Back with his new single ‘Robbed Me’, Daniel Donskoy is one to watch
Known for acting in various prime-time TV productions including HBO’s Strike Back, BBC‘s Detectorists and Netflix series The Crown, today he shares his new track ‘Robbed Me’.
Starting in Moscow, Daniel’s career has taken him all over the world, from Germany to North America, the Middle East to London and shows no signs of stopping.
We chatted to Daniel about new music, bad advice and what life will look like for him in 2021
Hi Daniel! Welcome to Flavourmag. How have you been? How have you stayed creative in 2020?
I am very well thank you for asking! I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to be very creative this year. Alongside my music, I am also an actor and shot a whole season of a German series followed by two films. Then during the lockdown, I had time to work on my music and most of the tracks coming out have actually been produced in my living room so fortunately, I managed to keep creative in 2020!
What inspired you to create your new single ‘Robbed Me’?
The twist and turning point of all my creation is my relentless quest of understanding of inner freedom. Feeling at ease with yourself, not letting societal and individual judgement interfere with decisions and especially my creation. The main inspiration came from the idea that a person enters your life and lights it up and makes everything bearable – and with them, you feel free, strong, inspired and invincible. However, when they leave – your self-perception and feeling of self-worth can plummet to next to nothing. One of the lyrics in ‘Robbed Me’ says “You robbed me of mind but it’s my heart you couldn’t steal” – that’s the core of the song.
What’s your songwriting process like? Do you do anything to get into the ‘zone’?
It truly depends, some days it’s great to sit in a hotboxed studio and vibe with my producers and some other days its more intellectual, I might read a book and stumble across a line or a thought of a character, this might start an avalanche of thoughts – I overthink EVERYTHING – and suddenly I find myself by the piano at 7 AM having not slept but instead written a song. I try to go with the flow but mainly my inspiration comes from the lyrical side of things and then I try to find the right musical environment for the story to be told in.
What makes you most excited or scared when releasing music?
Honestly, I’m most excited about the feeling that someday in the near future we will be able to play live again – though at times it feels like a faded dream with all that’s currently happening. I can’t wait to be back on stage but until then I am just excited to hear from the fans – to hear what the songs make them think about – maybe even what they might inspire them to create as an artistic response. In today’s day and age where so much of our communication is digital, I thrive from honest feedback – even if it is through socials. It’s not about likes it’s about the feeling of being connected to my audience.
What’s the most scandalous thing you’ve ever written about?
24 was all about a ketamine high but I don’t consider that to be scandalous! I want to inspire people to view the world in a less restrictive way – less label, less tags, more tolerance and acceptance. We are at the brink of either truly becoming a pluralistic society or a staring to ski on a retrograde path of categorization, sexism, racism and division. It’s a crucial time – especially for an artist – we have the responsibility not just to entertain but to speak up.
You’re also an actor who’s been in some pretty popular shows, what has the fan reaction been like to your music so far?
It’s been very good – I’m fortunate with that. Last year before I went on my first tour in Germany, I was anxious people would come to see me – not the music – but I was proven wrong- they sang every lyric with me – it was ace! I try not to think too much about who my audience might be – and hope the audience will find me! Some of the existing fans love it and the others don’t have to.
What’s one thing fans would be surprised to learn about you?
That I drink half a litre of self-pressed celery juice every morning before my first cigarette – Life is about the balance.
What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t worry too much – Always a good one when you’re panicking.
My typical answer to that: F*CK YOU and let me worry – maybe I like it. Maybe I don’t feel alive when I don’t worry about shit.
What would be the theme tune to your life?
Conscious of my Consciousness by Womack and Womack
As the year is almost over, What can we expect from you in 2021?
Four more tracks in the first half of the year and Ideally my tour going on sale!! I’m also about to shoot a very exciting series for a streaming service I’m not allowed to give any information about yet. So 2021 is going to be full of creation and occasional breakdown.