Opening for Flyleaf this Saturday at the Barrymore is Dropping Daylight, the Twin Cities piano-rock band fronted by Sebastian Davin. Davin, 24, is a classically trained pianist who attended the Berklee College of Music.
Davin had barely heard rock 'n' roll by the time two of his Apple Valley High School buddies convinced him and his little brother, Seth, to join their band.
He may be leading a major-label act now, but in a telephone interview last week, Davin said he's miles away from feeling like a "rock star."
When did you begin playing piano?
I started when I was about 4 or 5. My mom really wanted me to play, and back then I was young enough where I'd do anything my mom wanted me to do.
Did Seth also start playing at a young age?
He started with violin when he was very young. Then he started playing drums when he was 10. When I got in this band with my friends, Seth wanted to join, but we already had a drummer. So he learned to play guitar.
Seth dropped out of school at 14 to join your band. Were you surprised your parents let him do that?
I think my parents just had a lot of faith in Seth. He was never a school kid. School wasn't his thing. When this band came together and started touring and getting offers from labels, they just saw it as a great chance for him.
When did you first get interested in pop music?
I was sheltered from pop music as a kid. I liked MC Hammer, but that was about it. Nirvana was a little before my time. In middle school I started listening to Smashing Pumpkins and Foo Fighters. I really grasped onto that. By the end of high school, I was still into piano, and I was into rock, and I thought, "Maybe I could combine the two."
After all those years being trained for classical performance, does it feel strange to be a rock star?
I don't see myself as a rock star. I think of all the connotations of that - the extravagant lifestyle, being a little out of control. That's not me. I'm just a dude who likes to play piano. When we're not on tour, I live in my mother's basement and play pool with my friends.
