Featuring DaniLeigh

my instagrams. Edit Sammy J. It's I T S S A M M Y J A y E. And I hope this week's episode can be a nice distraction to all of the heaviness in the world. My guest this week is singer dancer and just genre list artists in general, Danny Lay. We start this episode talking about her new album, which is also a visual album that is insane, called Movie. Danny. Let when I tell you I am obsessed with Movie, I am not just saying that. Thank you so many questions.

The visuals are insane. I know you've gotten that a lot. The transitions to it thirty minutes has never gone by faster, I will say not many artists have done long form movies. I know Frank Ocean did it, um, but like not a lot of people. So what was that process like to create the story and make it the album? Um, It's crazy because like I've always wanted to do a visual album. Um, I feel like I'm a big visual artist.

So this album, the music came first for sure, and like once I finally like picked my track list of songs and everything like that, I think that's what kind of like created the story and like those are life you know what I'm saying. So it was like, okay, we started off with Superstar going into this, going into

just a lot of roller coasters and everything. So the way me and Mars wrote it out together, like it was just like we wanted it to feel, so like seemingless and like transition wise was like the most important thing for us. And also like I'm a very big, like one taker type of person, Like I love one takes. If you look at my other videos like Little Baby, um all, I know, it's like all a lot of one takes. So I felt like that was the best way to capture this movie, and that's what we did.

And like transition wise to which is like, yeah, it wasn't all one takes no, no, no, there was you know cuts here and there, But if you like watch the movie again, you'll see it's not very cut up like that, you know what I mean. That's crazy to me, I think something. I'm a very visual person, so when I get to see visuals, it brings the story so much more to life. And I know, so I'm eighteen, and I know you moved to l A when you're about sixteen, and I'm sure you're a very different person now.

But is there anything you wish you had known as a young person living in l A? M What do I wish I would have known? Um? I don't know. I'm not really like a wishful type of person or like I regret this or this and that. Like I feel like, you know, everything is just growth and like you learn as you go and everything like that. But I mean I know a lot more than I do now like back then obviously, So you know what I'm saying.

I guess just all the knowledge that I have now, if I was eighteen and like with this type of mindset, what I'd be out of here. Besides being an amazingly

challenged singer, you're also a dancer. Have you noticed if there are any similarities between your songwriting process and creating choreography similarities Let's see, I mean when I write music, like it all, it's all created differently for me because I can either start with like the beat, and then I just get like like the mic and just like freestyle melodies and just go through it with like that, which I guess you could say is similar to dancing,

because how I dance is like me freestyling, like okay, like I play the song, I free style see a move that fits like that vibe and continue to you know what I'm saying, like repeat it, and I guess like with melodies, it's kind of like the same thing where it's like, Okay, I like this melody, so I'm gonna keep that melody. So yeah, I guess it is really you just go with it, and I do you think you know you were a backup dancer and you've toured with crazy people has seen you know, you've seen

their performances firsthand, you're on the stage. Do you think that shaped your music at all? Yeah? Shaped me as an artist if anything, you know, because I just feel like I got to see the back end of like an artist's life. Like I started with Megan Trainer like audition for all about that based music video, and then the song blew up in like a month, so I got to see just like her label working her what she needed, like everything like that. So I feel like

it definitely shaped me. Yeah, she came on this podcast. Oh sorry. I love how you started out as a backup dancer for Megan Trainer and others and now you've grown into this amazing artist. Right. Something that I've learned from doing my podcast is how human everybody is, even if they have ten million followers, and I think people need to realize that. Have you learned that through your journey of working with these other artists. Yeah, I mean, like you said, everyone is to human, So it's all

it's just like we just have extraordinary jobs. Like I look at this is like this is my job. Is what I do? I do music, So yeah, this album has just been like it's my go too. I listened to it taking a break from studying. I listened to it when I'm studying, and it's actually like one of the first albums that me and my brother like genuinely love together, my brothers, my brothers twenty he's and so

he actually started making music. He's in college, and it's so interesting because I've learned a lot about hip hop through him. Um, and I know you've just been making music for so long. What advice do you have for people who are just creating music on the road to just be their authentic selves as artists. I just feel like, you know, it's took me a minute to really find my pocket, my vibe, like who I'm comfortable with working with, Like who knows me what I personally love music and

everything like that. So it all takes like time and just like patience, I feel like that's the main thing is like for an artist is to have patience because it can take a very long time. I started, I say, I started at sixteen years old when I moved to l A. So I'll be twenty six some ten days. So I'm like, it took me a good minute. Yeah, I know, I'm grown. It took me a good minute to get to this place. So it's all about hard work and patience and then you know, just believing in

yourself too, because that's important. You got to have that belief in faith. Yeah, And you know, I think one of the reasons why you're such an incredible artist is that I don't think anyone can put you in a genre like you're a genre list. Like every song on the album has a different energy, different vibes. But it's also like there's wrap, there's like a jazzy vibe, there's

