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Artist Interview: Danny Hamilton

Updated: Jul 21

Featured on The Compassion Project: Songs for Animals, Humans, and Earth Justice

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With a voice rooted in resilience and lyrics carved from lived experience, Danny Hamilton is a rising force in Roots Rock, Blues Rock, and Alternative Country. Twice nominated for “Male Singer-Songwriter of the Year” and featured on CMT and MTV, Danny’s music blends emotional grit with sharp social commentary. His featured tracks on The Compassion Project — “Until We All Rise” and “It’s What You Want” — take on both social and animal justice with raw honesty and musical depth. A two-time Los Angeles Music Video Award winner, Hamilton has performed at major events like SXSW and shared the stage with artists such as The Marshall Tucker Band and Paul Thorn. His 2020 album Here All Along and recent release The Knocking continue to affirm his place as a bold voice for empathy and truth in modern Americana music.

Was there something or someone who was the "catalyst" for you to go into music?When I was 14 years old, I was hit by a truck while riding my bike. I spent a long time in a wheelchair, and during that time taught myself some chords on the guitar. My catalyst for songwriting came four years later when my mother was killed. Songwriting became my therapy and eventually I began building up the nerve to play my songs out in public. To this day, songwriting and creating music remains my biggest passion, and the only thing that can fill certain holes in my soul.

Let's get this out of the way. What is the craziest thing that has ever happened in your music career? Being featured on CMT was pretty crazy. What has been the highlight of your music path? Every new song/creation that finds its way to my brain and out through my hands is a highlight.

How do you approach songwriting or what is your creative process like? The songs arrive on their own terms. I have no process, and I really don't have any control over them. They wash up on the shore, like driftwood and I collect them. Sometimes they show up complete and perfect, as-is. Other times they will be rough and vaguely resemble something, so I start carving away until it looks right. And there are many that I collect and set up on a shelf until I know what to do with them... Some will sit there for years until a life circumstance or experience will remind me of the shape of that certain piece of driftwood that I've been staring at, so I'll pull it down off the shelf and start carving away.

Do you have a new release? Just recently released a new album called The Knocking. Available on vinyl, CD and streaming platforms. It is a collection of blues-rock songs that I've been chipping away at for years. A little heavier-hitting than my 2020 album, Here All Along, which is more emotional and introspective.

If you could share the stage or a song session with an artist, who would it be? I love so many artists and so many genres of music, this is a really tough question for me to answer. I have always felt that a session with T-Bone Burnett could prove to be a great collaboration!

For fans who have never heard your music, how would you describe your sound?Roots-Rock. Blues-Rock. Folk-Rock. Alt-Country. Singer-Songwriter. It depends on which song/album we're talking about.

What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, producing...something else? Creating is my favorite part.

When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing? Being a father and husband. Road trips, and naps!

What is coming up in the future for you? Currently working with The Compassion Project: Songs for Animals, Humans, and Earth Justice. Two of my songs will be featured on the upcoming compilation: "Until We All Rise" and "It's What You Want." Very excited and grateful to have been asked to collaborate on this project.


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About Danny Hamilton Danny Hamilton is a genre-blending artist whose work spans Roots Rock, Alt-Country, Blues, and Folk. Known for his emotionally charged songwriting and honest performances, he’s earned critical acclaim through releases like Here All Along and The Knocking.

For The Compassion Project, Danny contributes two moving tracks — “Until We All Rise” and “It’s What You Want” — which challenge listeners to stand up for justice, whether for people or for animals. With festival performances, television features, and a growing discography, Danny continues to use music as a powerful tool for healing and change.

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