Meet Dan Lepien | Full-Time Country Singer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan Lepien and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
It can feel annoying at first but keeping an ongoing to-do list on my phone in my notepad is crucial for me. I’ve realized more and more that I’m the type of person that has a lot of thoughts coming and going, so organizing things by writing them down HELPS a ton. I’ve been in the habit for several years now to just be mindful about what needs to get done in the next few days and my to-do list gets updated constantly. I used to think it was no way to live life but I got used to it and now I actually think it helps more than it hurts.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I just love traditional country music. When I make music I set out to make something that I would want to listen to while telling a story about my life. That is probably the best way I can try to make something with my heart in it while also being genuine. I got here through years of consistency (once I realized the importance of that). It took me until I was about 25 to realize that I can’t expect to get good at anything if I only try something for a couple years then switch it up. At that time I decided to play/sing/write traditional country music because it was something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. I’m 31 now and it’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of mental load at times but that’s anything in life that you treat as a career. It’s also been very fulfilling and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Some of the most challenging times have been related to having to grow as a person. Having to face conflict with people on my team, having to let go a couple people. I think it’s important to remember that growth comes in those moments in struggle. It also helps to remind myself that this is the career I want and I think that’s what keeps me going. Other things that help are: coffee, god, and a great wife.
I want people to know that you can do what you desire in life but it’s going to take time. Years and years of consistency, even through set backs and challenges, is the only way to get to where you want to go, so choose something that you love to do. There’s not a lot of traditional country singers making original music from Wisconsin. There’s not a lot of traditional country singers from the North. There’s not even a lot of traditional country singers in general. I try to look at it as a good way to be a stand out musician. Rather than looking at it like “wow the odds are stacked against me.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in a very small quiet town of about 1500 people that is surrounded by woods and farm fields. I think it’s a perfect spot for a creative person. I would start by showing them my office/studio where I make my music. After that, we would smoke up some fish in my smoker. We would probably cap the night off at a local dive bar that is right down the road from me. The next few days we would definitely have to get out on the river and fish depending on what time of year it is. In the summer I love catfishing, and in the fall/winter/spring I love making an hour drive to any of the tributaries of Lake Michigan for salmon and trout. Either way, we would stop at Kwik Trip on the way there for a nitro coffee and some bakery treats.
There’s also a small college town nearby (Whitewater) where I actually went to college and they had the best Chinese food buffet on earth (Beijing Buffet) so we would have to make a trip there at some point.
We would do a lot of eating, drinking, and being merry. Lol And of course a lot of music jamming.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to send my shout out to my amazing wife Claire Lepien. She is there to support me relentlessly even when this profession takes me away from home constantly and takes up a lot of my mental energy. She knows this is my dream and passion and it means the world to me that she is understanding of that.

Website: danlepien.com

Instagram: instagram.com/danlepienmusic

Facebook: facebook.com/danlepienmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrs8MDhMkP9noOtbAg6_QaA

Image Credits
Tony Cass Samantha Lepien Photography AP&M Media Erin Gifford Northern Roots Photography