DonnyJ talks about fame and the toxicity of modern materialism in his latest track "$hill"

DonnyJ is a multi-talented artist who has been leaving a mark on the music scene lately. Hailing from Tampa, US, DonnyJ is a one-man army who writes, produces, and sings his songs. But he doesn't stop there, as he also does all the sound engineering work as well. His music is smooth and ethereal, and his songwriting style makes it so that every track is memorable. This lyrical and musical prowess can be experienced in his latest track "$hill".

The track starts with a soft, mellow synth pad that is soon joined by DonnyJ's vocals. DonnyJ speaks about how being successful still does not result in happiness and how his greed continues. He also talks about loneliness in this modern era. The track is a soft synth ballad with a marching bassline and experimental drum work. This track is a masterclass in music-making and deep lyric writing and deserves to be heard! We also had a chance to interview Donny about his musical journey and this track: Q. What inspired you to become a musician, and how long have you been playing music?

I really got serious about music when I was in Delhi wasting away my life pursuing mechanical engineering. I got kicked out of college for flunking all my exams, due to a drug problem. That’s when I had reached the precipice and decided that I wanted to professionally pursue music. That’s when I came to Boston to attend school at Berklee College of Music.

Q. Can you tell us more about your musical background?





I started singing when I was 3. My parents pushed me into learning Indian Classical, but I never cared much for that. I’m thankful now because that has built a strong base for my voice. Eventually I fell in love with English music and that’s what I found myself singing and performing all over India and creating cover songs on YouTube.

Q. You’ve handled almost every aspect of "$hill," from production to artwork. What was the most challenging part of wearing so many hats in this project?

I think maintaining the quality of the product is always a question. Even though I love handling every aspect of my music, I’m often guilty of letting the quality slip.

Q. Your single explores society’s obsession with material wealth. Was there a personal experience or moment that inspired you to write this song?

No particular moment. I’ve been through financial hardships in life to the point I didn’t even have enough to feed myself. And eventually I jumped the ranks and made enough to subscribe to the luxuries of life. During that whole journey, I really saw the futility of money. It didn’t excite me at all. Of course, the comfort it lends is relieving but besides serving the basic functions, it doesn’t impress me. Not undermining its importance, but it’s appalling how money has usurped the genius of a human being living in society.

Q. You describe the pursuit of fame and money as an addiction. How do you personally navigate this reality as an artist in today’s industry?

The way you pose that question implies that “addiction” is derogatory. It is not. I mean wanting to go to the gym every day is also an addiction and so is getting better at things. There’s little to nothing that humans do, that isn’t an addiction. The reality is that addiction don’t go anywhere, they’re circular. You constantly chase the hits but arrive nowhere. It’s all a shell game.

Q. What message do you hope listeners take away from "$hill"? Do you see it as a wake-up call, a reflection, or something else entirely?

No, I don’t give any messages with my songs. My songs are written from a deep source of introspection. If anyone resonates, they subscribe.

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