Danny Katz

Danny Katz: ’80s-Flavored Folk-Pop for the Existentially Tired
Were The Indigo Girls and Erasure to engage in an alcohol-infused rendezvous—perhaps while contemplating the slow erosion of meaning in an overstimulated world—they’d both have Danny Katz to remember the evening by.

The New York singer-songwriter’s latest album, Songs in the Key of (E)nnuí, is a wry yet heartfelt exploration of modern malaise, blending '80s-inspired indie pop with folk influences. With catchy melodies and self-aware melancholy, Katz crafts songs for anyone who has ever stared into the abyss of their notifications and sighed.

Musically diverse as his background—a Japanese mother, a Jewish-American father, and a deep appreciation for both synthpop and sad acoustic ballads—Katz weaves between wistful introspection and tongue-in-cheek despair. Whether lamenting the slow creep of time, romanticizing lost opportunities, or questioning the futility of productivity culture, Ennui embraces the existential dread with a wink and a melody you can hum in the shower.

Currently prepping for the album’s March 1, 2025, digital release, Katz is letting the robots handle distribution while he focuses on navigating his own mid-life mild crisis. But don’t let the theme fool you—beneath the sardonic humor and cute, existentially overwhelmed cartoon robots lies a songwriter who still, somehow, believes in the power of a good chorus.

Oh—and he has the same birthday as Lady Gaga. So there’s that.