Rising Stars: Meet Danny Vee of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Vee

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Bend, Oregon by a loving family with music flowing through the house at all times. My Father was a pilot and My Mother was an artist which influenced me greatly. I grew up with the sounds of the 70s and fusions of modern music playing frequently and it electrified me. Early on I was dancing around my room playing air guitar on a broomstick matching the guitar solo to Walk this Way by Aerosmith. Around that time I saw the movie School of Rock which depicted young musicians performing like rockstars and that immediately planted a seed in me that made me want to do that exact thing.

On my 10th birthday I got my first electric guitar and began exploding with creativity creating simple melodies as soon as I picked it up. Very quickly, playing guitar became my safe space to express myself deeply and learn more about my self. It was so cathartic that I became addicted to making music. I had the urge to create songs as soon as I began learning them. Throughout the rest of high school, writing and performing my own songs while singing and playing guitar became the thing that touched my soul the most.

My athletic achievements in Track and Field throughout high school sent me on track to compete in college and that pull towards further education became the most responsible option urged on by my friends and family….especially growing up in a small town where nobody was a professional musician. I went on to Boise State University to compete in Division 1 Track and Field and study Kinesiology which was the experience of a lifetime. I gained many skills of strong discipline and resilience throughout that experience, but I always had my songs to come back to every night.

Once I graduated college, I knew I needed to dive into the pursuit of a music career immediately. I got the chance to meet Elton John and his positive reviews of my music helped spark a surge of confidence in my ability to make such a tough career a real possibility to succeed with. I moved to Portland, OR, and began playing as many open mics as possible and writing as many songs as I could. I quickly put together my first stripped down acoustic EP Obsession and had a release show that I sold out. My first project revealed my introspective nature and passion towards my relationships. Soon after the release of my EP I felt like I had outgrown the Portland music scene and needed to step out of my comfort zone. On to Los Angeles.

Once I came to LA, I had a new maturity and confidence with my music. I dedicated myself to learn how to produce my own music from being inspired by Charlie Puth. I caught on quickly and now I was able to produce songs with a full band and production all from my bedroom. Throughout the years I began releasing single after single with more energy due to my want for dancing and partying at my shows. I had many ups and downs over time but I have always pushed myself to perform and continue my musical journey as an artist no matter what trials and tribulations I faced. I’ve played in fantastic venues like the Peppermint Club and The Hotel Cafe, I play multiple instruments, I’ve released 11 fully self produced songs onto Spotify and I recently got two songs synced in a movie. I’ve found that the continuation of believing in my self and staying resilient has helped my progression of being a professional musician and artist.

My sights are set high on releasing music that I love and performing at places like Coachella and Madison Square Garden. I will always create music and set goals out of my comfort zone. It’s who I am.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve been pursuing music full time for about 8 years now and I have to say it has been an absolute rollercoaster, but the rollercoaster seems to be ending closer to my goals every time I ride it.

There are many things that have led to struggles in the process such as;

Getting people to hear my music with the ever changing musical landscape. Social Media streaming has changed the industry significantly. It has brought many positive things to the industry but its constant change makes it very difficult to stick to my own unique journey. Artists aren’t as ambiguous as they once were and now it is urged to be completely open and vulnerable with your personality on social media which is a challenge for me due to my perfectionism.

It’s also a significant challenge to make a decent income as an artist. I perform frequently at corporate events, I have my own personal training business, and I’ve taught guitar and piano to support myself to live in such an expensive place.

Although these are some struggles I deal with, I still am passionate enough about music to keep going.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a professional Artist, Songwriter, Producer, and Musician. I specialize in my artist project “Danny Vee” and I create a world around my music spreading positivity, motivation, love, and personal stories about my journeys.

I’m know for putting all of my energy into creating music that is passionate and vulnerable which is showcased with my silky tenor voice, punchy guitar playing and lush productions.

I’m most proud of my resilience throughout my musical journey and my dedication to push my career to new heights. I’m not scared to put myself out there and show the world what I’m capable of.

What sets me apart from others is my work ethic and discipline to follow through with the goals I set for myself.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I loved the book “Atomic Habits”, it was a saving grace for me during the pandemic which helped me fine tune my routine to have a higher output of music and to hold myself accountable.

I also loved the book “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey. The incredible journey he has been on and his witty outlook on life is something that inspired me greatly. He applies his love for journaling effectively in the book and it opened a new world to me about learning from your mistakes and following the Greenlights in life.

My To Do Journal that I write in every day has been an absolute game changer for my productivity in life. I write down 5 things I want to get done in the day and I check off the boxes once they are completed. I’m pretty flexible with the goals but it helps me focus my time on doing what’s most important.

Contact Info:

• Email: dannyveemusic@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannyveemusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dannyveemusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsdannyvee
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dveemusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/61rf6x38N34AJnn7rLcqvo?si=Sf7psl7lQ7SBKz8bDOWoaw