Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Rivera.
Hi Danny, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I started writing songs when I was 16. At that point, I had already been singing and playing guitar for a few years, but it got to a point where I wanted to record my songs. I was accepted into a program where I was able to record a high-end recording studio. Unfortunately for I left the program with a bad experience and a poor taste for having others record my music. As soon as the program ended, I used the money I got as a Christmas gift to buy my first recording software. At first, I was only using it to learn how to make my songs sound better. After a while, I made friends who were in a similar situation. They then asked if I could help. I absolutely did. I didn’t think I would go as far as a music producer. At most, I enjoyed the engineering side of audio. It wasn’t until college I started messaging some songwriters on TikTok to see if they wanted to work together. Whenever I heard a voice or a song that stood out to me. I wanted to make that song sound the best it could with at least a solid demo for them to submit to record labels and hopefully get discovered by someone who could take them the extra mile. After I sent out a random message, I met a singer and songwriter named Samuel Lim. Immediately, we had so many artists in common and knew exactly the kind of music he wanted to make. We ended up writing some songs and recording them as acoustic demos. What I didn’t anticipate was him asking me to add more layers to the song. I wasn’t the best with drums or synths and things like that, so at first it was a bit daunting. After a number of layers were added, eventually, we had a whole song that was ready to be released. It was called “Housewatching.” From then on, I had all sorts of people who wanted to me to produce their songs as well. At that point, I hadn’t even considered myself a “Music Producer,” but after doing this a couple more times, it seemed appropriate. So that’s what I became.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Producing music comes with so much to learn. To this day the pile of what I don’t know is still very high. Learning how to interact with other creatives and bring their vision to life has been a big part of it. It’s not something that can be taught in school. Creative differences are found everywhere. Learning how to compromise and bounce off each other was hard to swallow at times. Sometimes, it even resulted in a product that they were completely unhappy with. Another thing you have to come to terms with is that no matter how badly you would like to work with someone, being told no is often the most likely outcome. It was really disheartening reaching out to so many incredibly talented people and being met with a “no” or sometimes just no response at all. But I found that I just had to keep reaching out and finding every opportunity possible. Getting into uncomfortable positions of uncertainty often lead to the most satisfying “yes.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
In music production, I would say that I specialize in organic sounds. Folk and Acoustic music is where I seem to thrive. I think what sets me apart is that I’m still a beginner in the industry. I’ve found a way to take influence from some of my role models in the production world and bring that down to my level. I’m proudest of the community of singers and songwriters I’ve been able to find in this genre. Some of those producers I admire so much can seem like too much of a dream to ever get to work with them. I’ve brought the inspiration from them to all my friends and clients to make such a specific genre (like that of Phoebe Bridgers, Leith Ross, Lizzy McAlpine) and put my own spin on it. So, my friends and clients can have music in the same league as the artists they love with THEIR heart in the music. Learning the ins and outs of the genre felt tough to learn since when I came up there was no tutorial for it. Now, I can be that tutor. In building this community, I’ve sparked my latest project. A full album with 16 of my artist friends all singing a different song. Completely produced by me. I’ll be working on it over the course of this year, and it will be combination of all my influences through the voices of my most inspiring and talented friends.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’ve lived in Long Beach all my life, and I couldn’t ask for better weather. To me, it feels like a more relaxed version of Los Angeles. Less traffic, but not like a ghost town either. The downside is it’s not as popular for large events and social gatherings (having most of my friends live elsewhere). Having to travel to shows and recording sessions in Hollywood is definitely not better than if I were already living there.
Contact Info:
- Website: dannyriveramusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannyriveramusic?igsh=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
