Rising artist Danny Polo has established himself as a driving force not only behind R&B in Music City but also behind the fight against COVID-19. He has been working on the front lines as a nurse by day while making a name for himself as a rising R&B star in Nashville during his time off.
Polo has received support from BBC One and iHeartRadio who raved, “Singers of today, I know, carry on the legacy of the greatest entertainers of the past, and I believe Danny Polo is up next.” His most recent creation comes in the form of “Prada,” a collaboration with 16-year-old Canadian producer CUBE and platinum songwriter Landon Sears.
The happy hit captures the essence of what Polo describes as, “good times with a great girl.” Sears, who has previously collaborated with R&B hitmakers like Bren Joy and written for K-pop superstars like CIX and Kang Daniel, has received press from Lyrical Lemonade, Revolt TV, and more. Both Polo and Sears are set to release some of their best work over the next year and are on track to become leading voices in R&B for years to come.
Tell us about the story of your act
I have always been a fan of music. I started playing instruments when I was 7 and have never stopped learning. I started out playing classical music and then fell in love with R&B during and after college. I feel like everything I have learned thus far influences still what I do like singing in acapella groups and playing violin in orchestras to recently learning how to produce and sing runs.
What is the message behind your art?
The number one message I want to convey through my art is that this world and this life is meant to be experienced and loved and not just tolerated. Life is so short and beautiful and really paying attention to all aspects of it is really worthwhile.
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
I was a big theater kid growing up. I love the storytelling done in musicals and I really feel like it has influenced how I approach writing now. I like to keep it very conversational and real.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak are my two biggest inspirations today and when I found out they were starting a band together I FREAKED OUT.
All time favorite record?
Songs in the key of life. Amazing.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
Prada is one of my favorite tracks I have ever done and it was a bit of an accident. Cube, one of my music buddies, sent me this four bar loop and I just looped it and sang some lines over it before going to sleep. I woke up after and then realized that I absolutely loved it. I then sent it over to Landon and he immediately said he wanted to put a verse on it and it was all so simple and straightforward that it was hilarious.
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
I love the sounds of new and old R&B and Soul. I have been learning so much about these styles from new and old friends in these past few months and having that combined with my classical background has really just blossomed into these new sounds that we are developing.
What excites you the most about what you do?
I get most excited when I feel like I’m making something that really connects with a raw emotion that I have. Music can be technical and impressive, but what really matters is that it feels good. I have finally learned more consistently how to make music that FEELS good and that is so incredibly exciting to me.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Still making music. It’s hard to say nowadays where you will end up in this music thing, but I just know that I will still be in my room making tracks that make the world digestible to me, and hopefully people will still be rocking to them.
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
Honestly I don’t think about aesthetics too terribly often. I just find things that are fun to me and wear them. I have found that with style and such, the more you care, the less it will work. To me, style is just an extension of what I am feeling and how I want the world to feel around me that day.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
Moving back to Nashville in 2019. I had given up on music and had absolutely no reason to jump back in, but I just followed what energized me and I have never looked back since.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
People always regret the life they didn’t live but had the chance to.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
These kids coming up now are INSANE. My homie Cube has shown me the incredible arsenal some of these young musicians have and wow the future of music is SO incredibly bright. The vast amount of musical knowledge available to these kids coming up is going to completely change the game and I’m so ready for it.
