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

Hi Daniel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started The Lifted Index in the fall of 2020 as a way to process my mounting anxiety and unease. My body seemed to crave music that was more sparse and open, that gestured toward emotions rather than explicitly stating them. The songs I had been composing up to that point felt too frantic, weighed down by grand intentions. So I sat down to write and record something that felt free; a direct expression of emotion. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been a working musician for over 20 years. While it has never been a primary source of income for me, I have been at various points a dedicated performer, writer, composer, and engineer, sometimes all at once, throughout that period of time. Music brings me so much joy. Ambient is a niche genre inside of an industry that already has trouble treating artists fairly, so I feel fortunate to have made a space for myself that feels sustainable as an artist. My hope is that this space can continue to expand; that I am able to find more of the people in this world who connect with the way I process emotions through music; that we can collectively be a force for good in this world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Beers at The Brick Store Pub in Decatur. Dinner and drinks at OK Yaki in East Atlanta. Studio hangs at Big Trouble Recording in Little Five Points.

Closer to where I live, in Buford, dinner and cocktails at Local Republic in Lawrenceville would be a must. Then we’d probably jam the night away in my little closet studio at home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Lifted Index would not exist without my friend Boris, who makes music as Jogging House. He has built a supportive community through his Patreon, many of whom have been sources of encouragement and inspiration since I started The Lifted Index in 2020. There are so many talented folks in that community, and they are all generous with their time and knowledge. I have learned so much from them.

Website: http://www.theliftedindex.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelifted.index/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theliftedindex/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theliftedindex

Image Credits
Andrew Thomas Lee Daniel DeWitt

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