Dave Janusko
Encyclopedia
Dave Janusko is a BMI
Award-winning songwriter, musician, producer, DJ, and remixer. He lives in San Francisco.
, then moved to New York City in 1988. Janusko and vocalist Tom Mullady teamed up to record music demos as emo / punk band The Medicine Men.
In the early 1990s, Janusko was a bass player and songwriter for the Bay Area pop band The Himalayans
, which included members Adam Duritz
(before the formation of his band Counting Crows
), Dan Jewett
, Chris Roldan, and Marty Jones. In the Himalayans, Dave co-wrote the song "Round Here
," which was then re-recorded by Adam Duritz’s new band Counting Crows and became the second hit off their 1993 release August and Everything After
. In 2007, Duritz's Tyrannosaurus Records released She Likes the Weather
, the original recordings of The Himalayans, which had not been publicly available previously. This release included the original recording of "Round Here
". "Round Here" earned Janusko a BMI Pop Music Award in 1996.
Janusko joined the electronic industrial band My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
(TKK) as the principal guitarist in 1997, using the stage name Davey Dasher. He toured internationally with TKK through 2004.
In 2000, Janusko collaborated with TKK drummer James Basore (a.k.a. James Fury) to create the live electronic band The Diamond Galaxy. Working with BZ Lewis and Studio 132, The Diamond Galaxy released their self-published debut, Technophiliacs, in 2001. The first song on Technophiliacs, “Another Day Until Tomorrow,” was featured in the Electronic Arts
video game NHL 2001 and was awarded Best Industrial Song 2002 by the Just Plain Folks Music Organization
. The song “It’s All A Game” was featured on MTV’s Making the Video
: Dr. Dre, and “Alive and Dreaming” was featured on MTV’s Undressed
.
Over the years, The Diamond Galaxy morphed into a live breakbeat
band, featuring different members, including Meat Beat Manifesto
drummer Lynn Farmer, and drummer Robin Eckman (Good Charlotte
).
In 2004, Janusko and vocalist Krystle Jones teamed up to create the musical act Firefly, a blend of funk
, rock
, soul
, and diva house
. Former 4 Non Blondes
drummer Dawn Richardson joined Firefly on stage for a couple of performances in San Francisco.
Most recently, Janusko has been playing lead guitar in the San Francisco outlaw country
/ honky-tonk band The Plain High Drifters. The band includes members Smelley Kelley and Les James from Red Meat
, bassist/vocalist Tom Armstrong, and banjo/guitar player Eric Embry of The Burning Embers.
Since early 2009, Janusko has been working with Meat Beat Manifesto
front man Jack Dangers
, contributing guitar and bass to new tracks and remixes. He collaborated with Dangers to create “In C – Extension,” a remix of Terry Riley
’s avant-garde musical composition In C
, for the album In C Remixed.
, and 24-Hour Fitness
. He has teamed up with film producer Drea Cooper to provide the soundtrack for online videos and public service announcements for the Pearson Foundation, the Milk-Bone Canine Assistants program, and the law firm Townsend & Townsend & Crew. In 2008, he wrote the soundtrack for the award-winning short film, The Trade, which was created as part of the 48 Hour Film Project
in San Francisco.
. He also plays an assortment of Fender, Gretsch
, Gibson
, and Music Man
instruments, in addition to Nord
synthesizers. For production and sequencing, Janusko uses Ableton Live
and Propellerheads Reason software.
