iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

i know i’m an Eagles fan but how does this not lead this morning’s Philly coverage? especially when the first quote was pumped pumped pumped last week?

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

it’s hard out here on the pop girls. i spoke to @harvilla.bsky.social about Sade in particular open.spotify.com/episode/30qt...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

new SHINE BRIGHT HQ for you shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/gary-india...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

i spoke with Wesley Morris on his Cannonball podcast about Anita Baker www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/p...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

that’s the way it goes / i guess

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Recording days are my favorite days. 🎧 So grateful for this season of meaningful work, inspiring collaborators, and conversations I can't wait to share

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

i had to place Will Trent on pause 💔 new newsletter for u open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

new newsletter for you. especially if you are that girl who used to jump on motorcycles with boys substack.com/home/post/p-...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Today is July 10. That means it’s Mavis Staples’ birthday.

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

released on this day, July 9, in 1985 ✨ there are some who are not into ‘later’ Aretha Franklin ✨ i live for this era

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

I covered R. Kelly for *VIBE* magazine in the early '90s. This clip is from my conversation with @capitalb.bsky.social — a Black-led local and national nonprofit news organization reflecting on what we saw—and why it still matters

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

new newsletter for you shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/i-just-wan...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

June 30 is Fantasia’s birthday

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

anyway it’s Lionel Richie’s birthday and we have been thinking about him all wrong www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

so happy to see my SHINE BRIGHT included in this brilliant Marie Claire Juneteenth list from book club leader / podcast host / entrepreneur / substacker @bitracial.bsky.social of The Stacks ✨ check out all of the books ➡️ www.marieclaire.com/culture/book...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Barry Manilow is a childhood favorite, and it's his birthday — June 17. Manilow is entwined in the music of Dionne Warwick + Whitney Houston, and also Jay-Z + DJ Green Lantern. I wrote about Manilow years ago for NPR. My personal life is so different now than it was then www.npr.org/sections/the...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Tupac was born on this day, June 16 1971. With my friend group from the ‘90s, I tell the story of my friendship with him on Black Girl Songbook open.spotify.com/episode/4r0G...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Tupac Shakur was born on this day, June 16 1971: ‘He dared you to find the lies, to prove he's crazy.’ open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

if i don’t tip tap my way into the dang gym

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

a new edition of the Shine Bright HQ newsletter is here open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

listen in youtu.be/pIjF7jqRKss?...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

new SHINE BRIGHT HQ newsletter for you open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

the suicide of Freddie Prinze Sr.

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

wrote this 14 years ago when my friend Chris Lighty died. he would have been 58 today www.npr.org/sections/the...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

i joined Sam Sanders on NPR’s KCRW to talk Mariah Carey. best time ever podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

The New York Times recently published my essay on Valerie Simpson — one of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters and a blueprint for modern pop 🎁 www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

this project is wild, the way it keeps going www.nytimes.com/2026/05/02/i...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Sitting w Babyface in his Las Vegas studio for The NYTimes' “30 Greatest Living American Songwriters” was like stepping into the DNA of modern R&B. What he achieved is a redefinition—of the charts, but more lastingly of what a modern love song could be. 🎁 link to clip www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

clip is blurry but idc! 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters. The New York Times. I was a judge. I wrote essays on Valerie Simpson, Smokey Robinson, and Carole King. I interviewed Babyface and Mariah Carey on camera. And my dog barked on CNN 🎵🐾

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

i wrote about Babyface for the New York Times’ 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters project. below is a quick excerpt. full essay is here www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

i’ve always thought “Way Over Yonder” was Carole King’s best song and i finally got to talk about it in The New York Times www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

i’m on the team that created this. gift link www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

i take Quincy Jones’ legacy personally thetriibe.com/interactive/...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

after living through the shooting of Marvin Gaye by his father on April 1 1984, I began to deeply detest April 1 substack.com/home/post/p-...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

recent work: www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

mariah carey and sarah vaughan birthday twins

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

I recently stepped into 'sister dreamer' by Lauren Halsey for Harper’s Bazaar. Her monumental new South Central installation refuses erasure. The mood is freedom, and forever. You’ve seen Halsey's work rise behind Kendrick on tour. In person, it breathes www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

if you are in Southern California, join us at POPCON next week www.eventbrite.com/e/pop-confer...

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Danyel Smith @danyelsmith.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

ah! today is her birthday! I became an opera listener while researching Shine Bright. and i'm so glad you enjoyed my book.

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