that because. these are like, just subtle reminders of how flowy and, not easy, but just like, smooth the process can be

Rosalyn Intro: and let's talk a bit about your start in music. So in, your bio. Mentions, this incident where you wake up when you're, you're 13 and you lose the hearing in one ear. and how that, kinda kickstarts, looking at music in a different way. Did you have a relationship with music before that?

Like, were you taking lessons or were you, already performing at that young age?

Daniel Lew: Yeah, so, The hearing loss actually happened 13 years ago. as opposed to being 13. So that was in my, my mid or early twenties. But the relationship with music started around nine and you know, in grade five our music class had become this guitar class and you just have to visualize 30 kids with these classical guitars.

And there's one teacher just like teaching us how to strum and, and sing folk songs, essentially like. We were singing, ODI Oda by The Beatles. We were singing, good Riddance by Green Day, itsy Bitsy, teeny Weeny, yellow Polka, Z [00:08:00] Bikini, just like all these like fun songs. Mellow Yellow

shut out Miss Osby, I owe you a lot. So yeah, that was the beginning of like my actual playing. And then within a year of that, I was like, mom, like, uh, maybe I wanna take proper lessons, you know? And so I was fortunate that she was able to put me into a bit of a classical training for about one year.

so that's like as a player, but I think even just before the age of nine. Truly, I think where I fell in love with music was through movies and soundtracks, anything John Williams composed in particular, like those melodies are burned into my soul and, and I still, like, I just, they, they give me so much nostalgia.

So, yeah, I guess the, the affinity for music really started like as soon as I was like absorbing, that type of media.

Rosalyn Intro: that's really interesting because your music itself draws from a lot of different types of influence. And when you started writing your own music and started doing, original music, did you have a goal of mine or did you have an idea of like, I'm gonna be a folk singer, or I'm gonna write for film and television?

Do you have something in mind when you decided to start creating your own original [00:09:00] songs?

Daniel Lew: you know, I think my fir before I actually was kind of more in like this singer songwriter type of mode, my dream was to be in, in a pop punk band. but throughout my journey it just, the band, that type of unit it hasn't stuck and I'm trying not to force it.

And so, but I love music, so I've just continued to. Go onwards. So the vision kind of reshaped from that. And then, very much just became more of, once I'd started to digest various singer songwriters, like, and that happened around when I was in college. I guess the vision just kind of became, I didn't really have a vision.

I just like, I just loved doing it so much. And so, I was in this point of where I was gonna drop outta college to just be a songwriter. You know, at that time I was playing open mics, starting to write songs and then I think, again, with my left side of my brain, it was just like, you know what?

No, you gotta, you know, really stick to school, do that. And I kind of. I didn't quit music, but I I went on a tangent and I was focused on this other side of myself, then that's when the whole nightmare thing happened. And then, that, shifted the journey and, and it helped bring me back [00:10:00] to the music, although not immediately,

Rosalyn Intro: What were you studying in college?

Daniel Lew: I started in economics and then that didn't work well for me, so then I shifted into kinesiology,

is a study of human movement and anatomy and physiology.

Rosalyn Intro: you know, I think those are all applicable to the musician's lifestyle too. You know, you gotta be able to do your, musician's taxes, those self-employed taxes aren't easy. learn how to make some money in the business and then, take care of your body Do you feel like you incorporate any of those, skills you learned in college into today?

Daniel Lew: Yeah. And, and that's, It's amazing that you saw that through line right there because you know, I think sometimes I view my journey very segmented, but yeah, I'm learning now to, like, if I step back, you see the whole journey is just one, thing. And so it's all part. and so very much so, as, as musicians the talk about just like. posture and, being in one place for so long while we're recording, there's so many things that we've, you know, be aware of. And I think, some of my training in that regard helps make sure I'm tuning into my body and just trying to take care of myself and in these other ways and find, find some [00:11:00] balance.

Rosalyn Intro: Yeah, I think that's, something we can probably many folks could, could use a reminder to be aware of, you know? so when you ended up experiencing this nightmare and, wake up with this hearing loss, you know, you said that it kind of, it changed your relationship to music.

Can you explain a bit about that? How did it change your relationship?

Daniel Lew: You know, the biggest one was it was almost this glimpse of not being able to hear at all. So I lost 90% of my left side and that still persists to this day. and I have tinnitus 24 7 in the same ear. And so. Every day when I talk about my journey or I journal about it or share in, in this type of format, you know, it reminds me that like, oh wow, like life is precious, you know, and in the context of music, my music and sound is precious to me.

and that happens. So out of the blue, and though it was kind of a downer at first. I truly believe it's become my, my secret weapon. It's like the silver lining of my journey. And so overall just at face value, when I think about music and my, my love of sound, I don't take it for granted.

