"Sometimes I feel people expect for me to do something a little edgier, so when I write a song that's a love song, I'm a little worried about how it's received," Dale said. "But at the same time a good song is a good song. That's the mind set I'm in right now, just create good songs regardless of people's preconceived notions.
" While Dale is comfortable performing, being armed with only an acoustic guitar has been an adjustment for the artist. The American Tragedy was known for high energy and complex music, but Dale says the key to his solo performances is simplicity. "At first it was tough to stand up there with just a guitar.
I can't play without moving. That's just how I play and I've done it for so many years," Dale said. "These are just easy-listening songs.
With Tragedy, we had a habit of making everything way too complicated. Although it worked, I'm going with simplicity this time." In August, The American Tragedy decided to slow down their touring.
After going strong for several years, some band members were ready to focus on their personal lives. "There comes a time when you feel things are starting to peter out, so I started my own Web site and started posting my own songs up there," Dale said. "About that time the rest of the guys decided they wanted to settle down and move on so, conveniently for me, I'd already started with my own stuff.
" However, because of Dale's long-standing ties with the band, he knows his new sound will surprise Tragedy fans. "I feel that people are receiving my music well. But when people first hear the music there is that initial shock.
I'm sure there will always be that, 'well, I like Tragedy better.' But the truth is that I don't have another option. Even if I could start another The American Tragedy, it opened a lot of doors, but here we are six years down the road and I'm not any further in my career.
" Although Dale's new sound is not what most expect from him, he says performing folk music is much more natural than the heavy-rock sounds of Tragedy. "I wanted to try something different that's a little more natural. I listen to rock 'n' roll, but growing up my mom would play the Simon and Garfunkel records or the Don Williams.
So it's actually a little bit more comfortable and a little bit closer to my roots." Vocally, the style may be a better fit for Dale as well. "It's not a conscious effort to vocally display myself more.
With Tragedy we did a lot more on the technical side of music and then we would change from one thing to the next and change the whole feel of the song," Dale said. "But with this stuff it's generally straightforward. Since I'm not focusing so much on the music and making the music so outlandishly difficult then the vocals stand out more.
" As a writer, Dale also is enjoying the creative freedom that comes with playing solo. Dale says as a member of a band, oftentimes he would have to write around what everyone else was feeling too. "Everyone would put their tastes and flavors in it.
But right now when I write a song, I don't have to worry about whether or not anyone will like it." Dale is also taking a more personal approach to song writing. His lyrics are inspired by the events of his life as well as the everyday things that grab his attention while traveling.
"There's not one specific thing that I write about. I tend to either be on the happy, lovey-dovey side or the really pensive sad side. It's usually one or the other and is never in between.
It's really hard because I don't like writing songs about the same thing," Dale said. "The stuff I was writing with Tragedy came from interaction with other people and I'd write songs about other people's stories. Now it's a little more personal.
It's no longer other people's stories, it's usually mine." In the upcoming year, Dale is planning to assemble a band and record an album. But the artist knows the difficulties that lie ahead.
Having performed for six years with The American Tragedy, establishing a fan base is something he believes will take time. While Dale's music is being received well, the singer still feels he is the most unlikely of musicians. "I'm an unlikely everything.
When I see myself play, I don't see myself as being anything out of the ordinary," Dale said. "But I think about the other folk artists in their day. Bob Dylan looked like he was with the Stones.
Bruce Springsteen was a rock 'n' roll icon but at the same time a lot of stuff he did was folk. I guess I don't feel image is too much of a deal.
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