Firefly – The Big 8: Double Golden (2004)
The Himalayans
– She Likes the Weather
(re-release of 1991 recording) (Tyrannosaurus Records, 2007)
(Underground Inc., 2002)
"Flesh Playhouse: Give Us Flesh Remix," on Golden Pills: The Luna Remixes by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
(Underground Inc., 2002)
"In C – Extension," on In C Remixes by Terry Riley
(Innova Records, 2009)
Toyota Belt Buckle Ad with Hoffman/Lewis
Regional/National TV, Single Spots, Consumer Products, Automotive
RIAA
Platinum Record Award
August And Everything After
- Counting Crows
("Round Here
")
7,000,000 sales
RIAA
Gold Record Award
Films About Ghosts - Counting Crows
("Round Here
")
500,000 sales
Best Industrial Song 2002
The Diamond Galaxy: "Another Day Until Tomorrow"
(First Place)
Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Best Industrial Album 2002
The Diamond Galaxy: Technophiliacs
(Fourth Place)
Just Plain Folks Music Organization
BMI
Pop Music Award 1995
"Round Here
"
(Counting Crows
)
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Award-winning songwriter, musician, producer, DJ, and remixer. He lives in San Francisco.
Career
Janusko studied graphic design at Kent State UniversityKent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, then moved to New York City in 1988. Janusko and vocalist Tom Mullady teamed up to record music demos as emo / punk band The Medicine Men.
In the early 1990s, Janusko was a bass player and songwriter for the Bay Area pop band The Himalayans
The Himalayans
The Himalayans were a rock band formed in San Francisco in 1990 by Dan Jewett and Chris Roldan. They prided themselves on the quality of their live performances, putting considerable effort into audio engineering to get a "studio" sound in live venues....
, which included members Adam Duritz
Adam Duritz
Adam Fredric Duritz is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer. He is best known for his role as frontman and vocalist for the rock band Counting Crows, in which he is a founding member and principal composer of their catalogue of songs.Duritz has recorded solo...
(before the formation of his band Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
), Dan Jewett
Dan Jewett
Daniel Ryan Jewett is a musician and journalist.He was born in Orange, California, USA and has lived in New Mexico, Colorado, San Francisco, and, most recently, Oakland...
, Chris Roldan, and Marty Jones. In the Himalayans, Dave co-wrote the song "Round Here
Round Here
"Round Here" was released in 1994 from Geffen Records as the second single from the Counting Crows' debut album, August and Everything After ....
," which was then re-recorded by Adam Duritz’s new band Counting Crows and became the second hit off their 1993 release August and Everything After
August and Everything After
August and Everything After is the first commercially released album of the American rock band Counting Crows, released September 14, 1993....
. In 2007, Duritz's Tyrannosaurus Records released She Likes the Weather
She Likes the Weather
She Likes the Weather is a 17 song album by the San Francisco band The Himalayans produced by Dan Jewett from a December 1991 studio recording and their original demo tape, re-released on compact disc in 2002 ....
, the original recordings of The Himalayans, which had not been publicly available previously. This release included the original recording of "Round Here
Round Here
"Round Here" was released in 1994 from Geffen Records as the second single from the Counting Crows' debut album, August and Everything After ....
". "Round Here" earned Janusko a BMI Pop Music Award in 1996.
Janusko joined the electronic industrial band My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois.-History:...
(TKK) as the principal guitarist in 1997, using the stage name Davey Dasher. He toured internationally with TKK through 2004.
In 2000, Janusko collaborated with TKK drummer James Basore (a.k.a. James Fury) to create the live electronic band The Diamond Galaxy. Working with BZ Lewis and Studio 132, The Diamond Galaxy released their self-published debut, Technophiliacs, in 2001. The first song on Technophiliacs, “Another Day Until Tomorrow,” was featured in the Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
video game NHL 2001 and was awarded Best Industrial Song 2002 by the Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Just Plain Folks Music Organization is a website and community founded by Brian Austin Whitney with the intent of helping anyone involved in the music industry to network, share their experiences, build relationships, and grow...
. The song “It’s All A Game” was featured on MTV’s Making the Video
Making the Video
Making the Video is an MTV show, consisting of half-hour episodes, which chronicles the process of filming various music videos. Usually the director outlines the concept of the video and the show often includes light-hearted and humorous moments. It always concludes with a premiere of the...