And I, I try to, practice [00:12:00] that gratitude on a regular basis. So. That's kind of like a broad stroke of how it's my relationship with it. I think it might've made me a little bit stubborn and in a sense of, you were asking about my process before and I think I have a knack unfortunately sometimes to like, want to do everything myself. but on the flip side, I know what I'm looking for with my creative vision and. Sometimes this experience with the hearing, it informs some of these decisions. 'cause I think, well, why not just see what happens, why don't I just try to do this? I think I would like that to be the story of my life, knowing that I gave it my all and I wanted to just bring this thing to life.

so that's just a couple, a couple of the ways that, that experience has re reshaped my relationship.

Rosalyn Intro: You know, you're talking about kind of the mindset shift, but was there like a physical way that you also had to respond? Like did you start physically having to make music in a different way or did it change that kinda process, experiencing the hearing loss?

Did you have to adjust kind of physically to how you made,

Daniel Lew: Mm-hmm. if I'm alone, just like with the guitar In that sense, generally no. 'cause I, you know, truly it [00:13:00] comes, comes from within us. And so it's, at that point it's more about feel than here, even though it's kind of, they're, they're both in tandem. but when I'm recording, that's when I started to experience this kind of shift, because I don't hear stereo equally.

So the 10% that I have in my left, it's only the low end, probably like sub 300 hertz. So if I put on headphones, I can still hear bass in the kick drum, but nothing else. So that's how I hear stereo, in general. So like if I'm sitting in front, my monitors, that's what I'll hear if I put on my headphones, that's what I hear.

so this physical, I'll call it a limitation, but maybe it's not. And the way it's affected me is. I have this extra layer of self-doubt because I'm like, oh, like I'm not hearing the way other people do, however, but that's evolved to a point of where, you know, this is how I hear it, so why don't I just make it the best that I can, even though this is how I literally am able to physically perceive it you know, and see what happens.

But that does create certain mind games of where you're like, oh, you know, you're trying to make something that's radio ready, or you know, all these [00:14:00] things that. I think as artists we go through processing these things. I have this other layer of where I'm like, how does this get impacted by the way I'm interpreting it?

so one work around, I do a lot of mixing and mono, which I'd learned by default that that actually is a technique that a lot of renowned mixing engine engineers do anyway, so, I think my acuity. On my right side to pick up on subtleties of detail. I think that's magnified as a result of just there's this cliche of like, if you lose a sense or you know, this other one, other ones get stronger to some degree.

I think I'm, I, I I'm feeling that to a degree, my right ear is very sensitive. and, you know, in a live context, you Definitely, it's even more hypersensitive now, you know? I mean, it's okay if I'm playing alone, but like, for sure, like I gotta, I gotta have like my custom earplugs if I, to have other musicians that I'm playing with. like I gotta have my monitors bias towards the right side or only have the right side on. You know, or if there's a stage that only has one monitor, it's on the left. Like I gotta move it. Like, I won't hear myself at all.

So like little things like this, I guess is how I've had to adapt in both like kind of studio [00:15:00] versus live

Rosalyn Intro: have you come up against any, resistance or conflict? when you're touring and going into new venues, has it been easy to communicate your needs and people have been responsive or, you feel like there's been any like difficulties in, being able to accommodate whatever you need to, to put on your performance?

Daniel Lew: You know, I think I have to budget more time for. Sound checks, but you know, there's times where that's just physically not possible. Like in, let's say like a, more like a festival format where it's just like a quick changeover. however, I'll shout out to Shakur Osada for this.

'cause I had a great conversation with her about, you know, talking about being able to ask for. Your needs. Like if you are someone that has a degree of hearing impairment, and that's actually something that I hadn't been as vocal about. I wasn't telling, whoever was running the sound in advance that, Hey, look like this is a reality.

Like I might need some extra time to like make sure I can figure things out. So I'm still kind of fine tuning that process and learning how to just make [00:16:00] sure, obviously my riders are up to date and maybe have extra notes about that and that, you know, and just be more forward that need more time.

