‘5 Questions With’: dani bby
She’s worked with Grammy-winning producers, collaborated with exciting projects such as Kanye West’s Musical Ministry Sunday Service and has now got Willow Smith on board with her brand new release – emerging singer-songwriter dani bby is truly one to watch.
Battling addiction in the past, the rising star has previously sold all of her possessions and decided to just travel across the US. Throughout this journey, she has re-discovered her passion for songwriting and the rest is history. With her raw and honest approach to storytelling, dani’s songs aim to help listeners feel less lonely in this sometimes alienating world. Her latest offering, ‘Swipe Right‘ is about heartbreak in the digital world – a feeling we’ve probably all been through. The reflective, upbeat pop punk/trap fuses mellow guitar lines and catchy pop melodies, highlighting both dani bby’s outstanding efforts and Willow’s genius on drums, bass, guitar and keyboard.
Read the full interview below…
EQ: Hey dani. How did you first get into music?
D: Early on in life, probably around 5 or 6, I started to journal religiously. There was a lot of chaos in my home and writing was a safe way to express my feelings. Around the same time I discovered my grandparents piano and fell in love with it. I slowly transitioned from journaling to writing songs as a way of dealing with trauma, anxiety and life in general.
EQ: You have previously sold all your belongings to travel the US, how was that experience and how has it helped you gain back your passion for music?
D: It’s hard to put into words what that experience did for me, emotionally and spiritually. I had just gotten divorced, I was newly sober and I took that time to reflect, ground myself and grow as a human being. I spent so much time in solitude during that trip, just myself, my guitar and my dogs. I wrote music in the mountains of New Mexico, on the rivers of Texas and on the lakes of small towns that you couldn’t find on a map. I found my voice again and with that I found my serenity.
EQ: I love the title of your new single, can you tell us more about the inspiration behind it?
D: Thank you! I fell in love with a girl (who I won’t name) and we met in the digital world. With that extreme love came even more intense heartache. There was a lot of emotional abuse and infidelity. The trauma from that relationship messed me up mentally and it took a lot of time (and therapy) to heal from it. I finally came to place where I could write a song about it and that’s where Swipe Right came from.
“There was a lot of chaos in my home and writing was a safe way to express my feelings. Around the same time I discovered my grandparents piano and fell in love with it. I slowly transitioned from journaling to writing songs”
– dani bby
EQ: With Willow Smith on the instrumental side of the single, how was working with her and how did the arrangement come about?
D: Willow is an absolute legend. I look up to her in so many ways, not just musically but as a human being. The way she carries herself, how she treats those around her and how she’s unapologetically herself. To be completely honest, I was so nervous getting in the vocal booth while she was in the studio. I was like “Dani don’t mess this up. Don’t embarrass yourself!” I had a whole conversation with myself which turned out to be completely unnecessary because she was so kind and encouraging during our sessions.
In regards to the arrangement, she listened to the beat I had produced and just started throwing out ideas. She jumped from the keys, to the bass, to the guitar and then laid down some drums. My mind was blown and by the end of the day we had created this pop-punk/trap song. We were just head banging in the studio losing our minds over what we just created. Such a beautiful moment!
EQ: What are your plans for the rest of the year music-wise?
D: I have some new music coming your way very soon and a very exciting announcement that I can’t reveal just yet 
Stream ‘Swipe Right’ below!
Stream ‘Swipe Right’ HERE
Follow dani bby on socials:
Instagram: @swiperightbby
Twitter: @swiperightbby