[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: DANNY SANCHEZ

Brixton-raised rapper, singer-songwriter one of the most eye-catching-new names of the past few years, Danny Sanchez gets familiar with VIPER…

What five words define your sound? 

Melancholy, nostalgia, chill, relatable, vibes.

Tell me something unique about your creative process 

I don’t know how unique this is but a lot of artists I work with look at me funny for writing all my words in my head before I write them down. Always felt like writing things down got in the way of my creative process. Sometimes I would forget some banging bars in the heat of the moment so now I voice record everything.

Which song of yours would you like people to hear first? 

I don’t think I have one to be honest. I love hearing how people first found out about my music. If I had to pick it would have to be my song ‘Dangerous’ because I feel like it’s the best introduction into my sound.

What inspired you to make that song? 

A dangerous woman.

What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music? 

To be honest I believe I’m always vulnerable when making music. Writing and creating music is like therapy for me and I’ll write about whatever issues I need to get off my chest. I love to make music people can relate to and I don’t think you can do that without being vulnerable.

What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage? 

One of my first shows the mandem had me backing a bottle of vodka on the way. I threw up 10 minutes before I went on stage and forgot my words to a few songs. That has to be the worst. Best experience ever has to be Lenzman bringing me on at Phonox – one of my favourite clubs – to close his set with our track. A great performance at a gig is great but locking off the dance felt different.

What is your favourite song to perform? 

At the moment it’s my tune ‘Gimmie a Sec’ that I made with legendary D&B producer Lenzman. It just gets everyone skanking, having a good time and always gets a wheel up.

Which artist/song/album made you want to make music? 

Hold tight Ed Sheeran and his tune ‘The A Team’. Made me pick up a guitar overnight and kickstarted my Aztec T-shirt, chinos and fake stretcher earrings singer/songwriter phase when I was about 14. Without that important moment who knows what I’d be doing.

What’s the meaning behind your name? 

Daniel Becerra Sanchez didn’t quite roll off the tongue as an artist name so it became Danny Sanchez. 

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead? 

Definitely something with food, I would love to host a cooking show or food tourism show. My friends call me Danny Scranchez sometimes because I talk about food 24/7.

What’s success to you?

If I’m being honest, success to me would mean securing some kind of financial freedom for my mum and my family. I know you shouldn’t necessarily base success by money but it is hard not too as the child of immigrants who came to this country looking for better. My mother wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer but loved me enough to trust my decision of pursuing a career in music and I just want to give back to her in every way I can. I have had so many amazing opportunities through music already so early in my career that I feel successful already with the friends and family I have and the experiences I have lived. That being said headlining Brixton O2 down the road from where I grew up would be a big milestone.

What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction? 

I got caught smoking on a train from Brighton to London after a gig and got kicked off. Had to change direction and do a madness to get home. Does that count?

Where can people keep in touch with you?

Catch me front left in a rave most weekends. Other than that find me on instagram and twitter @dannysanchor catch me talking nonsense on tiktok@_dsanchinthedance