Rosalyn Intro: That's great. I love the shout out to Shakura front of the show. Board member of FAE Canada. You know, Shakur's done, coaching on, Live performance. And I think at the full Canada conference in 2025, it was specifically about like that relationship between the artist and the sound tech and like how to ask for what you want and focusing on that, relationship because there's really a lot of different, dynamics and different, demographics of people that might be uncomfortable in some of those situations. So, it makes me really happy to hear that, some of the stuff that, she was talking about resonated with you and I, think it's a cool conversation to continue to have So then now as you're looking forward to this next album coming out, you mentioned, that you're doing a lot of the work yourself.

it really interests me that you said that you're, you're gonna probably hire out mastery, you didn't say mixing and you're, you're mentioning that you're [00:17:00] still listening to the mixes. and like how you've adapted it, you know, to mono instead of stereo and, I feel like now when, when we're listening to your music and now go back now and listen to your music, we'll hear it on the, the radio show as well. But I feel like we get a glimpse into your process in a different way, than we might have otherwise. Is that something that is conscious to you when, you know, especially since you were facing, some adversity in knowing that you might not be hearing the same thing that other folks are hearing.

Was that kind of a conscious decision to go into that anyways and maybe let some folks into the way that you hear things.

Daniel Lew: I guess I wasn't thinking about it extrinsically about trying to share it in that way to, like you're saying, letting the people into my world to hear what I'm hearing. But I think there's some degree of self-serving of, I wanna, I owe it to myself to just, I'm like, you know, that's fine that this is what I hear.

And that doesn't need to be corrected because that's what I hear and I think there's something to me that. I wanted to just, yeah, just do that. That felt the most holistic because, it's not that I haven't worked with mixing engineers and other producers. I still do [00:18:00] from time to time on, on some songs.

but throughout the process of doing that, I've seen, in regards to just like making adjustments and things like that. It's, which is, you know, that's part of the creative collaborative process. There's nothing, nothing wrong with that, But again, yeah, focusing on this idea of getting past the self-doubt that what I hear is okay, and that's more than enough to be able to share that.

Like yeah, I want to be able to do that because that's me pushing or persevering through the adversity that, the hearing has presented for me.

Rosalyn Intro: I feel like there's another tie in there to what you were mentioning earlier with one of the books that you recommended, the Insecurity.

Daniel Lew: The Wisdom of Insecurity by

Rosalyn Intro: of insecurity. Yeah. I kind of see this through line there with maybe some of, that message and then, you know, taking any adversity and turning it into kind of a, a superpower there.

do you feel like you gained some wisdom or some confidence from, some of that literature you were reading about that that. Feels more empowering.

Daniel Lew: Yeah. I think so. Whenever I revisit, you know, these types of books and these types of messages. I I overthink a lot, so it does help me [00:19:00] slow down and take a step back and remember, know, what's important, you know, just I think in life in general and how to like live a, peaceful and calm life Once I'm reminded of that, then yeah, it, it comes back and it helps out with the music.

Rosalyn Intro: I'd love to get a glimpse into what is living that good life for you, and what are those tools that you use to find that, piece, you know, what does that journey look like for you?

Daniel Lew: In the context of the songwriting if I create songs that tell stories or, or kind of rehash some of these messages, it's like songwriting has always been my way of expression and to understand what, you know, whatever's. My understanding of the world around me.

Right? And so since songwriting is the backbone of that, it's the same thing now that I've kind of gone on this path of wanting to like, learn more, and read these types of books. So writing the songs is by far like the biggest reminder that I'll have. And then when I sing them every, every opportunity when I tell a story about the song and then I play the song and and sing it, I'm totally just transported back into that.

I think like. like [00:20:00] any song really, we get tra like music, it always transports us back to whatever. Right. And interestingly enough, I'm seeing that same thing happen with these types of songs. And then reminds me of the lesson I was trying to review by writing the song.

so that's one way, that's just through the, songwriting and then other things like I alluded to journaling, so, you know, again, journaling is kind of a broad term, but I had developed a, a practice for a while where I'd split it up into a couple different chunks where I'd, you know, I'd write intentions, you know, like I will do my best to be the best human that I can today, like for the world, like just writing kind of cheesy statements like that, but.

Just like setting that type of goal. And then, or help, I'm gonna play music like it's the last time today, you know, with all my heart, you know, this type of thing. So intentions, and then I'd write some gratitudes. You know, I'm, I'm so grateful that I can have the opportunity to share my, my journey on this, on this podcast, you know, and, or, you know, I'm grateful that I can still hear, you know, these types of things.

and then affirmations, to reinstill what I've learned and I am a success. I am these types of statements that, you know, yeah. [00:21:00] So I guess these types of tools have helped take those messages and then just bridge it into a daily, practice.

and then just in a more simple state. Going back to this, like I said, reading these books that are just talking about being aware, being a little bit more aware of what's going on and just being present. It's just trying to be that mindful about almost everything, right? And including the mundane.

