Danny Ward is known by many names in the music industry including Dubble D, MoodyManc, Balaphonic, Well Cut Jazz Workshop, to name a few. He is a well-respected DJ in house music as well as a jazz musician, record producer, label owner, and remixer. Danny Ward has released a number of albums and singles under these various names, some of which have had high critical acclaim.

He is associated with various labels, including Well Cut, 2020 Vision, Tsuba, Exploited, Rebellion, Local Talk; and had a viral internet sensation for his tribute rework of Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”. He’s most-played song is the 2013 released single “Joy” under his name MoodyManc.

We caught up with him and asked him some questions, which he kindly answered. Check out our interview with him below:

Tell us about your current projects.

I’m releasing various collaborative and solo projects on my own “Well Cut Records” label, I have solo and remixes being released in a steady flow on other labels, I am gigging worldwide as a DJ, releasing various podcasts and mixes through different platforms, and gigging and recording drums with artists of various backgrounds and genres. I am also part of a studio disco band project called “Powerdance” that is about to drop an album which features Luke Solomon, Greenskeepers, Lance DeSardi and members of LCD Soundsystem and more.

Tell us about your recent releases or events.

I have recently released tracks on Well Cut, an EP on Copenhagen’s Gartenhaus, remixes for Madbello and Bristol band ‘Yes Man Jellyfish’. I plan to build-up more promotion for the forthcoming ‘Powerdance’ project.

What advice would you offer to aspiring artists?

Do what you love doing, not what you think you ought to be doing.

What inspires you?

All kinds of music (which I tend to still access in vinyl format), playing the drums, friends, food, art, and partying.

Why do you do what you do?

I feel that we live in an ever increasingly negative environment, and it’s important to live your life as positively as possible.

Who would you like to work with or feature alongside?

Anybody creative who wants to work with me.

What would be your dream job?

I have it thanks, but the dream is to sustain it further.

What’s your favourite or most inspirational place and why?

I love my home city, Manchester and try to represent it as much as I can; but, also, I love travelling, particularly SE Asia, and I also love the mountains, particularly in winter.

What do you dislike about the music world?

The power of social media to distort the perceived value of artists to both others and themselves.

What’s your favourite track of all time?

Why have just one?

Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?

It can be on the studio and DJ side but I’m lucky to also work as a musician with a lot of very talented and beautiful people.

What has been a seminal experience either as a clubber or as an artist?

Performing worldwide at festivals with 2020 Soundsystem, remixing some of my favourite artists, and collaborating with so many great jazz musicians.

What quote best explains your outlook on life?

It was in love I was created and in love is how I hope I die.

What do you love about the music world?

The people involved in it.

What is your dream project or collaboration?

I want to work with more great instrumentalists and writers.

What superpower would you have and why?

To sleep at will. Why wouldn’t you?

How has your sound or performance evolved?

I’m constantly studying and investing in both aspects, I’d hope that I’m getting better!

How have your parents influenced you?

They encouraged me to play music and have always supported me since I chose my own path.

What the hardest thing about what you do?

Dealing with the fact that a lot of people that you meet might not always be telling the truth.

What research do you do?

I’m constantly checking out both new and old music.

Do you have an artist name you decided against using?

No, though some regrets about an artist name I was given.

Professionally, what’s your goal?

To sustain myself in being an artist.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Play the long game.

Why Music?

What else would you want me to do?

What artists do you most identify with?

Ones who are making honest music.

What couldn’t you live without?

Music, love, friends, and food.

Tell us about your scariest clubland experience.

I’m from Manchester, I started getting involved in the music scene and clubbing there in 1988. I’ve seen some scary things and met some scary people but I don’t have any scary experiences myself.

Thank you for answering our questions, Danny Ward. We look forward to seeing your future developments and projects come to fruition, and we’re excited the disco band project Powerdance.