R and B, there's everything. Was that something that kind of came naturally in the album or was that something like, Okay, I want to make sure we you know, encapsulate all these different energies. It was natural. You know. Anytime I get in the studio, I'm either like with the producer or already have a beat type of thing. So it's just like, um, I pick on my beats. I love Like that's like I feel like I have a really

good ear for picking beats. So yeah, which is a natural thing where it's like play me some joints and then boom, I like that, and then I just write to it. And then really I just like picked all my best songs out of my catalog to make this album. So it just so happened that it blended like so well. So what's your process of like when you choose to beat and you know, like, okay, this isn't Is it like a feeling or is it do you have like something in mind going into it as a feeling for sure?

But I mean if I'm in a vibe of like okay, I want to make an R and beat joint or if I want to make a chap joint, like I'll have my energy of mine, you know what I mean? Like you could tell like Monique wasn't made in the same energy your vibe as last night, Like you know what I mean, So it was like different vibes. I know you get asked this lot, but do you have a favorite from the album? Um, I don't know if I have a favorite. I really do get asked that all this time and I feel like I don't have

an answer today because I like all of them. But they're so different. Yeah, there's just so many different ones. Like I don't even know, Like I think I Wish is fire, I think Situations is beautiful. Um, I love my Terms. That's one of my favorites for sure, with Party next Door. Nomas on Me is another one. Like I don't know, I love Famous it's kind of like famous Famous is like one of those songs when you're in a bad bitch kind of food and you just

want to like feel confident. I feel like that's something that's you know what I realized talking to so many people my age, it's we're in this time where you know, we're going through relationships, we're dealing with all this stuff, and it's weird. With social media, it's so weird, especially like in a global pandemic um right, and it can be hard to especially like know yourself confidence in your worth. I feel like with every there's so much filter on

social media. What advice do you have for just people like myself where it's hard to kind of find that confidence within yourself. I think I've learned over the past couple I guess twenty I've learned just like since I've really been in like the spotlight. I guess I would say on social media, I just feel like you just can't care because it's like if you care, if you got hate, and it's like that's just gonna drain you.

And at the end of the day, like nobody knows you for real, like just judging out you off of you know what, you give out or whatever. So yeah, you just can't care. You gotta just teach yourself. You gotta teach yourself because I've taught myself. I cared what but now I don't care at all. Do you do that just by like reinstating that in your mind or is it just kind like something you've you've learned as

you've gotten older. I've learned as I got older. The time when you like, you know, when you would realize that something would have affected you back then and it doesn't know It's like, okay, but I'm good, you know what I mean? This is growth. I just need to like time will be like my best friend. I need to learn. But sometimes sometimes I'm just a person like but I want to know. Now it's like patious. What's your sign? I'm a Leo? Leo? Okay, so you're strong?

Is that? What? Wait? What are you? I'm e sagittarious. I've been wanting to get more into horoscopes. Do you believe it? Do you believe? Do you like follow them? I think they're pretty accurate. I'm not super into like them, but I know about like a couple, so like Leo's I had best friends like ever Leo's like, so I just know about certain ones. So yeah, I feel like it's one of those things where it's like if you're in it, you're in it. If you read yours, like

you see how accurate it is. It's kind of trippy, like I feel like I'm really a sententarious I don't know. It's really cool though, but I think something that I was talking with one of my good friends and she's going through a breakup, which it sucks, right, it's hard. Luckily I've never had a boy friend, so I haven't had to deal with that yet. We're thinking positive on that. We're thinking positive on that. And I know, like you talk about like going through relationships in your album, what

advice do you have to get over a breakup? Man? It's just some hit different, you know what they're saying. I've had a boyfriend where I'll break up with him. I broke up with him and like I was good, Like I just left him, I blocked him and never saw him again. Like it was that type of vibe. But then of course there's those breakups where it's like okay,

like you're just going through it. I think it's just like finding the love, like for yourself, Like if you're I mean, I know you're still learning about dating and everything. But if you're a big lover and like you give your love to somebody a lot, like and then you guys break up, I feel like you gotta give all that love to yourself, just like occupy yourself and just you know, whatever makes you the happiest is like me, what makes me happy is like success and like working.

