The Making of Punk&B: Inside the World of Danny Singh

Photographed by Jon Dailey III

Danny Singh isn’t trying to fit into anyone else’s mold—he’s breaking them, blending them, and building something completely his own. With a sound he’s dubbed Punk&B, Danny is forging a genre that pulls from the grit of punk rock and the soul of R&B. It’s not just a musical mashup—it’s a mirror of who he is.

“Growing up in New York City shaped everything,” he says. “I was part of this hip-hop and rock band in high school—we called it RAAA, back in my cringe days. We even won the ‘Battle of the Bands’ at Afropunk. I was always the singer, the melody dude. Punk&B is the perfect fusion for me. Rock and metal are all about precision, tone, and aesthetic—which I’ve always loved. But I also feel like I’ve got an old soul. I love the oldies, the cookout jams. It all lives inside me.”

That contrast is exactly what gives his music its texture. Danny’s not here to play it safe—he wants you to feel something you didn’t expect. “I want people to be like, ‘I’ve never heard someone like this before,’ or ‘I didn’t think someone like this would show up on a song like that.’ That’s what inspires me—to surprise people and still move them.”

Music was in his blood early on. His parents were both deeply involved in church—his mother sang in the choir, and his father played instruments. “That environment gave me the foundation,” Danny reflects. “Thank God He blessed me with these talents, because without them, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”

That grounding carries into the way he approaches songwriting: vulnerable, intuitive, and rooted in real emotion. His latest single, “WYD?”, is a perfect example—a moody, addictive track that’s caught fire on TikTok. “It’s about all those feelings that come with someone you’re not supposed to be texting—but you are. Whether it’s a sneaky link or a toxic ex you still love on the low—what are you doing?”

“WYD?” – Official Music Video

Experience the hypnotic visuals of Danny's latest single, capturing the essence of late-night urban life in New York City.

And despite its success, the process was simple. “I just freestyled that jawn,” he laughs. “But I definitely had a story in mind. That’s how most of my stuff comes together—I tap into the truth of the moment.”

Collaboration is also key to Danny’s evolution, especially with artists like Lunas!—his creative counterpart on the high-octane track “TOXIC.” “We’re like Shaq and Kobe in the studio,” he says. “We push each other constantly. In sound. In storytelling. That track was just one way of exercising that muscle.”

But growth didn’t come without letting go. “I was a lot more self-conscious when I started,” he admits. “But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen what the world really is—and how nothing really matters. Now I just make stuff I think is cool. That’s enough.”

His breakthrough mixtape #F3V3RDR3AM was a declaration of that freedom. “That project taught me to have fun and be myself. It introduced people to who I really am, and now I’m just building on that.”

Style, for Danny, isn’t just about the music—it’s all-encompassing. “Fashion, sports, and music are all synonymous to me. Putting on a big-ass pair of boots makes you feel a certain way—just like dropping 40 on your ops’ heads on the court. Everything is everything.”

Still, being independent isn’t without its challenges. “Time. That’s the hardest part. I only have 24 hours,” he says. “And I miss touring. I want to meet my fans. That’s something I really look forward to again.”

So what does success look like for someone carving out a lane this unique? The answer is simple: “Success is just being happy.”

But Danny’s not slowing down anytime soon. With WYD? building momentum and new music in the pipeline, he’s laser-focused on what comes next. “I’m working on straight classics,” he grins. “Shoutout to Othello and Zach for helping take the sound to another level, and to childish for holding it down on the visuals.”

And if you ask him what 2025 holds?

“M A N O F T H E Y E A R,” he declares.