The sing-along indie-pop summer anthem ‘More We Wait’ by Arizona native Dan E.T. (aka Danny Torgersen) is a song that is sure to get you dancing this summer.

Dan’s voice has an absolutely undeniable way of catching your ear instantly. His voice and melodies are distinctive, catchy, and memorable. As a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Torgersen brings great pop sensibilities to his genre-bending solo project.

On ‘More We Wait’, you are immediately pulled in by what feels like a worldbeat rhythm and anthemic horns, all brought together by Torgersen’s seasoned production. If you recall the ska- and jazz-influenced bands of the ’90s that ruled the airwaves, you can feel that same spirit, but Dan transforms it into a unique indie-pop dance sound that is entirely his own.

Looking at his videos, photographs, and social media, he has that infectious ‘I want to be your friend and hang out with you’ energy. He simply has a fun spirit.

In the music video for ‘More We Wait’, he ventures into the desert hills for an adventure, dancing and performing in sparkling attire, and you cannot help but want to move along to the beat. This is probably why Dan has gained so much traction and momentum with listeners over the past year through his feel-good music and infectious energy.

His songwriting draws on influences ranging from aliens and conspiracy theories to philosophy, humour, and the strange poetry of being human, all delivered with undeniable charisma and a lightness that can be felt through the screen.

Torgersen began his music career as the magnetic frontman of the space-jazz outfit Captain Squeegee. He has since become a collaborator, both onstage and in the studio, with artists including Grieves, Badfish, Mouse Powell, The Irie, and Fayuca.

He has also played trumpet for high-profile acts including Cardi B, Weezer, Gondwana, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, Bumpin Uglies, and Authority Zero. He has toured with Fidel Nadal from Argentina, Boom! Percussion, and ABBAFAB, and has opened for numerous notable bands and artists, including Animal Collective, CeeLo Green, George Clinton, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ozomatli, Streetlight Manifesto, Watsky, Less Than Jake, and The Aquabats.

Additionally, Torgersen has composed and arranged music for film and television, including his own project, ‘Lucidity: The Web Saga’.

The Dan E.T. project was launched in September 2023 with the debut single ‘RoundTrip’, featuring The Kaleidoscope Kid. It was followed by ‘Do You Right’, recorded with longtime collaborator and tourmate Grieves, and ‘High Tide’, released in November 2024 and featuring reggae-rock veterans Passafire.

“I’m forever in-between those worlds: trained singer versus gritty punk-rocker.”

Dan, we are on board, and we do not want to wait any longer!

I love your voice. Among your wide range of influences, who had the greatest impact on you as a singer while you were growing up?

Geez, thanks! Funny enough, my family comes from Broadway, so I was raised on show tunes from a very young age. I’m what you might call a ‘recovering thespian’, haha.

Then, in my teens, I discovered alternative rock, which rocked my world vocally as a theatre kid. Now I’m just forever in-between those worlds: trained singer versus gritty punk-rocker.

As a producer on ‘More We Wait’, did you also mix the track?

Really, I’m just a co-producer. The props need to go to my ‘Yoda’, master producer and friend Matt Keller. He takes all the material I bring him and polishes it to ascendant levels. That mix is all him.

What inspired the moniker Dan E.T.?

Well, aside from the pun, with my real name being Danny T., it was honestly inspired by my loose obsession with UFOs.

That used to be a weird thing to say, but lately the subject seems to be popping off for people! For years, I worked at UFO conferences out of pure human interest and absorbed far too much of it, haha.

I eventually had to focus on touring and producing, but I still follow the news and check in with my friends in the field.

Who would be your dream artist to open for?

I would love to open for any of my favourite bands. RX Bandits, Sublime, and The Mars Volta, to name a few!

What is next for you?

Keep those eyeballs open for one final music video from this EP. Then there will be more music, of course, more collaborations with my friends Badfish and Grieves, and just so, so much touring.

Come and see a show! Dates for all Earth shows are always available at Dan-ET.com.

Headline photo: Marina Fini

Dan ET Website / Facebook / Instagram