Catch up with NYC-based singer-songwriter Danny Cal and watch the video for his latest single, "Can't Let You Go", out now.
What got you interested in music?
Danny: I grew up around music - my dad played guitar and piano with us as kids and made sure we took lessons and understood theory - but music was always the thing that gave me confidence among my peers. I loved performing as a kid because it was almost an escape from the everyday awkward me; I had this talent that was mine and made me stand out. As I got older I honed and experimented with my music and eventually found the right path.
Which musicians have you been influenced by?
Sia is one of my strongest influences as an artist and songwriter, but I also love the theatrics of Lady Gaga, the timbre and relatability of Justin Timberlake, and the transformative talent of Freddie Mercury.
Which words would you use to describe your sound?
Autonomous, relatable, driving, passionate and exciting.
What were your inspirations behind your single and the video for "Can't Let You Go"?
I have a tendency to fall in love with people very quickly. I might meet someone once and not be able to get them out of my head for weeks. "Can't Let You Go" was written as a personal anthem driven by this emotion - when you just can't let that person out of your life. I wanted to reflect that feeling with visuals, and realized that the fun and energy of summer, and the desperation of not wanting to let go of it, could do just that.
How would you sum up your dual release, Can't Let You Go, in one sentence?
The dual release ("Can't Let You Go" and "One Last Time") came out of a spark of creativity between my producer, EGM, and I to write and record a couple of super fun pop songs that people can sing along to in their cars, work out to at the gym, and connect to while dancing alone to them in their rooms.
Do you have plans to release an EP or album?
Yes! We have been performing a series of shows in the NYC area, experimenting with new sounds and new music. We are very close to a final set which we will then finalize in the studio.
What do you hope listeners are able to take away from your music?
I hope that listeners can laugh, dance, and sing along with their friends. I've taken a lot of inspiration from the pop music I grew up with in the late 90's and early 00's - music that made you want to hide out in your basement for hours with your Walkman and MTV on so you could learn all the words and the choreography from the music video. I hope that my music elicits that kind of joyous energy, but with a more modern sound.
What are your aspirations as an artist, immediate and in the future?
I can't wait to get into the studio again and record my EP; I may even put together a full album but that's still up in the air. In the longer term, I hope to go on tour to promote the EP because, up to now, most of my live performances have been in New York.
Is there anything you want to add?
Thank you so much for interviewing me and sharing my music! Follow me IG, Twitter, and FB, and check out my site dannycal.com. If you're in the NYC area on Friday Oct 14th, 9PM, I'll be performing at The Bitter End. Would love to see you there!
