Today we’d like to introduce you to Danjul, a rising pop artist from LA. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with him below.
Hi Danjul, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello, my name is Danjul! I’m a singer, songwriter, dancer, and model. I was born in Inglewood, California, but grew up in a small city called Covina. My parents were young but did their best to provide a good life for me and my siblings. Recognizing my special talents, especially in writing and dancing, my mom encouraged me to pursue them. I always admired artists like Brandy and Michael Jackson and was captivated by the art of performance. I taught myself how to dance and write. As the middle child, I definitely embraced the role of the rebel among my older sister and younger brother.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey as a musician has been anything but smooth. Finding trustworthy people has been incredibly challenging. I’ve had managers and labels approach me in the past, but they were never a good fit or turned out to be scams. I’ve lost count of the disappointments and heartbreaks I’ve faced. There were moments when I could have made choices that I might regret in the future. I could have sold my soul for success, but that wasn’t the path I wanted to take. I still have faith and hope that God will guide the right people into my life who truly believe in me.
Being an African-American male trying to break into the pop scene is particularly tough because people tend to pigeonhole you based on race. In contrast, artists of other ethnicities often have more freedom to explore different genres. Despite these challenges, my drive and perseverance keep me going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I go by the name Danjul, and I am a singer, songwriter, model, and dancer. I’ve been pursuing music since 2008, focusing on creating a unique artistry that will inspire people. In 2021, I released a song called “DRAMA,” produced by Nathan Bankston and Conner Weinstein, and it quickly gained traction. It’s my biggest song to date, with over 300k streams on Spotify. Seeing people create TikToks and dance challenges worldwide to my song made me realize something special was happening.
However, my life took a sudden turn when my grandmother passed away. On the same night of her passing, I received a call that “DRAMA” was going to be played on a prominent radio station in Florida. It was a bittersweet moment, and I only shared it with my brother and grieving mother. My grandmother meant everything to me, and we always talked about the day I would make it as a pop artist, but she wasn’t there to see it.
Two weeks later, I shot my first magazine cover, and things began to snowball from there. Despite the success, I was numb and struggled to process my grief. “DRAMA” was the last song I released, and I haven’t put out any new music since then. From 2021 to 2023, everything felt like a blur. I appeared on the covers of 11 independent fashion and music magazines, and my song “DRAMA” received radio play worldwide, including in the USA. It was featured on over 400 blogs. Despite these achievements, it all felt surreal because my personal life was barely holding together, and I didn’t have the time to properly grieve my grandmother’s passing. It’s hard to pinpoint my greatest achievement because my harsh reality has overshadowed my successes with “DRAMA.” Now, in 2024, I am finally starting to reflect on all that I’ve accomplished while slowly accepting that my grandma isn’t here to see me shine.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy? That’s a really good question. Creating a song from scratch brings me immense joy. While it can be frustrating at times and I often doubt myself, I find the process incredibly rewarding. I write all my own songs and develop the concepts with the help of my two producers, and together we create something beautiful. However, what truly makes me happy right now is my beautiful niece, Aria. She’s only eight months old, but she has become the center of my world, giving me a sense of purpose and hope. I want to be a great example for her, showing her that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. I aspire to be a role model she can look up to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.danjulmusic.com
- Instagram: @storyofdanjul
- Facebook: N/A
- Twitter: @storyofdanjul
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@storyofdanjul?si=B1xtqCgdcQ25w0Zs
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/dCwXEXCBjhcGvZAw9
- Other: TikTok/danjulmusic
Image Credits
Photographers:
Steve Lucero/Ig: Stevelucero.la
Brandyn White/ Ig: Brandothecameraman
Retoucher:
Dana Suvar/Ig: Retouch_club
