Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Daniy’el
Introduction of the project
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My earliest memory connected to music goes back to when I was about five years old. I used to ride my bicycle for hours around the courtyard, quietly inventing melodies in my head. Even then, I could feel that music was something that made me feel good, something deeply natural and comforting.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
My passion for creating music truly began during middle school. Together with a few classmates, I formed a small band and we used to record songs on cassette tapes, singing in a kind of made-up English that, to us, sounded like real hits. It was playful and innocent, but it made me realize the joy of creating something from nothing and sharing it with others
What’s the story behind your current music project?
The story behind my current music project is deeply connected to storytelling. Today, I’m focused on writing and producing music for sync, creating tracks meant for film, TV and advertising, where music becomes part of a larger visual narrative. At the same time, I continue to write songs for radio, a medium I still deeply believe in and listen to every day. For me, these two worlds naturally coexist, sharing the same goal: creating music that connects emotionally with people, whether through images or through a simple pair of headphones.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
As a singer-songwriter, my sound leans mainly toward indie folk, rooted in acoustic textures and intimate storytelling. When I put on my composer and author hat, though, I love to move freely across genres, from rock to pop/EDM, from contemporary country to Hawaiian-inspired music. I’m fascinated by how a single musical idea can evolve and transform when you change its genre, mood or sonic palette.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
One of the most important things I’ve learned is that songwriting, for me, doesn’t have to be tied only to the need to release a specific emotion, as it often was in the past. Over time, I’ve come to see writing lyrics and composing music as a form of training, much like physical exercise, that strengthens you and helps you push beyond your limits. Being able to move across different genres allows me to explore and observe many sides of my inner world. In many ways, it’s a form of therapy.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
The core of my creative process revolves around acoustic guitars, ukulele, bass, and keyboards, which allow me to move naturally between songwriting and production. I record them in my DAW and also use online music production platforms, which let me blend acoustic and electronic elements and explore exciting creative possibilities.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Lately I’ve been especially drawn to the British singer and pianist Jamie Cullum and the Norwegian artist Jørgen Dahl Moe. But someone I never get tired of listening to, and who I’ve also had the pleasure of hearing live, is the unmistakable Paolo Nutini.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
My personal experiences deeply shape both my music and artistic vision. Moving away from my hometown, leaving behind childhood and teenage friendships, had a strong emotional impact on my writing. The birth of my children added a new sense of depth and perspective, while my constant search for immersion in nature continues to be a vital source of inspiration for my sound
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I write by embracing the many emotions that shape our everyday lives. My songs can reflect joy, nostalgia, strength, bitterness, brotherhood, farewells and rebirth. There isn’t a single message I want to impose, but rather a space where listeners can recognize themselves and fully immerse in every emotional shade that life has to offer.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Music has taught me that there is always a new opportunity waiting for us, even during moments when everything feels off course. You can always return to an interrupted chord progression, unfinished words, or the fragile seed of a melody, and allow it to evolve into something new. Music reminds me that nothing is ever truly lost, only waiting to be transformed.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
For its history and its incredible range of artistic expressions, without a doubt the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I’d be absolutely over the moon if one of my songs were played on guitar by John Mayer and sung by Steve Perry from Journey. Their voices and musical personalities have a timeless emotional power that I deeply admire.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
I’d love for listeners to follow and support my music both through my artist project Daniy’el and as a composer and songwriter under my name Daniele Fortunato. You can find my work on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all major streaming platforms. Thank you for listening and sharing in this musical journey!
Daniy’el: https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/artist/2DCVVOUYeyfeoE7B5LIjxj
Daniele Fortunato: https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/artist/1PFNNTsmdNeX1FW5zNYi6o
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Looking toward the future, my dream for the next chapter of my musical journey is to embrace every opportunity to share my songs, from radio and TV to digital platforms. I hope to collaborate with other artists and composers, explore new creative horizons, and most importantly, keep the dream alive.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I strive to capture feelings that everyone can relate to. We are all woven from the same threads of light and shadow, of burning dreams and quiet disillusion. Within a melody or a lyric, listeners can find echoes of their own stories. I hope they discover that, deep down, we are all remarkably alike.
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