Danno Simpson

SHORT BIO

Danno Simpson had no problem searching his heart and soul in crafting his debut record The Kill Joy. In an era viral hits and quick rises to fame, Simpson decided from the outset to show the world who he is. "This is the most authentic version of myself," he says of the ten tracks on the album which drops July 11th.

The resident of Denver, Colorado, has roots in Texas and Georgia, and his musical influences lie at the crossroads of country and punk. He says succinctly, "Once I hear music, If I listen to it and feel inspired, I really want to make it, regardless of its genre." Disillusioned with marketers seeking to type cast him, Simpson instead wrote and recorded The Kill Joy, a journey through his life that is both high energy and laced with emotion.

Simpson has already shared the stage with the likes of Red Clay Starts, 49 Winchester, The Steelwoods, Dylan Gossett, Randy Rogers and countless other national acts. Still to come in 2025 are stops on the Post Malone Traveling Tailgate, a run opening up for Charles Wesley Godwin and his own headline shows across the country. Along the way, he's just hoping his art resonates on a relatable, person to person level with his fast growing fanbase.

"I have lofty goals, just like the next working songwriter," Simpson deadpans. " But really it's just about purring my authentic self forward, and hopefully people will want another record after this. At the end of the day, that's really all that I can ask for."

• • •

FULL BIO

Danno Simpson had no problem searching his heart and soul in crafting his debut record, The Kill Joy. In an era of viral hits and quick rises to fame, Simpson decided from the outset to show the world who he is.

"This is the most authentic version of myself," Simpson says of the 10 tracks on the album which drops on July 11th. "I feel like, for my debut record, I really wanted to do something that was truly me. My goal is to be an artists, and I want to make music that is unique to myself."

Simpson hails from Denver, Colorado, where he moved with his parents in 2012, but he has roots and Texas and Georgia, and his music influences lie at the crossroads of country and punk. He cites Texas icons Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Jerry Jeff Walker as inspirations along with modern songwriters like Jeff Tweedy, Brian Fallon and Jason Isbell. But his first foray into music was in the DIY punk scene in and around Fort Collins, Colorado. He say's succinctly, Once I hear music, if I listen to it and feel inspired, I really want to make it, regardless of it's genre."


When marketers advised Simpson to brand himself as a "Rocky Mountain Rock and Roll Cowboy" he became disillusioned and channeled that frustration into The Kill Joy. "I had tried to make music that streams well, but I don't think that is my voice," Simpson says. "I want to try to make art and the way I tried to that was to just make it all in the moment. We recorded it in four days. We Figured it out. Thats my band playing on the record – minus the drummer who lives in Nashville. I just made a record with my friends like I use to make in basements."

Simpson's star has been steadily rising since his self produced 2020 EP Honest Work, but The Kill Joy is the most complete look at the emotional range that shapes his art.

A pair of songs on the record encapsulate both Simpson's life and his range as a writer and musician. "Hotel Hillcrest" in particular, is a journey back to where he fell in love with playing music for a living.

"Hotell Hillcrest is the name of the venue that kind of kicked it all off for me" he says. "It was a garage on Hillcrest Street, and they used to have touring punk and alternative acts come in, and in my early twenties and late teens, it was kind of the center of my community. It's where I met all my friends. It's just an old punk venue. But, the song isn't necessarily about the venue, it's about a location. It's about my buddy getting a drink thrown in his face while I was on mushrooms, If I'm being honest."

Another track, "Days Gone By," offers a frank and candid look into Simpson's mind and heart as he laments a person he no longer claims to be. When he belts out, "To live a good life through the struggle and strife is the best course for your revenge," a listener cannot help but feel the growing pains that he's working through on the tune.

"'Days Gone By' was a song I wrote on my 26th birthday," Simpson says. "It's just about letting of of the past. I was coming off a pretty tumultuous year. When that happens, you kind of stare at yourself in the mirror and try to write a song where you can't help but be honest. It's really as simple as letting go of your past identity. It means nothing. The past is gone."

Simpson has already shared the stage with the likes of Red Clay Strays, 49 Winchester, Randy Rogers, Dylan Gossett, The Steelwoods, & many more. Still to come in 2025 are stops on the Post Malone Traveling Tailgate and a run opening for Charles Wesley Godwin. Along the way, he's just hong that he resonates on a relatable, person to person level with his fast growing fan base.

"I have lofty goals, just like the next working songwriter," Simpson deadpans. "But really, It's just about putting my authentic self forward, and hopefully enough people will want another record after this. At the end of the day, that's all that I can ask for."