By Brent Thompson

Daniel Donato might have been born a few decades too late given his old-soul musical leanings, but we are glad he exists in the present day. The leader of Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, the 30-year-old virtuoso guitarist has had an exciting year that has seen a performance at Bonnaroo and headlining show at the famed Ryman Auditorium. On August 22, his Cosmic Country outfit released Horizons (Retrace Music), a 15-track collection that follows the 2023 release Reflector. On Friday, October 3, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country returns to Birmingham to perform at Saturn. Recently, Donato spoke with us by phone as he was set to embark on his current tour.

Southern Stages: Daniel, thanks for your time. We are really enjoying Horizons. Over what period of the time was the album recorded?

Daniel Donato: About two weeks in January of this year – we move fast.

Southern Stages: As a guitarist, are you a gear head? When you’re on the road, are you combing the local music stores?

Donato: I go through phases. Right now, I’m not changing up a lot of stuff but once I year I go through that. I’m not like Joe Bonamassa where I’m always trying to find guitars. It’s really not about the materials so much for me as a guitarist. With that said, I would love to own some early ’50s [Fender] Telecasters and Broadcasters someday. I do love old Martins that have been played for decades. The guitar players that are usually more about songwriting – their mind is more in the realm of music. Guitar players that aren’t concerned with songwriting – their creative spirit usually goes into the rig. I’m always tinkering with my rig, but I’m not buying a lot of new stuff all the time.

Southern Stages: You mentioned Joe Bonamassa – his voracious approach to guitar collecting is unbelievable.

Donato: It’s probably the most intensive guitar collection that any one person has had.

Southern Stages: I would give anything to tour his collection.

Donato: It’s something that he’s expressed to me that he’s going to do one day. He’s going to create the “Bonaseum” when he retires. Joe’s a good businessman – I admire him. I met Joe when I was 16 and he’s been a mentor of mine  for 14 years.

Southern Stages: If you will, talk about your recent headlining show at the Ryman Auditorium

Donato: That was really exciting on a lot of levels – spiritually, psychologically and on a material level – just a lot of energy, clapping, dancing and love. You know, acoustic guitarists love acoustic guitars because that wood is so settled in and there’s been so much time put into that particular instrument. The Ryman is a lot like that – in that room, there has been so much great music played that is so enduring and formative to country music. To have the opportunity to play on that stage and have control over the narrative musically is a real blessing and it was also something that we earned – we worked really hard for it. I love it when hard work meets a blessing – those are the best moments.

Southern Stages: I have been in that building probably a dozen times and every time still feels like that first time.

Donato: There you go. That’s that living spirit!

Southern Stages: You’re a young guy but also and old soul. It’s so impressive that you incorporate the songs of Hank Williams, Marty Robbins and Mickey Newbury – to name just a few – into your set lists.

Donato: That was always the way that I found it – people that loved that music and were playing those songs. They didn’t necessarily write those songs, but they loved them and that’s how I discovered them as well. I feel like I’m just continuing that cycle. A lot of these people have never heard of Marty Robbins. They’ve heard of Hank Williams, but don’t know his songs. That’s a part of America’s history that needs to be celebrated.

Southern Stages: How do you feel about the current music industry climate in the age of streaming, Youtube, satellite radio and other outlets?

Donato: That’s a really complex one and I haven’t had any experience other than this one. I’m sure that when it was harder to make music, there were variables that made it tough to be heard. I’m sure that when Conway Twitty was recording for Sun Records, he had a hard time getting heard because they had Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. It was like, “Why do we need to push your record when these guys are moving tons of units?,” you know? There is always an above and a below – there’s always a plus and a negative. Now there so much going on with AI and that’s going to create a shadow of some kind.

Southern Stages: You make a great point – artists of the past had challenges of their own.

Donato: With Cosmic Country, we sow our seeds in a field that is populated by a subculture of America. The people that are in our culture and our community – they really love authenticity and they love expression that comes from a true place and has a beautiful and good aim. A lot of times when people come to our shows, it becomes a sacred experience. Secondarily, it’s a communal and fun time. There are a lot of shows that people go to primarily to have a good time and there really isn’t a lot sacred about it. So, I have a lot of faith in that sacred variable.

On Friday, October 3, Daniel Donato will perform at Saturn. Showtime is 8 p.m. Advance tickets to the 18+ show can be purchased at www.saturnbirmingham.com.