So I'll make sure you know what I'm saying. I'm just even though I'm hurting, like, you gotta do what you gotta do because you know things will get better. Because I was, like two years ago, I was in a relationship and like what, I was so heartbroken, But I look at me now and I'm just like, wow, I'm not even tripping, Like I'm not even thinking about him. So it's like, you know, those type of moments are

just things that will help you. Like yeah, I mean, that's that's the vibe of famous though, Like that's the literal vibe of the song what and that was my about my egg like two years ago. But when I

got in the booth, I freestyled that whole song. I just went in and just talk to my ship, because that's really how I felt, and I was like, wow, I feel so good, and like, you know, it's so interesting to me because some artists just like comes out of their subconscious like they don't even know and just like all of a sudden, it's like, right, wow, Okay, we have to take a quick break, but when we

come back, we'll talk more about movie. The Amazing collaps on your latest album and what it was like working with Prince, and we're back. So many more questions about the visuals. I'm always really interested, like the production standpoint and things. How long does something like that take? To me?

It took like we shot the first four days we shot different videos, so like the first day we shot all the TV stuff with the little girl, and then we shot situations in the garage, and then like the second day we shot um Superstar along with Bullshit and put You On, So like, do you see if my outfits the same on Put You Onto? Bullshit? Like it's the same day I go to the house after the dance studio. We shot the dance studio first, then we

shot Bullshit in the house and all that stuff. Then at night I switched my hair to the thing because it was the same house, so it's like we was really working. I had the Bob and I changed and we shot just the bathtub scene going up like you. That was the end of that, and then like the third day we shot like I can't even remember, oh famous and Keeper was shot the same day where he's in the house and then the boys come with the flowers. Like so we were really working, like we were really working.

But so it was four days and then we waited like a month after and then shot like another four days like the rest of the movie, like for five days. I'm like that whoa. I was fine, this so fascinating. And when you first of all, I love the blonde, like I love it? Thank you? Did you actually cut your hair and diet like it showed in the video? Like did you do that yourself? That was a wig? It looks so real. I know my hair Stoles is incredible.

Shout out to day. I always when I first started wearing wigs, it just looks so real, and I would go up to people and be like, this is a wig because I was just so injurgued I was like, this is crazy. Wow. Do you have any other fun hair styles planned? Are you gonna keep it the blonde for a little bit, like C Yeah, Um, it takes a minute to get to this point and to be

like healthy because blonde is hard on your hair. So I don't see myself changing it when I changed it, because I recently changed it's a dark but I didn't like it. I just feel like I owned the blonde. It brings a different energy. Yeah. Something that I find so interesting is that, first of all, the collapse on this album, Oh my goodness, is there a certain artists that you've worked with that you feel like has really made you discover something new about yourself as an artist? Um,

I would say party next door. When we made my terms, I really felt like, I don't know. I was nervous as hell because it's party party next door and I hit him up. He doesn't do a lot of collapse too, so I hit him up asking to work and he was like, yeah, I think you're fired with the pen

and fire emoji. So I was like, how cool. So when I first worked with him, like, I was definitely nervous and like because I'd be shot sometimes when it comes to writing, Like, I don't know, sometimes I would get blanked out and like I mean, especially when it's just in front of new people. Yeah, it's very vulnerable and you'll have to open yourself up like that to strangers. Yeah, and then I was like, what are we about to write about? Like what do we like? What kind of

song are we about to do? But no, he came up with the No Indeeds, Like it's like that was his first He started with this, and then I came right after, and then I came up with oh yeah yeah, like it was just like a perfect Like I feel like he taught me, Like I guess, just just have more confidence because look how fire that song's like, we really killed that song. Yeah, it's it's insane. And I love how he's in the movie too. I love the movie is there. I'm curious who did you listen to

growing up? Um? I would always listen to like different people, like I used to listen to Alicia Keys, a shanty Aaliyah um Drake. I listened to Jinet I go um a ground that time. Rihanna, I'm just saying, if you and Alicia Keys did a collab, that would be right. Okay, wait, imagine a clab with you Alicia Keys and Rihanna. What I feel like that like bad, yeah, crazy, you need to manifest that. What if I had a song Danny like featuring Rihanna featuring Alia, people would be like, what

the hell I think that? That's like, that's what I'm hoping that energy will bring. Right When when you recorded movie? Was it during quarantine? It was? Yeah, I actually shot a lot of that stuff in like like Babysity was shot in my garage, in my house, um, when I was in a typewriter that was my garage, in the house, The Little Girl watching TV my garage. Um. Then like the Famous House and Keeper House was my friend's house. Superstar was a house, Sweet airbnbat and got um the

dance studio. Then the situation's garage was my parents actual house like in the garage are used to like rehearse at, so it was like real life. And then what else last Night with Coy that was like a hotel that we knew whatever. But yeah, so like it worked out. God was really on my side during this pandemic time because everything was really working out. When you're creating an album, it can be so broad. You know, you can literally do anything. Is there a moment when you know it's done?

