Exclusive Interview with DCPA
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- January 9, 2023
Danny Hughes (DCPA) is an electronic music producer and DJ from Aledo, Texas. Born into a family of musicians, he learned to play the piano, trumpet, guitar, and work with production software in academic music programs as a kid. Danny built a solid foundation in the craft, but eventually pursued an accounting degree in college while at Texas Tech. After graduating in 2011, he worked as a CPA for 9 years in Dallas. Electronic music grew exponentially in the US during this time, prompting him to re-visit his place in the music world. Building an artist career was not easy with a full-time corporate job, but his varied background in business and music allowed him to quickly navigate the modern music industry and connect with those who believed in him, including international collaborators and agencies. In 2020 he made the decision to go full time into the music business. Danny now works as a professional DJ and Music Producer in Austin TX.
Leave us a link of what to listen of yours RIGHT NOW:
Coming off the heels of my latest track ‘I Feel It Too’, you can expect my 2023 releases to have a similar sound! Listen to the track on Spotify here.
Thank you for taking this interview! While your fans and new fans stream your music and read this interview, tell us the first thing that comes to mind that you’re grateful for about your music career!
Thanks for having me on! I’m grateful to be producing and DJing in the present times, and to have a platform and the health to fulfill my purpose. Technology has come a very long way and people are receptive to all different types of music. There are more ways to get out there as a DJ/producer and perform live. We have nearly unlimited online reach now with the growth of social networking. It’s an overwhelming industry at times, and it’s still important to put the music first and stick to proven methods, but the potential for a music career has never been more exciting.
What kind of inspiration influences your music that fans would be surprised by?
I really like my music to be composed of worldly influences. Spirituality, astrological concepts, and its relation to the physical realm has had a significant impact as of late too. Music is meant to invoke an emotional response from the listener. I want my music to go a step further and allow people to feel connected on an energetic plane.
Who has influenced you in your career?
I often mention my artist influences, other producers and DJ’s who’ve created the model for what I’m pursuing; but I’ve also been influenced heavily by those following other passions. Entrepreneurs, risk takers, anyone who you can see has found their purpose and then gone towards it at all costs. There are a lot of synchronicities you start to realize as you fight your own battles and compare them to others on their soul’s journey.
Who is your biggest cheerleader in the industry? Why?
I meet a lot of great venue owners when I DJ around Texas, and currently I’m mostly in the Austin-San Antonio area. They always bring up my energy and promote me to the local crowds and invite me back for more shows. They’re people who understand how it is for upcoming artists and provide the consistent support we need to stay motivated and make it.
Who gives you the most critique? Why?
Friends and family can be very objective when needed, especially the ones who know me best. I also get music career advice from an agency who has been with me from the start of my journey as an artist. Basically, the people that have taken interest in my well-being or realize the full potential in my craft will offer the most critique, and it’s so they can help me achieve deserving results.
Do you often follow your heart or your brain when you have to make decisions in your career?
I go between the two, sometimes you must follow your heart and disregard the instinct of being overly rational. Then there are times where you need to make more calculated decisions to keep life in order. I’ve found that the heart guides major career shifts and mindset, but the brain is more valuable on the day-to-day running of a music career. I try to keep a good balance between the two.
Making decisions on how to go about your next project, what do those conversations sound like?
Music has really evolved in an eclectic way, and it’s important for listeners nowadays to stream a lot of dynamic, satisfying music that gets to the point quickly. The biggest thing to consider is how to maintain a unique sound true to my craft and familiar to fans but which will also be friendly to passive listeners, up to date with industry trends, and stand a chance of global acceptance.
Give us a fun fact about your latest music!
It’s very pop-oriented in 2023…a lot of electric guitar, happy melodies, synthesizers, dynamic rhythms, and diva-style chants. I’m channeling inspiration from many of my favorites in that genre from the past few decades – Gwen Stefani, Ava Max, P!nk, Madonna, and Lady Gaga just to name a handful!
Best advice you’ve received on making new music?
I tend to run with my new ideas until they become messy, like too much is going on melodically or there are a lot of sound elements which aren’t needed. I’m often reminded to scale things back, identify the most important elements of the track, bring those out and remove anything extra. Another good piece of advice is to always find a good reference track, something you can compare to and see where a song could improve or what sounds the listeners have already accepted. I like to find those reference tracks toward the middle or end of a production to keep more of my own originality in the mix.
Give us some advice when it comes to pushing forward in your career?
Know when to put up your ‘blinders’ and stay focused. A music career has a lot of moving parts, I’ve found that as soon as you get a good routine going, some other opportunity or distraction can come, throw you off balance or add more work to your schedule. There are usually a lot of great opportunities to consider, and you should take advantage of the best ones, but you still want to find a balance and be making consistent progress behind the scenes. Everything should be done with purpose.
Socials and all links to follow you:
⇒ Amazon
⇒ Audius
⇒ Beatport
⇒ Deezer
⇒ Pandora
⇒ Songkick
⇒ Spotify
⇒ Tidal
⇒ TikTok
⇒ YouTube
⇒ Website
