I’m in The Merchant’s House, a quaint cafe and bar nestled in a quiet corner of the city near Norwich Cathedral. It’s a frosty October evening. The table I’m sitting at is reserved for a Chloe at 7:45, it’s 7 so we’ve only got 45 minutes. I step out of the loo to see Pedro’s arrived. He’s hard to miss with his signature hair, he’s talking to a woman I later find out is an independent music promoter, Annie Catwoman. Once we’ve acquired some drinks (non-alcoholic – him and his girlfriend are going sober for October), Pedro suggests we head outside, there seems to be some sort of event going on inside (we later find out that it’s quiz night). 

He pulls a cigarette out from behind his ear and lights it. 

How did you come about the moniker, Pedro Danger?  

PD: Well, Danger’s my middle name, my full name is Nathan Jo Danger O’Connor. My parents got the “Danger” from Austin Powers.   

Who’s your biggest musical inspiration?  

PD: For piano: In my opinion, Chick Corea is the best to ever play it. For songwriting it’s Labi Siffre. For performance it’s Sly Stone. I’m really liking Josh Homme at the moment too.  

What’s your favourite jazz club?  

PD: In Norwich we don’t have a jazz club. Norwich Improv Mafia hosts a brilliant fortnightly jazz jam, but my favourite jazz night was an improv night I was part of at Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom. Have you been to Voodoo’s?  

I shake my head.  

 “You’ve not been to Voodoos and you’ve been here for 3 years?”, he laughs, slightly incredulous at this.  

Yeah that’s on me! I didn’t realise the music scene was so varied here. Was not expecting it to be so jam packed. 

PD: Yeah it is, although it’s the end of the road, it doesn’t lead you anywhere.  

This is a bit of a rogue one but what’s your favourite playing card?  

PD: Playing card? Are you asking all the musicians this? The Joker. After the Steve Miller song.  

Did Norwich ever play a part in inspiring you creatively?  

PD: Norwich has always been inspiring since it’s always been word of mouth – since I’ve played anyway. I’ve got a reputation of someone willing and capable to play whatever, so Norwich ropes you into many gigs big and small, great or not, paid or usually unpaid. Norwich is really inspiring, just turn up to gigs and the rest is history.  

What’s the creative process like when writing a song? How long does this usually take?  

PD: I go into a trance… 

And the spirit of music possesses you?  

We laugh, to be honest it’s the sort of answer my question is looking to receive.  

PD: For me it’s creating a chord sequence that captures the mood of whatever I’m feeling. Like LOD was the chord sequence of a love song inspired by many great 1970s artists, the mood was captured in the songs. I strive to grab the mood and lyrics and Melodie’s come later. This could take weeks and months to put together, but I treat songs like snapshots of time so really it’s mostly gut feeling.  

Who inspired your song, LOD?  

PD: So it’s not an acronym because it’s pronounced Elodie. It’s a French name. I was at a friend’s party: met a girl called Elodie, her name rhymes with melody and I asked if I could write a cheesy, platonic love song about her. I performed it to her after and she said it’s beautiful. Yeah, she’s just a nice girl with a nice name.  

We’re mid interview when another friend of Pedro’s stops us, it’s clear that his presence is well-established in Norwich both as a musician and as a friend. He’s personable and warm and his music channels that energy. I take tentative sips of my elderflower lemonade, it’s freezing but Pedro doesn’t seem to be too bothered by the weather, he exhales some smoke, the plumes creating ribbons in the cold air.  

What’s your favourite film?  

PD: I’d have to say The Cat in the Hat. 

The Cat in the Hat is amazing but Mike Myers terrified me as a child. 

What’s your opinion on AI generated music?  

PD: Awful. Absolutely dreadful. AI’s not saying anything apart from how well it can copy a YouTube video. With humans, it’s a raw feeling. We have things to say, there’s pure talent.  

Are you spiritual?  

PD: I believe in a higher power, but I’m not committed to any religion right now.  I’m currently reading my girlfriend’s copy of C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. I’ll admit to something bigger but until I’ve read enough about Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Hinduism I’ll keep looking.  

Where’d you see yourself in 10 years?  