And I think since I've done that, you know, my, my love of washing dishes by hand has really improved. I don't know, it's just like, you know, anything and just trying to be. Fully here. Yeah.

Rosalyn Intro: I wanna, now that we're fully here, I wanna take us back to, 2025 when you were at our conference, you led a session. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about that experience and what that was like for you.

Daniel Lew: That was great. I was quite nervous about stepping into that leadership role, but I was humbled that I was asked. So I took it as a, a message from the universe that, you know, you should, you should do it right. And so our panel was delegates with disabilities and initially, I was told, oh, [00:22:00] probably won't be that many people showing up, and there was probably at least 10 people that showed up. And it was great. a lot of the individuals that participated, shared that. It was a very impactful moment for them to just be in a, I think in the musical community at.

folk Canada we're here together, and then we were, opening up about, pretty personal stuff. Right. But, and then in the context of, you know, I created space so that everyone could just feel heard and have a moment to share their story, but then steered it into the context of the music industry.

And, some of the questions you had asked me about like, well, how has it impact you physically or creatively, and. it felt pretty profound to sit down with that group and do that. And the, the feedback was great. And I'm very happy that I leaned into that.

But yeah, initially I, I was nervous because just like you are with anything

that's new, right?

Rosalyn Intro: yeah,

Well, thank you for doing that and, and stepping up into that, Leadership role? Was there something that, you know, after, sharing these, folk stories and getting this feedback, was there any sort of takeaway that you feel like you have in terms of, how the music industry at large, [00:23:00] Is, you know, interacting with, folks with disabilities and, is there a dialogue that we can be having that can be more empowering

Daniel Lew: Well, one thing that's coming through is. And it's, I think it's more on the, the, the side of the artist to, again, just, know that the disability that you've experienced really is your superpower. And we should own that and be proud to share about that and not feel like it's your overburdening by sharing that information.

and to be, confident in voicing our needs, especially in the live context like we were talking about before. That was something that was a very common theme, especially for individuals that had been, uh, more, uh, on the hearing impaired side of things. You know, this like, just not speaking out to do say this is what we need.

'cause and, and which seems kind of ironic 'cause it's like, it's about music and sound. It's like the most important thing. We gotta be able to hear ourselves. Right. So I don't know. I think it's kind of, it did kind of just touch on just the general concept of empathy, I think, and just, you know, you don't know someone's story and, again, that's a very cliche, [00:24:00] don't judge a book by its cover. But, I think it's just, a reminder as well, just to, take the time to learn someone's story and, put yourself in the shoes of that individual to really see their point of view.

Rosalyn Intro: Well I'm, I'm really, grateful that you've spent some time with us today sharing your story. for folks who want to get to know you better and find your music, how do you want folks to interact with you?

Do you have a website? are you on social media? Where can folks find you?

Daniel Lew: I'm pretty much everywhere, so yeah, if, if you, if you Google Daniel Lou, LEW, you'll find me Most social media accounts, it's just. D-A-N-L-E-W. If you type that in, you'll find me. Or any music platform, same thing. Put in my name, you'll, you'll find me. So

Rosalyn Intro: Great, and we'll, definitely link to, all that stuff in our show notes as well. So I really encourage everyone to go and, listen to some music. Are you playing live at all?

Are there any gigs up?

Daniel Lew: kind of on a, you know, taking a little bit of a, I'm always busking. 'cause busking is a part of my, ethos that's just doing music every day. So like, that's very, it's actually very therapeutic for me to do it in [00:25:00] that context. Yeah, no tours, no major performances, for the time being as I kind of reshape and try to settle back into this creative time.

Rosalyn Intro: All right. Well, well. We'll listen for you out on the street and,

Daniel Lew: All right.

Rosalyn Intro: and we'll be eagerly awaiting those new recordings and in the meantime, enjoying the ones you got out there. and again, I encourage folks to go and, and, and check out all of, Daniel's links that are gonna be in the notes here.

Daniel, thank you so much for, for chatting with us today.

Daniel Lew: Thank you for having me and just being superstar interviewer. That was, that was, you made it really easy for me to talk. Thank you

Rosalyn Intro: Ah, thank you. We'll do it again soon.

That's all for this episode, folks. The Refocus Podcast is an original production by Folk Canada. Find out more about us by heading to folk canada.com/refocus. That's KU. The podcast is produced by Kayla Neon and Rosalyn De and mixed by Jordan Moore at the Pod [00:26:00] Cabin. The opening theme is written and performed by King Cardiac, the artwork is by Jamie Karin, please give us a download, subscribe, rate, and review to let us know you're listening. And be sure to follow Folk Canada on social media for the latest updates, events, and more.