Dan Keyes of Young Love @ The Bowery Ballroom on February 28, 2007
Dan Keyes, the 25-year-old frontman to the effervescent dancepop sensation Young Love 
, is currently being mobbed by a gaggle of girls clad in Young Love tank tops, their overwhelming adoration creating an impenetrable forcefield around him. This is the homecoming night, where Young Love has just played to a packed crowd at the Bowery Ballroom of friends and fans alike, after the culmination of their first headlining U.S. Tour.
Sweaty but still incredibly manicured, Dan is handling the, well, manhandling quite stoically. Perhaps its just his moment to bask in it, or perhaps he’s just relieved to finally be back home. The week prior, NickyDigital Embedded Journalist Amy Butler had a chance to chat with him while still on the road.
NickyDigital: Judging by the photos Nickydigital took at your CD release party, it looks like a really good time. Why don’t you tell me a little about that party.
Dan Keyes: Well we rented out this loft and we put up this Young Love wallpaper. We also put up a stage and lights. It was awesome, it was a party — a ton of free champagne and alcohol.
How long have you been living in New York?
About two years now.
What made you decide to move from Texas?
I was ready for a change. I just wanted to be in New York. I knew I wanted to live here at some point and a friend called, and I wasn’t doing anything awesome — I was playing a show every now and again with my old band and that was about it.
Recover ?
Yeah. And that was enough to keep me afloat. But it was just time. And my friend called me and said hey man I got this room up here, my roommate backed out. I had to ask my mom to buy me a ticket because I didn’t have any money. I just cruised up with a bag of clothes and my acoustic guitar. I was busing tables in the West Village and working at American Apparel folding clothes in the basement during the day.
So how did Young Love come about? How did you transition from Recover to this type of project?
Well I’d been writing these songs for years now, I’d write songs that weren’t rock songs. Then some djs started picking up on it in New York and started playing my stuff and then labels started coming at me. At first I was like no thanks. But then I was letting them buy me dinner. And then Island came at me really hard. Jay-Z was like you just sign here and I was like ok!
So do you go out a lot in New York? What are your favorite parts of the nightlife scene?
Yeah, I go out. I’m not as deep in it as a lot, but I go out. I used to hit up nights like Misshapes, and then I used to go to Niagara when the Ruff Kids had a night. Then they started doing it Friday nights at Annex and it got bigger and bigger. I remember when it was just a small dance party and now its fucking bananas! I can’t even — I guess I grew up a lot over the past year, just living in New York and getting this project up off the ground. But now I live on Rivington — and I don’t go to dance parties as much anymore. But since I live right there, I’m right next to Home Sweet Home, so I hit up Home Sweet Home and 205.
So what are your favorite venues to play in New York?
I’ve pretty much played everywhere. But I really like the Annex, we played every Thursday for a month.
What are your upcoming touring plans?
Well I’m on tour right now. I’ve been on tour for a month — headlining. Right now I’m on my way to Detroit. The show in Austin was sold out, last night in Chicago was sold out. It’s really been awesome — I mean, some of the shows have been kind of weak but those have been the cities that have no idea what’s going on anyways.
How is it different being on a major label than on an indie — how does it change how you go about making music and touring?
Well I haven’t out a record on an indie in like five years, so…I don’t know, there’s just more money behind it, really. It’s easier to tour, easier to record, easier to get things done when there’s money available.
You recently had ‘Find a New Way‘ as the theme to the MTV show Dancelife, how did that opportunity come about?
Well they just came at me. Jesse, this cat who worked for MTV and doesn’t work there anymore — he was like, this song is perfect for the show. And at first I was like, nah brah. But once I started to see that the show is about dancing and dancers, and not some stupid reality show…I’ve never actually seen the show, but it’s not some snobby rich white kids. When I was growing up, I used to take jazz and tap and ballet, so I was like alright. Plus MTV wouldn’t take no for an answer so I said go for it. Actually, I’m so glad I did it. The song ‘Find a New Way’ sold like 30,000 on iTunes now and its only been out for a few weeks.
So you think it had a lot to do with that exposure?
I think so, yes. So now I’m going to shoot a video for Find a New Way next month and we’re going to go to radio and MTV with that song.
When do you get back to New York?
We’re actually on our way back now. We hit Detroit, Cleveland and Philly and then we’re back home.
Lady Sov Robot Rock @ Movida on December 30, 2006
So you’ve been on tour with Lady Sov , and she’s huge right now. What was that experience like?
It was awesome, she’s so cool. I love her — I miss her! We’d get really drunk and just let each other stumble around chasing tail.
Well that should be a great home coming. Well congratulations on the album and tour, and New York will certainly be welcoming you back. Thanks for speaking with Nickydigital.com
Additional Links:
• Young Love @ Bowery Ballroom on Feb. 28, 2007
• Young Love CD Release Party on January 30, 2007