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

Hi Daniel, how do you think about risk?
The idea of not taking risks at all implies no way of knowing what’s on the other side. One of my biggest fears in life is not knowing, asking the daunting question of “what if?” for the rest of my life is terrifying. So I’ve taken risks as far back as I can remember and no matter how challenging each have been, the reward has always been worth it. Whether it’s success or simply another lesson to learn along the way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from others would definitely have to be the fact that my full time job year round is performing as an Elvis Tribute Artist in Las Vegas and around the country. Although I take the job very seriously and make a living doing it, I never thought it was in the plan. Although it’s my full time job, my passion remains in story telling in hopes to give an audience a message to take home. The dream is to continue to write, create and produce. The road to making a living as an artist is not easy but the reward outweighs working for someone else. Everything I’ve learned has led me to write and produce my originally written script to the music of San Diego’s very own Blink-182 and I will truly die trying to make it happen on Broadway.

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’m from Las Vegas! So my only experience with San Diego has been visiting Blink-182’s Sombrero, paying homage to the Blink-182 house in Poway and after our performances me and the cast would get a drink at Los Reyes Bar and Grill off Broadway!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe all my thanks to those who wrote the music that inspired me not only to write this musical but also the reason I started a punk band when I was 12 years old. All members of Blink-182 are crucial in my upbringing and why I am who I am today. Mark, Tom, Travis, Matt and Scott have played a huge part in my artistry and musicianship. Beyond the musical I’ve written and their inspiration to start a band, their music was there for me during the hardest moments of my life and kept me holding on. I owe many things to Blink-182, but most of all my love for punk music and my sanity while experiencing unfortunate tragedies.

Website: www.danieldurston.com

Instagram: @danieldurston

Youtube: youtube.com/1996musical

Other: https://www.youtube.com/@1996musical @1996musical (instagram)

Image Credits
Taylor Mercado (white hoodie sweater sepia tone shots + dark club jean jacket shot). Ryan Zirngibl (All Elvis shots)

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