Cashel Day-Lewis has mixed feelings about using famous father Daniel Day-Lewis’ last name to get ahead as a musician.
“Oh, I’m sure it’s a help. It has been a help in that my parents have had the resources to help me,” Cashel, 22, told The Sunday Times in a profile published on Sunday, April 6. “I think it is a double-edged sword, because you never know how people are going to respond. Who knows after [my National Concert Hall] debut what will happen?”
He added, “I’ve been able to be relatively underground at the Cobblestone, which has been really great. Especially in the trad scene, which is so small. I think of it as somewhat of an accomplishment. But, at some point, [my identity] always gets out. I could have changed my name, but I like it. It’s a nice name.”
Cashel is one of the sons of acclaimed actor Daniel, 67, and filmmaker Rebecca Miller. The Oscar winner and filmmaker Miller, 62, have been married since 1996 and also share son Ronan, 26. While Ronan is following in his parents’ footsteps with a career in film, Cashel has carved his own path as a musician.
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“My parents have been incredibly supportive and encouraging of my music,” the singer told The Times. “I’ll show my parents a [compositional] piece and they’re like, ‘That sounds great.’ I go back and forth between them. I wish I could talk about [my music] in more detail. But I am able to talk to them.”
According to Cashel, he grew up listening to lots of Irish trad music courtesy of Daniel.
“My dad was always playing trad in the house,” the Oberlin Conservatory of Music graduate recalled in Sunday’s profile. “Aside from trad, there was American folk. Joan Baez was playing a lot [and] Bob Dylan. A core memory is hearing Enya on the radio all the time. That ethereal, otherworldly sound influenced me, subconsciously at least.”
Daniel and Miller raised their sons between England and New York.
“I went to the opera for the first time with my mom in New York: La bohème, which is the perfect first opera for anyone,” Cashel added. “It’s not overly long. It’s gorgeous music.”
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He further detailed his parents’ support as he discovered all types of other music.
“I remember listening to the Bach Cello Suites in the car on the way to school and I used to conduct Swan Lake with a chopstick,” Cashel quipped. “I started having ideas on the fiddle that I’d record into voice memos on my mom’s phone.”
