Musician and Filmmaker, Danny Denial

Danny Denial

In this profile series, Revry is highlighting authentic contributors to the LGBTQ media and entertainment community. We ask questions to find out who they are and where they are going in the future. The questions remain the same but the answers tell their unique story. It’s time to explore and celebrate true representation beyond the limits of Hollywood. 

Danny Denial is a musician and filmmaker listed in Status Magazine as the "POC of the Queer Punk & Alternative Scene to Watch" and in Afropunk as one of the "8 Punkest Bands on the Planet Right Now". Their work in Dark Smith has been highlighted in NPR and The Seattle Times, and feature film Kill me to death has screened in festivals such as the 43rd Portland International Film Festival and LA Punk Film Festival 2020.

What are you best known for?

I'm most known for my solo music work, my most recent album f**k danny denial came out last summer on Cruisin Records, and performed with my band Dark Smith. But I also direct and produce film projects that typically criss-cross with the music world, such as my feature film KILL ME TO DEATH and my recent politically-charged web series BAZZOOKA.

What is the first thing you directed?

KILL ME TO DEATH was both my feature-length debut as a director and the first time I directed myself on camera, so it was a big undertaking for me. When you're creatively firing on so many cylinders, it can be messy and chaotic, but it's such a uniquely intimate experience to have with a project. These days, I like to keep the directing, producing and performing more separate.

What are you working on that no one knows about yet?

I've been working on my first graphic novel called DONNA DESTROYA, which should be out in 2022!