Story & Lesson Highlights with DonnyJ

We’re looking forward to introducing you to DonnyJ. Check out our conversation below.

Hi DonnyJ, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Honestly, a mix of things. Real estate has been a big one. I’ve been getting deeper into it, and there’s something really satisfying about seeing the potential in a space and then actually bringing it to life. It’s a different kind of creativity, but it still keeps me inspired.

I’ve also been spending a lot of time exploring cafés and learning the basics behind a great espresso. Not just drinking it—I’ve been nerding out on things like grind size, extraction, and all the little details that make a cup really hit. Visiting different cafés has become a small ritual for me, and it feeds the part of me that loves atmosphere and storytelling.

And, of course, writing. Whether it’s ideas for music, thoughts from the day, or just getting things out of my head, writing has become a steady source of joy. It helps me stay grounded and makes everything else I’m doing feel connected.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I go by DonnyJ, and I’m an independent artist, producer, and songwriter who’s always trying to push my sound forward. I’ve released over a 100 songs across the last few years, blending R&B, pop, and alt influences with a style that’s become pretty distinct to me—dynamic vocals, emotional storytelling, and production that’s intentionally minimal but textured.

I come from a background in music engineering, so I’m very hands-on with everything I make. I’m one of those people who loves building a track from scratch—writing it, arranging it, recording it, and shaping the mix until it actually feels like a world. That full-stack creative process is a huge part of what makes the DonnyJ brand unique.

My story is really about consistency and reinvention. I came up independently, built my catalog brick by brick, and kept experimenting until I found a lane that felt honest. I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside Grammy-winning engineers and get my music into places I used to dream about—like Times Square billboards and radio—but I’m still evolving.

Right now, I’m focused on refining my sound even further and building out the next phase of my music—something more intentional, more grown, and more recognizable as me. Every release feels like another step toward the artist I’m trying to become.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a kid, I grew up performing on stage, and applause felt like the whole point. I genuinely believed that the loudest rooms and the biggest reactions were the measure of success. That was the dream—being seen, being celebrated, feeling that rush. It shaped a lot of how I viewed myself and what I thought I was supposed to chase.

But as I got older and kept creating, that idea slowly fell away. It’s almost like I’ve seen behind the curtain. You realize that applause is a moment, not a foundation. It doesn’t necessarily reflect growth, fulfillment or the deeper connection you build through your work. These days, that external hype doesn’t drive me at all.

What excites me now is having full ownership of my craft—making something honest, refining my sound, and quietly getting better with each release. I’m more interested in longevity and real impact than in being clapped for. The younger version of me chased validation; the version of me today is more focused on building something that lasts, whether anyone’s watching or not.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
One thing I quietly miss is performing live. For a long time, that was a huge part of my artistry—being on stage, feeding off the room, and letting the music breathe in real time. Life got busier, responsibilities shifted, and that part of my creative world dimmed a bit without me really noticing.

I still think about it a lot. There’s a certain energy in live performance that you just can’t replicate in a studio—the imperfections, the spontaneity, the way a song hits differently when you’re sharing it with people in the moment. I’d love for the demand for live shows to pick up again, because I genuinely want more chances to dive back into that space and reconnect with that side of myself.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
This has honestly been one of my biggest challenges as an artist. For most of my life, I kept two versions of myself—the “artist” version that people saw on stage or online, and the “real-life” version that existed off-camera. They weren’t opposites, but they definitely felt like separate identities I had to manage.

As I’ve grown older and gotten more serious about my art, those two versions have slowly merged. The way I create, the way I speak, the way I show up—there isn’t really a divide anymore. What people see publicly now is genuinely who I am, not a persona I’m putting on.

It’s taken time, but I feel most aligned when there’s no performance outside the music itself. The public me and the private me have fully coincided, and it feels a lot more honest.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I’ve learned that discovering art is basically like stumbling into an entirely different country—one with its own language, rules, and belief system. Meanwhile, most people are busy passport-stamping through whatever trend is hot that week, chasing the glory, chasing the noise.

But real art doesn’t live in that world. It’s slower, stranger, more personal. It asks you to pay attention in a way that has nothing to do with hype. It transcends vogue.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdonnyj/
• Twitter: https://x.com/realdonnyj
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/donnyj