“I had to fall in love with making music again.”
With StardustDanny Brown signs one of the most risky and emotionally clear albums of his career. An album written completely in sobriety that mixes hyperpop, psychedelic electronics, noise-rap and the rawness of hip hop that has defined him for more than a decade. In this conversation, brown He talks about the challenges of creating from a new state of mind, how an emerging generation inspired him to reinvent himself, the clarity he found after recovery and why today he seeks to make music that makes him—simply—happy.
Indie Rocks!: First of all: I think Stardust It is one of the most important albums of the year. It is an album written completely sober. How did your creative approach change in this new state of mind?
Danny Brown: It all started when I found a book called The Artist's Wayof Julia Cameron. It has a lot of exercises and practices, so I started doing them. Also, all the people I worked with on the album let me focus solely on rapping. I didn't come in saying “I want to do this or that.” They were all about 20 years younger than me, more coolso I was literally asking them, “What do you want me to do? What should I do?” They helped me a lot.
Indie Rocks!: In several interviews you have said that you had to “fall in love again” with making music. At what point did that desire return?
Danny Brown: It happened when I heard the album Wall Socket of underscores. I heard it for the first time on a flight and it blew me away. shock. When I finished it made me want to cry—I didn't want to cry on a plane—but it had been a long time since music had moved me emotionally like that. That was the spark that made me fall in love again.
Indie Rocks!: Stardust mixes hyperpop, psychedelic electronics, noise and rap. How did you find the balance between evolution and your hip hop roots?
Danny Brown: The truth is, I don't know. I always wanted to challenge myself by rapping over new production. We are in 2025; To continue making music that sounds like it did in the 90s, and on top of that is not better than what was released in the 90s… would be going backwards.
It would be almost crazy: doing the same thing expecting different results. I didn't want to be “insane” this time. I thought logically about what sound I could fit into and move forward. I feel like with every album I'm looking for something that will make me progress and challenge me.
Indie Rocks!: And this search led you to collaborate with a young generation: Jane Remover, underscores, Quadeca, Frost Children. How did that approach come about and what did you discover working with them?
Danny Brown: It all started when I met Jesse Takenelliowner of Dead Air Records and manager of Jane Remover. He was basically my personal A&R. I would make songs, send them to him and he would say: “You should do something with this person, listen to this other person, see if you like it.” I can't say that I was very connected to that scene: Jesse It helped me a lot.
Indie Rocks!: The album touches on anxiety, trauma, recovery. Was it difficult to share those ideas with other people?
Danny Brown: No. When you go to rehab and sobriety you go to a lot of meetings, and little by little you become more comfortable opening up. Sometimes maybe I shared too much, I was too vulnerable, but it's all part of the healing process.
Furthermore, when I heard underscores oa Jane RemoverI realized that their electronic music wasn't just party: they had things to say, there was social commentary and world-building. I love concept albums, so I thought: if I'm going to jump on this style, I have to say something. I no longer live to party; that's not my life.
Indie Rocks!: Despite touching on difficult emotions, the album does not sound dark or pessimistic. How did you achieve that tone?
Danny Brown: It's just where I am now. I used to love dark, aggressive music—and I still do—but I'm not there emotionally anymore. I don't want to hear things that make me sad. I want music that makes me happy. And I wanted that to be felt clearly, because that's what my life is like today.
Indie Rocks!: You chose “Stardust” as the first single from the album. Why that song as the first gateway?
Danny Brown: Because I knew that even though I was going to move in a different musical direction, I wanted people to know that I'm still rooted in hip hop. For me, the root of hip hop is originality. Furthermore, it is the only song on the album that is really loaded with bars. I always have one in every album: in Quaranta was “Dark Sword Angel”in XXX was “Monopoly”. I always want a track where I just rap about being a good rapper.
Indie Rocks!: Your career is full of reinventions. What is the secret to continue creating without falling into monotony?
Danny Brown: Be a fan. When you are genuinely a fan of music and are always looking for something to inspire you, you will eventually find it. I continue to be inspired by these new artists who push genres forward.
Indie Rocks!: Your music is explosive, personal, emotional. What is the difference between Danny Brown in the studio and Danny Brown live?
Danny Brown: Live everything is improvisation. I don't know what's going to happen. In the studio I am much more meticulous than before. There was a time when I would just get into it, get really high, and try to catch “lightning in a bottle.” Now I work harder. There are songs that I rewrote four or five times and recorded a hundred times. I learned that from Q-Tip working on You Know What I'm Saying?: You have all the time in the world before the music comes out, so put all the love into it. Once it comes out, it is no longer yours: it is the world's.
Indie Rocks!: You have said that staying away from social networks made you happier. How does this distancing influence your creative process?
Danny Brown: Since I don't really know what's going on outside—beyond what my algorithm shows me or what my friends send me—I don't worry about opinions. Honestly, I'm already at the point where I don't care if someone doesn't like my music. If you like it, great. But I don't live for that.
Indie Rocks!: For those who are not yet familiar with your music: what song would you recommend to get into Danny Brown?
Danny Brown: Something closer to traditional hip hop, which is my base. Maybe “Grown Up”something light to start.
Indie Rocks!: Describe Danny Brown in three words.
Danny Brown: Open-minded, stubborn and optimistic.
