Daunte, an emerging artist hailing from Ypsilanti, Michigan, speaks with authenticity and purpose when it comes to his musical journey. “I’m from Ypsilanti, Michigan, born and raised. Ypsilanti is a small city that not too many people are familiar with. Ann Arbor or Detroit are more known,” he explains. The influence of Detroit’s musical landscape is undeniable in his region. “The music out here has a very similar sound to Detroit. That’s really the wave right now and has been for a while, but I’m not on that wave. I had to be different. But I do vibe with that particular sound though.”
For Daunte, music is more than a passion—it’s a calling. “My main goal in my music career is to be one of those artists that changed people’s lives,” he shares. He reflects on the power of music to heal and uplift. “I feel majority of people have a point in time in their life where it’s like they say, ‘This artist got me through a dark time in my life’ or ‘This person reshaped me and my life and my way of thinking.’” He continues, “I love music so much, like it’s to the point where I feel this is all I have—there’s no other option. It’s a passion inside of me. I’m not doing it for the dollar amount.” His commitment runs deep, grounded in emotion and creative necessity. “My life feels off if I’m not in the studio. But, also, of course, who wouldn’t want to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, musician?”
When asked what he would change about the music industry, Daunte offers thoughtful insight. “If I had the power to change one thing about the music industry, man, I’d probably say letting artists have more freedom when it comes to releasing songs. Like, a label might say, ‘No, we don’t want this song on your project,’ or, ‘You can’t release this single or that single.’” Though he humbly admits he’s no industry expert, Daunte expresses hope for progress. “I’m not an expert on things like that, but I feel like the harshness in the industry is all for a reason, and whatever that reason is, hopefully it can be resolved fairly.” With a mindset focused on authenticity, resilience, and artistic freedom, Daunte is carving out his own lane—one that prioritizes impact over trends, heart over hype.