Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with dnny

Nashville-based pop artist dnny has always been passionate about sports and music. He played division one soccer at Belmont University and has been writing since the age of seven. Among his friends and family, dnny was known as the guy who could do it all. Recently, he made the difficult decision to focus solely on music, and we’re glad he did.

A welcome new voice in pop music, dnny is gearing up for a huge 2019, filled with plenty of catchy melodies and uplifting concepts, including his latest release, “way wrong”. We caught up with dnny to chat about the single and what he has planned for the year.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
dnny: When I was seven, I got in trouble and my parents sent me outside to sit on the porch to think about what I’d done wrong. By the time that I came back inside, I had written a song called “The Wind”. Man, it was bad. [laughs] Since then, I haven’t stopped writing songs, and I don’t plan on it.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your music?
dnny: I think my family and my upbringing have had the biggest influence on my music. They’ve instilled the values in me that I write about, have put me in situations to work with amazing people, and, of course, are the first to hear and critique my new songs. Everything I do is a direct reflection of my incredible family, and I’m endlessly grateful for all that they’ve done for me.

PC: You had a successful career as a D1 soccer player. Was it a difficult decision to put that aside and focus solely on music?
dnny: It was super difficult. My whole life, I’ve always been the guy who does both, the guy who associates with both crowds. So when I quit, it was tough to be without that team I would compete with every day, and to also not necessarily identify as the sporty kid anymore. It was definitely the right call and has given me a lot of clarity, but it was weird at first.

PC: What is your creative process like when you’re working on a new song? Has it evolved through the years?
dnny: For me, there’s no set process, but I definitely have my ways of going about it. A lot of the time, I start with a concept or title in mind, and we’ll just sit and talk for a while about what’s on my mind. Once we get those real details on the table, we can run a track and start playing with melodies. But then again, sometimes a melody comes to me—or a guitar riff—at which point I just lay that down and build around it.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “way wrong (feat. Xuitcasecity)”. What inspired the song?
dnny: I’m super proud of “way wrong”, and it’s actually my favorite record I’ve made to date! It was inspired by exactly what it sounds like: a girl who I’m dear friends with. I caught feelings for her and couldn’t tell where she was at. I feel that the way we presented the situation was so honest and real, and there was no sidestepping around it. I love that, and it’s what I try to do with all my records.

PC: How did the collaboration between you and Xuitcasecity come to fruition?
dnny: I’ve been obsessed with Xuitcasecity for a while, so I asked my manager if we could send them some music to see if they’d be interested. We sent it over, and when they said that they were down to hop on “way wrong”, I literally started crying. It’s super crazy making a song with people that you idolize.

PC: You have two singles out now. Can fans expect a larger body of work? What can you tease about a potential album/EP?
dnny: I’m going to stick to singles for a while, but there will be a larger body of work at some point coming—you’ll just have to stay tuned! All I can say is that I have an insane amount of music ready to be rolled out at all times, so there will be no shortage of new music coming your way.

PC: What does the rest of the year hold for you as we look ahead in 2019?
dnny: I’ve got my big launch show on 5/24 at Exit/In with Travie McCoy, Cam Meekins, Kat Saul, and Joe Deccache. I’ll be rolling out music every month or two as well, so be on the lookout. I’ve also got a few other shows coming that I’ll be announcing in the near future!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
dnny: Family Guy

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
dnny: Any Disney movie

PC: Favorite book?
dnny: The Go-Giver

PC: Favorite play or musical?
dnny: Beauty and the Beast

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
dnny: T. Swift

PC: First album you bought?
dnny: Jack Johnson’s To the Sea

PC: First concert you attended?
dnny: Not sure but I’ve been to a thousand Andy Grammer concerts!

PC: An album that you changed your life and why?
dnny: Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper. There is just so much depth buried into that album. When you uncover it all, it’s incredibly inspiring.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
dnny: Red Rocks

To keep up with dnny, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and pick up “way wrong” on Amazon Music, iTunes, or stream it on Spotify.