Pop Quiz: Daniel Powter

Pop Quiz: Daniel Powter

Aidin Vaziri | If you don't recognize Daniel Powter just yet, don't worry. By the end of the year he'll either be your favorite new singer- songwriter or the biggest nuisance in your life since that stupid ape in Donkey Kong threw barrels at you. The 34-year-old Canadian's hit "Bad Day" is quickly turning up everywhere (just as it did last year in Europe), including a recent episode of "American Idol," and his self-titled debut album isn't far behind (after several delays, it's finally coming out in April). He would like to apologize in advance.


Daniel Powter
Q: Do you want to apologize in advance for how many times people are going to hear "Bad Day"?
A: Yeah, I'll apologize in advance for how many times you're going to be exposed to the song. Hopefully, what I'm thinking is that it will get you into the rest of the record. That's really the idea.
Q: I read something recently that said after the next nuclear holocaust cockroaches will still be buying that record. Did you know that when you made it?
A: Dude, you are so eloquent. I can just tell you love this record. You're so nice.
Q: Answer the question: Did you want cockroaches to buy your single?
A: I don't know how to approach this answer. It's funny, because we did most of this record in a really small apartment in Vancouver. I did the vocal in this little bathroom with a cat litter box in the corner, and it smelled like hell. I thought the song was melodic enough to get on the radio, but sonically, just because we had no money, I didn't think that any radio would play it.
Q: I think Brian Wilson used to have a cat litter box in his studio, too.
A: The apartment we made it in was the same building where Errol Flynn died, so there were all these weird ghosts and stuff. The crazy part is, if you solo the instruments, you can hear a garbage truck going down the alley and people banging on the walls and telling us to shut up.
Q: Wow. You sound like a great neighbor.