Artist Spotlight: Duncan Daniels
Grammy-nominated and independent to the core, Duncan Daniels mixes Nigerian beats with rock, country, and Americana magic. From self-filming music videos in Lagos to writing heartfelt tracks like Nirvana’s Song, Duncan’s music is all about real stories, fatherhood, and leaving a legacy. Nigeria, UK, US—he’s got fans everywhere!
Q: "Nirvana’s Song" is such a heartfelt track! What was going through your mind when you wrote it?
A: When I wrote "Nirvana’s Song," I was thinking about legacy—what I want to leave behind for my daughters. It’s a love letter to my youngest, Nirvana, born right after Grammy consideration announcements. The melody started as gibberish hummed into my phone while strumming my Taylor guitar. But the story was always clear: celebrating life’s quiet miracles and the weight of wanting to give them a world filled with hope. Fatherhood sharpens your purpose, and this song is that purpose set to music.
Q: You've been on this independent grind for a while—what’s been the wildest part of your journey so far?
A: The wildest part? Realizing that “making it” isn’t a destination—it’s the grind itself. Like when I self-filmed a music video in Lagos with a $50 budget, and it caught fire online. Or getting Grammy nods as a fully independent artist. Those moments remind me that authenticity has its own gravitational pull. The chaos of balancing fatherhood, fitness, and studio marathons? That’s the ride.
Q: Making music is one thing, but handling the business side too? How do you keep it all together?
A: It’s like juggling fire while composing a symphony. I lean into tools that mirror my values: a content calendar for consistency, but leaving room for raw, unfiltered posts—like cooking jollof rice for my girls or sharing voice notes of half-baked lyrics. The key? Surrounding myself with a small, trusted team and remembering why I started: to build a community, not just a fanbase.
Q: Where do you find inspiration for your songs—do ideas just hit you randomly, or do you have a ritual for getting in the zone?
A: Life’s my muse. A conversation with my daughters, the lessons from my journey, or even tapping stories from the experiences of others. I don’t wait for inspiration—I chase it. My ritual? A guitar, my voice notes app, and zero shame about belting nonsense until the words crystallize. It’s messy, but that’s where the magic lives.
Q: You self-funded your latest album (major respect). What was the toughest challenge in making it happen?
A: Trusting the process when the bank account screamed otherwise. Every dollar came from grinding—producing for others, freelance gigs. The toughest part was silencing the doubt that whispers, “Is this worth it?” But when Johnatha Bastos sent back his Guitar tracks he recorded using his toes (He was born with no hands) or when I watched Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine Based) slay crazy guitar solos despite Russian bomb raid sirens blasting in the background? That’s when I knew. Independence isn’t free, but it’s priceless.
Q: Your sound has evolved over the years—if you could describe your music journey in three words, what would they be?
A: Honest. Nostalgic. Revival. My Nigerian heartbeat meets Rock, Country and Americana soul, polished by years of refusing to fit in. Every scar in my voice tells a story.
Q: You’ve worked with some amazing musicians. What’s your favorite part about collaborating, and do you have any dream collabs?
A: Collaboration is alchemy— Understanding that you need people and you cannot do it all alone. It took me some time to really understand this, as a producer myself and instrumentalist, it’s easy to not want to deal with others timelines, but I have learned that patience is a virtue, even more so in making the perfect song. Dream collab? Hmm Shaboozey or Jelly Roll. I like working with a fellow Nigerian who’s breaking the stereotype and with Jelly Roll, his energy matches the same emotion I give off in my songs.
Q: Becoming a dad is a game-changer! How has fatherhood shifted your perspective on life and music?
A: Fatherhood stripped away every façade. My music isn’t just for me anymore—it’s their lullaby, their anthem. I write now thinking, “Will this make them proud when they’re 30?” It’s why "Nirvana’s Song" isn’t just a track—it’s a time capsule of love.
Q: Nine Grammy category considerations—no small feat! What was that experience like, and did it push you even harder?
A: Surreal. Validation that the world hears the heart in what I do. But the real fuel? My daughter being born days after the announcement. It wasn’t about trophies—it was about proving that staying true to your sound can ripple far beyond your zip code.
Q: Nigeria, UK, USA… you’ve got listeners all over. Do different places influence your sound and style?
A: Absolutely. Nigeria taught me rhythm—the pulse of Afrobeat in traffic jams. Listening to lots of US based Classic Rock Artists like SoundGarden or Bon Jovi in the 90s, schooled me in melody and song writing. The UK? That’s where my soul marries alt-rock edge, inspired by artists like Oasis, ColdPlay, The Cranberries and U2 to name a few. My sound is a passport stamped with every city that shaped me.
Q: If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice about making it as an independent artist, what would it be?
A: “Stop chasing trends—dig deeper into your story. The world doesn’t need another clone; it needs your scars, your jollof rice recipes, your fatherhood fears. And invest in a damn backup hard drive earlier.”
Q: What’s next on your radar? Any new music, big moves, or surprises we should be hyped for?
A: Building a live band to bring the raw energy of my albums to stages across the globe. More collabs and hopefully a Grammy Nomination or a win even. Surprises? Hmm I will spill the tea to only folks that join my Broadcast channel on Instagram @dunkishrock haha!
Q: If you weren’t making music, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
A: A Surgeon or a movie director. Visual storytelling in my blood—I shoot my own videos. Or maybe a chef? Food, like music, is culture, love, and memory on a plate.
Q: If you could hop in a time machine and collaborate with any artist—past or present—who would it be and why?
A: Tracy Chapman. Her storytelling cuts like a knife—simple, profound, and timeless. Imagine her smoky vocals over my Afro-country strings. It’d be a masterclass in saying more with less.
Q: When people hear your music, what’s the one feeling or message you hope sticks with them?
A:You’re not alone. My music is a hand on your shoulder saying, “I’ve been there too.” Whether it’s grief, joy, or the quiet in between—I want you to feel seen, then empowered to keep writing your own story.