If you’re a fan of acting out your main character music video moment as you stare through your fogged over and rain filled window we have the artist to add to your favorites. With catchy lyrics, relatable concepts, smooth vocals and techniques spanning multiple genres singer-songwriter donny daydream provides his listeners an alluring, emotive and sultry sound while bringing you with on an emotional journey.
The California based artist sat down with MIXTAPE 317 to discuss developing his sound, music inspirations and his most recent release 'Lovelorn'.
Looking different than my last encounter with the singer, once blonde now sporting a darker hairstyle, and wearing a black fitted tee with grey trousers donny daydream introduces himself and sits with a relaxed and inviting energy. Him, seemingly at ease, me, nervous I got his coffee order wrong (You don't text your friends to ask for all the possible questions a barista could ask you? Weird.) discuss his musical journey.
Starting with an early interest in music from hearing his sister sing around the house as kids, days spent singing in the shower and participating in school talent shows, donny decided to pursue the art form as a teen. After moving out at 18 and splitting his time working two jobs the singer describes having his midlife crisis wondering what he was really doing with his life.
“If I should work hard at something and chase something I might as well chase something I really love doing. So I started doing music and now I’m here”
When recalling how he landed on the name 'donny daydream' he states it came on a night together with friends. Starting out as ‘donny.’ he laughs as he recalls thinking at the time the name was different only to conclude “I’m basic” when he saw artists following a similar format, and realized it was time for a rebrand.
“We were thinking about random names and one of my friends was just like ‘daydream donny because everything you make is calm and atmospheric’ and I was like ‘oh my god, donny daydream would be fire.’”
With influences like Keshi, John Mayer and Justin Bieber, donny daydream found his own sound after exploration and experimenting through different genres while learning, as he says, "to pick up the little pieces from each genre and make it mine”. His most streamed track ‘ANGELIC’ is a strong example of how the artist smoothly blends multiple genres, showcasing EDM paired with pop and R&B.
donny has released several singles along with EP don’t you go running off now, released in June of 2023, in which his songs move through his dream-like and sultry RnB sound. He often navigates different relationships: romantic, familial and physical, diving into all different facets from exploration, loss, desire and yearning. Are 'Cry Your Eyes Out' or 'Baby Making' sub genres? With tear-jerkers 'Wasted Time' and 'Heart 2 Heart' all the way to tracks that make you say "We gonna do this?" like 'Honestly Impatient' and 'Runaway' they could be.
Photo: donny daydream
Now as a pop girly we couldn’t let it slip past that in one of donny's older videos for his single ‘oowee’ he can be seen sporting a Britney Spears tee. We asked if he could pick a Britney song that fits his vibe, what would it be? As he sips on his correctly ordered iced americano he was quick to say ‘On some super basic shit I think 'Oops, I Did it Again’ stating ‘I feel like I’m very spontaneous and I never learn”.
His newest release ‘Lovelorn’, which dropped on May 17th, showcases donny’s vocal strength transitioning from falsetto to a full voice as he sings about love lost while orchestral strings emphasize the cinematic feel of the track. Think Titanic's 'My Heart Will Go On' meets High School Musical's 'Breaking Free', in honestly the best way. The song originated when he scrolled through a TikTok video highlighting the term 'lovelorn'. donny admits to just beginning to hum a melody after coming across the word and writing the verse around that.
“I didn’t have anything to actually write about, it was just something that came out of me […] I feel like the more I wrote it the more I connected with it, which is what I love about it. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. It’s very emotional.”
When asked if he held a crying party, which he had stated on social media, he laughs and recalls he played it for a friend who had just been through a breakup and that lots of tears were shed.
Through his music donny wants to give listeners a moment to escape and for them to feel emotions, even if just for a few minutes.
“I think the goal is to make someone feel something”
Photo: donny daydream
donny will follow up single releases ‘Heart 2 Heart’ and ‘Lovelorn’ later this month with single ‘Pure Bliss’. Excited to release the new song he describes the track as upbeat, poppy and fun saying, “the past two, three songs I dropped have been super sad, it’s time to have some fun stuff again”.
He recommends upcoming track ‘Pure Bliss’ as a song to add to your summer playlists along with ‘ANGELIC’ and ‘Lord Forgive’. Keep an eye out for ‘Pure Bliss’ to drop later this month.
Catch me outside your window with my boombox.
Photos provided by donny daydream
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