But there were so many times where I thought I was done, but then I was like, wait no. But this time around, I felt like it was really done because the last song that I got, I think was last Speechure I God was Mistreated Black Queen Eigil. That was the last thing I had cleared and got added because I had Mistreated in there. But Queen Isel wasn't on it. But I had sent her the song and she sent me the verse and I was like, oh no, there's gotta be in the album. But that's when I

felt like it was done. It was already done in my head. But as soon as she sent the feature, I was like, okay, so then we're ready. I wanted a girl on the album too, so it was like perfect. Was there ever, um an inspiration that you wish you worked with on a song, like any anyone dead or alive. If you could have made a song with anybody, who would it be? I always said, Leah so hard. I think mentorship is so important. Working with Prince like that

is insane. Yeah, what was that process like and what was something you learned from him? Um? He told me a lot, like he got He just believed in me so much, and I loved my personality and my style, so I feel like he definitely gave me confidence in myself. He always told me to, you know, be involved with everything that I do writing, Like he was like, make sure you right in your up. It's just as good as the stuff you're covering, because I was like covering

songs too. And then he was just like, always be involved with your business also because you can do that, like the contracts and stuff. You know he was in he was in bad contracts where they owned all his masters and everything. So yeah, that's so fascinating to me. We have to take one more final break, but when we come back, we'll talk about what's next for Danny. Lay see if there's a possibility of acting for you since you did such a great job of it in

movie and much more. And we're back. Okay, here's a question. You know, like artists are doing documentaries, would you be wanting to do that? Definitely, I feel like that's something that people. I feel like movie was a good, like scripted situation where people can just like see my acting and like my style, but definitely like the raw and like documentary vibes, just like weren't trying to go for sure to just so people can learn even more about me on some real you know vibes. Would you ever

want to act? Yeah, I do definitely. That's like the next step I just told my agents was like, let's let's do some movies. I want to do a movie now that we got time there's no touring and stuff like, I definitely want to do that type of stuff. Would you ever write a movie? Write a musical? I mean that could be kind of fire. I mean I would say the movie wasn't musical in a sense. One of

my final questions. This year has made us think differently, and I've been thinking about like just the future and this and that. Um as an artist, when in the future, when you win I'm sure many Grammys, What do you want? What do you want your legacy to be? I just want to be like a female that worked so hard to you know, be like a great positive influence to

the world and just like just be a boss. Like I'm really trying to follow the path of like Beyonce and like Rihanna and just j Lo, like just you know, it's a boss and powerful like woman. Yeah, I feel like there's there should be more women at the top. M it's coming. Yeah, And I feel like also like us like when we need to stay together more because I feel like society tries to tear us down and it's just it doesn't help anything, right, It's easier to

hate on a woman. That is so true. You know I've been I've been feeling really helpless this year, like so many people. So every podcast I want to highlight, um a nonprofit or a charity that my guest is passionate about. Is there anything that you want to talk about? Um? You know, I think you know, Black Lives Matters is very important. I feel like, you know, it's like we got to like see see everybody and like how things like people saw it. I feel like it was very capitalized.

So about like this has been going on for so many years, but people just can't deny because it's on video exactly exactly. So yeah, I hope actual change is coming. Mm hmmm. I hope that. I hope at one brings where we can have concerts again. Yeah. Do you miss performing? Absolutely? Absolutely? I can't wait for outside open. Well, when we are open, I am definitely going to see you in concert. When are you coming to if you if you come to New York. I'm coming. Oh yeah, I always go to

New York. New York is like one of my biggest fan bases, so definitely that's where I am. Cool. Thank you so much for coming on my podcast. I know you're crazy busy with everything, all right, thanks so great to meet you. You still have a good thing. I just want to thank you guys so much for listening to this week's episode of my podcast. As always, please don't forget to subscribe to my podcast if you haven't already, and write a review. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

And don't forget to check out Danny Lay's album Movie You Will Not Regret It. Also check out the visual composed in it on YouTube. I think I mentioned it a few times in this conversation. It's incredible. And don't forget to follow me on Instagram at its Sammy J. That's I T S S A M Y J A y E. And I know we're going through rough time, but I love you guys, and I will see you next week. Bye, guys,