PD: 6ft under, or cremated. But not really. In 10 years, I’d like to have said I have had some tenure in a good band with friends with some albums and some tours in UK/Europe/AUS. Like I say I treat my songs as a chance to travel back in time, so I’d like some good reflection on a fruitful past 10 years.  

Do you have any advice or tips for anyone looking to create their own music?  

PD: It’s pretty cheesy, I often say it when I’m drunk… 

I’ll catch you in November then!  

PD: It’s something Harry Styles said, he said writing music is like surfing. I’m not a surfer, I probably never will be but he said if you’re wanting to write a song, it’s like surfing as you’re waiting for a wave – you have to wait for the right tides, it’s same with music. Something has to be there already.  

An eclectic mish mash of experiences and thoughts, Danger’s music is down to earth and there’s something very human about it. How he describes his creative process and the moments and people that inspire him. His EP Onesprout is filled with killer songs and my personal favourite has to be “Second Hand Nostalgia”,  it’s dulcet and its portrayal of love is one that’s very real.  

There’s a line in your song, “Second Hand Nostalgia”, “when you’re in love, there’s nothing you can really say to anyone” – how would you interpret this?  

PD: Those lyrics may be interpreted as ‘you can’t tell anyone what’s what because you can be quite in love with anyone, whether they’re perfect or shit for you, love is love and gut feelings reign’ but really I said it because it rhymed. 

I was hoping I could get something really deep out of that! 

PD: No, not that song at least!  

Pedro Danger studied mathematics at UEA, graduating last year. He now works a 9-5 as an accountant whilst being a musician on the side, he states that ”It’s been nice to settle down into a 9-5 job, I can see why people do it”.  

The topic of balancing financial stability alongside your passion was one that cropped up during my conversation with Danger, it made me wonder- is there a way young creatives can keep afloat whilst pursuing their passions full time? Especially in the worsening cost of living crisis that has hit the UK in recent years – will we just be forced to let go of what we love to chase a career that’ll get the bills paid?  

Do you believe in free will?  

PD: I do believe in free will.  

How do you perceive time? Do you think it’s a human construct? 

PD: Yeah I do. A clock has 12 or 24 hours in it. We’ve made it up. I do believe in time. I believe in the space time continuum. I think there’s a higher power controlling everything.  I mean most of us are only going to be here for another 67 years. I mean you’re what – 21?  

Turning 21 soon 

PD: Already nearly a quarter of your life. Time is a scary thing, it exists and it doesn’t exist all the same.   

There’s so many layers to it, it is quite scary to think about.  

PD: I’m glad you didn’t ask me any cheesy questions like ‘how’s your trauma affected how you make music?’  

I was about to! That was actually one of the questions!  

That concludes the interview, thank you so much!  

PD: Thank you!  

We shake hands once again and head our separate ways, Pedro’s music is an intuitive breath of fresh air in a scene that can feel oversaturated, he astutely depicts his music as snapshots, memories locked in time. It’s a fitting description, the mellow guitar and the jazz-esque chords, seem to transport you to another place.  

The music scene in Norwich is one that’s sprawling, everchanging and so much more diverse than I expected it to be. Like Pedro said, it might be the end of the road for artists – career progression might be more difficult to achieve here. But it’s the perfect place to play smaller intimate gigs. Busking in town is also another way independent musicians create a name for themselves and get their music into the world. The multitude of genres definitely stunned me at first. 

Flash EP Review: Onesprout – Pedro Danger  

Onesprout weaves us an image of a man in blissful love in “Second Hand Nostalgia” but isn’t overly saccharine in its depiction of it nor is it bitter in “Three’s a crowd”, the upbeat intro letting way into a smooth, soulful ending. The aptly named “Argentina” depicts Danger pondering life by the beach whilst the lyrics depict him  “drinking away his problems”, it’s a seamless segue into “Second Hand Nostalgia”. “Need you babe” is probably one of the more chilled song on the EP despite its lyrics, “I don’t love you babe, I don’t need you babe. I’ve got love and drugs on my side”. Overall, Onesprout makes for an extremely enjoyable listen, taking you on the ups and downs of snapshots of Danger’s life.  

Pedro Danger’s new single is coming out in the second half of November, streaming on all major platforms so stay tuned for that!  

Instagram: @pedrodangermusic 

Spotify and Apple Music: Pedro Danger  

Credit: Lewis Gant