: Dr. Dre, and “Alive and Dreaming” was featured on MTV’s Undressed
Undressed (TV series)
Undressed is an American anthology series that aired on MTV from July 26, 1999 to September 5, 2002. The series was created and executive produced by British director Roland Joffé.-Synopsis:...
.
Over the years, The Diamond Galaxy morphed into a live breakbeat
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
band, featuring different members, including Meat Beat Manifesto
Meat Beat Manifesto
Meat Beat Manifesto, often shortened to Meat Beat or MBM, is an electronic music group originally consisting of Jack Dangers and Jonny Stephens formed in 1987 in Swindon, UK...
drummer Lynn Farmer, and drummer Robin Eckman (Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...
).
In 2004, Janusko and vocalist Krystle Jones teamed up to create the musical act Firefly, a blend of funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, and diva house
Diva house
Diva house or Handbag house is an anthemic sub-genre of house music that became most popular in gay clubs during the nineties decade. It is known for booming female vocals, sometimes sampled from other recordings. Such samples come from 1970s soul, disco, gospel recordings and even show tunes sung...
. Former 4 Non Blondes
4 Non Blondes
4 Non Blondes was an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1989. The group was formed by bassist Christa Hillhouse, guitarist Shaunna Hall, drummer Wanda Day, and vocalist and guitarist Linda Perry. Prior to the release of their first album, Roger Rocha replaced Hall on...
drummer Dawn Richardson joined Firefly on stage for a couple of performances in San Francisco.
Most recently, Janusko has been playing lead guitar in the San Francisco outlaw country
Outlaw country
Outlaw country is a subgenre of country music, most popular during the late 1960s and the 1970s , sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music...
/ honky-tonk band The Plain High Drifters. The band includes members Smelley Kelley and Les James from Red Meat
Red Meat (band)
Red Meat is a country band that has released the albums "Meet Red Meat" , "Thirteen" , "Alameda County Line" and "We Never Close" . The last three albums were produced by Dave Alvin, and engineered by Mark Linett...
, bassist/vocalist Tom Armstrong, and banjo/guitar player Eric Embry of The Burning Embers.
Since early 2009, Janusko has been working with Meat Beat Manifesto
Meat Beat Manifesto
Meat Beat Manifesto, often shortened to Meat Beat or MBM, is an electronic music group originally consisting of Jack Dangers and Jonny Stephens formed in 1987 in Swindon, UK...
front man Jack Dangers
Jack Dangers
Jack Dangers is an electronic musician, DJ, producer, and remixer best known for his work as the primary member of Meat Beat Manifesto. He lives in San Francisco.-Career:...
, contributing guitar and bass to new tracks and remixes. He collaborated with Dangers to create “In C – Extension,” a remix of Terry Riley
Terry Riley
Terrence Mitchell Riley, is an American composer intrinsically associated with the minimalist school of Western classical music and was a pioneer of the movement...
’s avant-garde musical composition In C
In C
In C is a semi-aleatoric musical piece composed by Terry Riley in 1964 for any number of people, although he suggests "a group of about 35 is desired if possible but smaller or larger groups will work"...
, for the album In C Remixed.
Other work
In addition to his live and recorded music collaborations, Janusko has produced music for several TV and radio ads, including Toyota, AT&TAT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, and 24-Hour Fitness
24-Hour Fitness
24 Hour Fitness is the world's largest privately owned and operated fitness center chain, and third in number of clubs behind Gold's Gym and Fitness First of the UK. It currently has 425 clubs and over 20,000 employees in the U.S.A. The company has its corporate office located in San Ramon,...
. He has teamed up with film producer Drea Cooper to provide the soundtrack for online videos and public service announcements for the Pearson Foundation, the Milk-Bone Canine Assistants program, and the law firm Townsend & Townsend & Crew. In 2008, he wrote the soundtrack for the award-winning short film, The Trade, which was created as part of the 48 Hour Film Project
48 Hour Film Project
The 48 Hour Film Project is a contest in which teams of filmmakers are assigned a genre, a character, a prop, and a line of dialogue, and have 48 hours to create a short film containing those elements. Shortly after the 48 hours of filmmaking, the films from each city are then screened at a theater...
in San Francisco.
