As part of our WinterWonderGrass Artist Spotlight series, we chat with Daniel Donato—a guitar virtuoso, songwriter, and the mind behind Cosmic Country. Known for his mind-bending improvisation, deep musical philosophy, and electrifying live performances, Donato has carved out a unique space in the modern music landscape, blending country, rock, and psychedelic influences into a sound that’s entirely his own.
In this episode, as Daniel is getting set to hop into a song writing session with Brent Cobb, he gives us a few minutes to dive into his introduction to music. He shares how a high school teacher turned him on to The Grateful Dead, sparking the idea of merging Nashville country with jam-band improvisation—an experiment that evolved into Cosmic Country. We explore his creative process, the influence of Carl Jung’s teachings on duality, and his thoughts on psychedelics as a tool for both artistic expansion and mental health.
Daniel also opens up about his approach to crafting albums in an era dominated by singles, what fans can expect from his upcoming record, and how he tailors his high-energy, marathon-length shows into a festival-friendly format. Plus, we talk about his return to WinterWonderGrass Steamboat and why this festival is the perfect home for genre-bending artists like himself.
The Steamboat Sound Check podcast is presented by McCreight Progressive Dentistry.
