By: Staff
Danny Arcane drops “Following,” and this song might (and by might - I mean definitely will) hurt some egos a little (some a lot). The opening lyric is “They might follow, but hearts are hollow,” and we interpreted this as the little heart we hit on IG is hollow (until we tap it), and so is the actual meaning of us hitting it (a hollow gesture), so this opening line instantly slaps! What a way to send a message with such a powerful double entendre.
The video starts with Danny putting on clown makeup and ridiculing the way we represent ourselves on social media. This was like “Ouch” - yeah, we all do that! The music video is so good that it’s a good thing the song is great, too, or you might just miss it. The pained smile on Danny’s face in “Cooking With Danny” is priceless, along with displaying a need to drink to do all of this!!! This song is an awesome tongue-in-cheek message of how much social media content sucks. I must say that the lazy and lackadaisical vocal delivery is part of why I love this song and video. I feel the way this song expresses my emotions when I’m on a dead scroll for 60 minutes and then notice and still can’t stop! Nothing will wow me at any point, yet I keep going. The drop in the middle is classic indie at its best because it’s slow and relaxed, then jumps back in and keeps trolling these scripts we are entranced by. I must give big kudos to the music video; it perfectly pairs with this song.
“Social media is really one of the most important channels to utilize as a music artist, but it’s so exhausting. From constantly creating content to seeing the same recycled content, it really takes a toll on my mental health, especially when you realize just how fake it all really is,” says Danny
For more on this, see the interview below and get your own take by listening! You have to check out, stream, and share Danny Arcane and “Following” today; it’s going to make you think.
Wait, there's more!
We caught up with this exciting and emerging artist, Danny Arcane, for “The Cage” Music Blog to talk about music and learn more about them.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Can you walk us through your songwriting process and tell us where the inspiration comes from for this latest project?
I remember scrolling through social media one day and being so tired of what I was seeing, so many hate comments, so many people pretending, and I had a couple of lyrics that came into my head. I recorded a voice note and it actually sat on my phone for a couple years. I came back to the voice note when I was in a recording phase trying to write some new songs. I like to record songs in batches as it helps me stay organized and not overwhelm myself with too many ideas and projects.
For this song specifically, I imagined a grunge-like slacker vibe, so I started with power chords and built from there. I like to have a few different stages in my songs to build excitement and to also keep the listener engaged, almost like a little trip they can take when they listen. I knew I wanted a big hook with distortion, but the bridge came during production as I wanted a reflective period where I could really dive into the core of what I was trying to get across in this song, something that felt like I was speaking directly to whoever was listening.
Where do you create your music, i.e., in a home recording studio or with a producer? How do you finalize your finished work, i.e., self-mixed / mastered or another source?
The entire process happens in my studio at home. I’ve been building out my set up for about 10 years now and slowly upgrading as my sound has progressed. I’ve lived in a lot of different apartments so it hasn’t always been easy to move a lot of my sound panels and gear but I can’t imagine not recording at home, it’s where I feel most comfortable creating. I self mix and master everything which is a blessing and a curse because sometimes I have too much control or I get too in my head about the way a mix sounds. I’ve been getting better at trying to speed up my process but there’s more work to be done.
What was the most challenging part of bringing this project to life, from the initial idea to the final recording?
Originally, I had the voice note that I mentioned earlier and I was set on that being the final lyrics, but once I recorded the vocals it didn’t sound right. So the biggest challenge for me was rewriting the entire song once I had finished producing the instrumental. Surprisingly, when I rewrote it, the lyrics came out so effortlessly which normally means that something magical is happening and you’ve tuned into that creative source that Rick Rubin, Prince, and Pharrell used to talk about. However, the hook did go through 10 different variations and even though it’s short, it took me the longest to write.
What has been the most motivating force in creating your music?
Life in general for me is the most motivating force in creating my music, and not just my life. I’m an observer and I’m always listening to stories and watching the world unfold around me. I can walk to get a cup of coffee in the morning and get three song ideas on the way there. I love the little things, big things, simple, and complex, it’s all so incredible but can also be painful which is the trade off. I always try to make music that speaks to something or takes something we take for granted and give it new life.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, i.e., the creation, the actual release date, etc.?
If we’re talking about the entire process of being a music artist in today’s age, I would say the marketing is the most stressful part. It goes beyond the music, where you have to be able to take a song and somehow craft it into slices and make it shareable and interesting enough for someone to click a link on one of your various marketing channels and hope they become a fan from a 10 second video. There’s so much music out there that you’re constantly figuring out how to cut through the noise, you’re always wondering if the song is going to do well or flop until at least a month after it’s released.
Strictly music making process though, I would say the mixing for me because it’s where I’m most indecisive and takes the longest.
If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
The state of touring and the monopolies some of these companies have is killing the music industry. Ticket prices are out of control and yet so many artists lose money going on tour, it’s almost impossible for a small artist or band to do it sustainably, and so many smaller venues are going under. I would love to create a more sustainable model, bring people back to smaller venues and honestly there are so many things I would change about how artists are paid but that could be a whole ’nother interview.
Where do you see your sound and artistry heading in the future? Are there any exciting new directions you're exploring?
I definitely see myself experimenting with sounds and genres I haven’t utilized in the past. An artist I’m really inspired by is David Bowie, as throughout his career he’s not only managed to create songs in a range of different genres, but he did it so incredibly well, not a lot of artists can do that. I’m working on some Funk songs, Punk songs, and might even venture into some Folk music while I’m at it, I just love music and want to try it all. I would love to be an artist that can transcend multiple genres or at least infuse some of them into my current genre.
What instruments do you play? Which is your favorite?
I play guitar, bass, and some piano, but I’d have to say guitar is my favorite. I just love the sound of a great guitar and how you can express yourself on the instrument. The goal is to one day add drums to my repertoire but that won’t be for a while.
What advice would you give your younger self and why?
Just keep going, stop turning yourself down for other people around you. You’ll be much happier being your authentic self and doing things that feel like they align to the life you want to live. Stop worrying about what others might think of you. Don’t ask permission and instead create your own opportunities, because nobody is going to come offer you the opportunity of a lifetime in your life or music career. You need to create your own.
How do you feel about social media?
I think my new song perfectly explains my thoughts on social media, it’s really one of the most important channels to utilize as a music artist but it’s so exhausting. From constantly creating content to seeing the same recycled content, it really takes a toll on my mental health, especially when you realize just how fake it all really is. I wrote this at a time I was fed up with the matrix that is our social media identities and all the hate there is online, it made me feel like people only follow others on these platforms to see them fail. I do still think it is an incredible tool for artists today though, we’ve never been so close, open, and available to our fans and communities.
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Danny Arcane on Spotify & YouTube.
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