In honor of Black Historical past Month, Atwood Journal has invited artists to take part in a collection of essays reflecting on id, music, tradition, inclusion, and extra.
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At the moment, rising singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Danny Singh shares his essay, ‘Embracing Creativity and Shaping PUNKNB as a Guyanese Child from Queens,’ as part of Atwood Journal’s Black Historical past Month collection!
Danny Singh’s musical journey started earlier than the age of ten, mastering piano, bass, and saxophone. By 13, he was producing his personal recordings, utilizing music as his major technique of communication and holding himself and his brothers centered. Rising up in Ozone Park, Queens, Danny’s Guyanese heritage formed his sound, whereas his upbringing in church, along with his mom as a lead vocalist and his father as a multi-instrumentalist, instilled in him a powerful work ethic. As a teen, he shaped a band that received AfroPunk’s “Battle of the Bands,” channeling the colourful and various sounds of his neighborhood into his music. Danny continues to domesticate his sound with a brand new style he’s coining “Punk n B,” a singular fusion of punk rock and R&B music. At the moment, he creates highly effective works influenced by his childhood, mixing augmented sound and digital actuality for an immersive expertise. With inspirations like André 3000, Sa-Ra, JPEGMAFIA, and Frank Ocean, Danny has turn out to be a pioneer, shaping a brand new market of different creativity.
Danny’s newest single, “WYD?” is out February twenty eighth. A hypnotic, slick monitor pushed by crisp hi-hats, deep drums, and sultry guitar riffs. “WYD?,” produced by Lunas!, displays the ability somebody can have over you. The sensation of being so captivated by love that you end up asking, “Woman, what are you doing to me?”
“The tune is about being so hypnotized and in love with somebody that you just really feel uncontrolled. Love and manipulation can go hand in hand generally,” he says.
Learn Danny’s Black Historical past Month essay beneath!
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as a Guyanese Child from Queens
by Danny Singh
I found my love for music enjoying devices with my brothers in church, refined my type at artwork faculty, created my distinctive sound, PUNKNB, as Danny Singh, and purpose to be remembered as somebody who pushes boundaries in music, trend, and design whereas staying true to the voice of an underground Guyanese child from Queens who simply loves making artwork
Being a “metropolis boy” from 2014 to 2017 was an fascinating time for music. It appeared like ASAP Mob & Chicago Drill was dominating the scene from my scope.
On the identical time, it felt like males’s trend was changing into the glare of publicity, due to individuals like Ian Connor and Luka Sabbat. I used to be hella impressed by them, and so I began doing shoots with streetwear manufacturers in Soho and LES with my homie Indigo Invoice. That led to assembly my good friend Frank, from Poland, who began the model Homies Wonderland (@hswld), which turned the nippiness spot for a minute at 15 Essex. Everyone got here via, from Kehlani to Poster Boy, and different artists and creatives.
I met quite a lot of dope individuals throughout this time, they’d assist sneak me into bars and put me on to lowkey thrifts carrying designer manufacturers. This was earlier than 2nd Road existed in NYC, again when individuals wore Supreme to flex. Now we put on Balenciaga. It’s loopy how instances have modified. Due to these adventures, I obtained signed to Purple Fashions at 17, obtained signed as a producer with New Lane, plus my band on the time, #RAAA, had simply received Battle of the Bands at Afropunk.
I met Alton Mason, Danny Brown, and SZA with the orange hair. I noticed Erykah Badu, The Web, and Miguel dwell, all within the span of a yr! It’d sound corny, however that’s once I knew I used to be meant to be a rockstar. I used to be hitting milestones on this online game we name life.
Now, we’re right here in 2025. A quote that’s caught with me to today is: “It’s an artist’s obligation to mirror the instances wherein we dwell.” – Nina Simone. I hate going again to outdated songs to “clear up the combo.” There’s one thing magical in regards to the current that may by no means be replicated. So, I wish to seize the essence in an MP3 or WAV.
In a method, I’m like a information reporter. I pay shut consideration to the climate, the social local weather, the tendencies, the underground. Inventory charts and sustainability options. And thru all of it, I attempt my greatest to be sincere. You actually gotta love somebody to be 100% sincere with them, and even with your self.
Life is sweet, God is nice, and I can’t anticipate y’all to listen to the brand new vibes I’ve been cheffing up with my mates. – F3V3RDR3AM
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:: stream “WYD?” right here ::
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