Equipment
Since 1998, Janusko has been endorsed by Washburn GuitarsWashburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer. It was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. Washburn is a part of U.S. Music Corporation.- History :...
. He also plays an assortment of Fender, Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
, Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
, and Music Man
Music Man (company)
Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
instruments, in addition to Nord
Nord (Clavia)
Nord is a Swedish virtual analog synthesizer and organ manufacturer. Nord keyboards are handmade in Sweden by Clavia DMI AB.-The company:Clavia was founded in 1983 by Hans Nordelius together with Mikael Carlsson in Stockholm, Sweden...
synthesizers. For production and sequencing, Janusko uses Ableton Live
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
and Propellerheads Reason software.
Albums
The Diamond Galaxy – Technophiliacs (2001)Firefly – The Big 8: Double Golden (2004)
The Himalayans
The Himalayans
The Himalayans were a rock band formed in San Francisco in 1990 by Dan Jewett and Chris Roldan. They prided themselves on the quality of their live performances, putting considerable effort into audio engineering to get a "studio" sound in live venues....
– She Likes the Weather
She Likes the Weather
She Likes the Weather is a 17 song album by the San Francisco band The Himalayans produced by Dan Jewett from a December 1991 studio recording and their original demo tape, re-released on compact disc in 2002 ....
(re-release of 1991 recording) (Tyrannosaurus Records, 2007)
Remixes
"Radio Silicon: Silverado Remix," on Golden Pillz: The Luna Remixes by My Life with the Thrill Kill KultMy Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois.-History:...
(Underground Inc., 2002)
"Flesh Playhouse: Give Us Flesh Remix," on Golden Pills: The Luna Remixes by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois.-History:...
(Underground Inc., 2002)
"In C – Extension," on In C Remixes by Terry Riley
Terry Riley
Terrence Mitchell Riley, is an American composer intrinsically associated with the minimalist school of Western classical music and was a pioneer of the movement...
(Innova Records, 2009)
Awards
2008 Silver ADDY AwardAddy Awards
The ADDY Awards is the world's largest advertising competition with over 50,000 entries annually. Founded in Florida in 1960 it was adopted by the American Advertising Federation, a not-for-profit industry association, as a national competition in 1968....
Toyota Belt Buckle Ad with Hoffman/Lewis
Regional/National TV, Single Spots, Consumer Products, Automotive
RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
Platinum Record Award
August And Everything After
August and Everything After
August and Everything After is the first commercially released album of the American rock band Counting Crows, released September 14, 1993....
- Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
("Round Here
Round Here
"Round Here" was released in 1994 from Geffen Records as the second single from the Counting Crows' debut album, August and Everything After ....
")
7,000,000 sales
RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
Gold Record Award
Films About Ghosts - Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
("Round Here
Round Here
"Round Here" was released in 1994 from Geffen Records as the second single from the Counting Crows' debut album, August and Everything After ....
")
500,000 sales
Best Industrial Song 2002
The Diamond Galaxy: "Another Day Until Tomorrow"
(First Place)
Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Just Plain Folks Music Organization is a website and community founded by Brian Austin Whitney with the intent of helping anyone involved in the music industry to network, share their experiences, build relationships, and grow...
Best Industrial Album 2002
The Diamond Galaxy: Technophiliacs
(Fourth Place)
Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Just Plain Folks Music Organization is a website and community founded by Brian Austin Whitney with the intent of helping anyone involved in the music industry to network, share their experiences, build relationships, and grow...
BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Pop Music Award 1995
"Round Here
Round Here
"Round Here" was released in 1994 from Geffen Records as the second single from the Counting Crows' debut album, August and Everything After ....
"
(Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
)