According to the Herald Sun, Chad Hugo has been involved in Daniel Merriweather’s first studio album ‘Love & War’ released on 1st June 2009 but he didn’t make the final cut. Clive Davis, one of the music industry’s most powerful men, had a few tips for Daniel Merriweather. Firstly, Davis, who oversees the careers of Justin, Christina and Whitney, suggested Merriweather, a singer from the Dandenong Ranges, sign to his label, J Records. Then Davis prescribed lyric changes to a song Merriweather performed for him in a boardroom audition. Slight hitch: the song was Stevie Wonder’s hit, Lately. “He gave me criticism on the second verse,” Merriweather says, chuckling.
“I had to say: ‘With all due respect, that’s actually a Steve Wonder song and one of the more famous ones’.” Merriweather took Davis’ first recommendation. Now, the boy who got average music grades at Blackburn High School is working on his debut album with Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse), Mark Ronson (Robbie Williams), Jack Splash and Chad Hugo “Chad is out there and evolving,” Merriweather says. “Every time you hear another beat, it’s a rebirth of what he was doing.”