Q: Who are you?
A: My name is Danyo Cummings and I’m a singer/songwriter/music maker.
Q: Where are you from?
A: Hawaii – I’m originally from the island of Kauai but I currently live on Oahu.
Q: How did you get into music?
A: I come from a family of musicians so I guess it was inevitable. Though, it wasn’t until High School that I discovered my love of music and my passion for creating it. It was back in High School that I made friends with a few other young local musicians who shared my vision and together we formed a band and put out a bunch of homemade demos. The band lasted for an awesome couple years but we eventually decided to call it quits in 2003. Since then, we’ve each pursued music in our own ways and I decided to make it a priority in my life.
Q: What instruments do you play?
A: Decently: ukulele and guitar. Not so decently: piano and drums. I picked up the ukulele when I was about 14 and started playing guitar about 2 years ago. I hope to be able to play piano/drums/bass/violin well within the next 10 years.
Q: Who are some of your musical influences?
A: Craig David heavily influenced me when I first started singing as well as artists like Stevie Wonder, Musiq Soulchild, Joe, UB40, Bobby Caldwell, Mint Condition, Babyface, KanYe West, Donell Jones, Robin Thicke, Usher, Common, John Mayer, Lauryn Hill, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Shinehead, Bob Marley, Damian Marley, Steel Pulse, The Jackson 5 and many others. More recently, artists like Ryan Leslie, Ne-Yo, The-Dream, Jason Mraz, and KiD CuDi have also been influential.
Q: What inspires your music?
A: Most of my music is inspired by relationships and both good and bad experiences but it doesn’t stop there. I have so much to say and so many crazy ideas that I’m constantly trying to find ways to express and share. In time I think you’ll get to know the ME that is too afraid to talk right now.
Q: What are your goals musically?
A: Like most musicians from Hawaii, I’d like to bring something different to “mainstream” music and change the way people view music from Hawaii. There is so much talent here, so much to be said and heard. With the huge impact the Internet has had on music (both good and bad) people are more open-minded and are slowly embracing different sounds that they never had access to prior to the Internet. One of my main goals is to connect with listeners beyond our islands and encourage them to seek more music from Hawaii. Besides that, I wouldn’t mind being financially stable and free of the 9-5 :)
Q: Where can I purchase your music?
A: At the moment, nowhere. I haven’t released an album YET but my debut album, “All About You”, will be ready and available soon! Till then, feel free to download my Demo EP HERE or enjoy the MySpace music all for FREE
Q: What is the best way to contact you?
A: You can e-mail me at danyocummings@gmail.com or MySpace me
