In Conversation – DAYZY On ‘War’, Creative Roots And His Youth Music Awards Nomination

Blending UK hip-hop with Afro-jazz and soul, Liverpool artist DAYZY puts storytelling at the heart of his music, drawing on his Congolese heritage and the city he calls home. With the video for War nominated for a Youth Music Award, we caught up with him to talk about creating alongside his younger brother, the importance of local youth spaces and where he wants to take his music next.

For anyone coming to your music for the first time, how would you introduce your sound?

I’d describe my sound as UK hip-hop with influences from Afro-jazz, soul and other sounds from around the world. I like blending different musical influences while keeping storytelling at the heart of what I do.

My music can be quite conscious and reflective, but I also want it to feel energetic, melodic and enjoyable. Being from Liverpool, with my Congolese heritage, both my environment and my culture influence the music I make.

Ultimately, I want my sound to be authentic to who I am and create something people can connect with, whether that’s through the message, the feeling or the music itself.

You explored theatre and poetry at local youth spaces before focusing on music. What did those early experiences give you as a performer and storyteller?

Those experiences gave me the confidence to express myself and explore different ways of telling stories. Theatre taught me about presence, performance and how to communicate something to an audience, while poetry helped me develop my writing and find my voice.

At the time, I probably didn’t realise how much those experiences would influence my music, but looking back, they laid a lot of the foundations for what I do now.

Music became a way for me to bring all those things together. I’m not just thinking about the lyrics or the production; I’m thinking about the feeling, the message and how I can bring that to life for people.

The video for your track ‘War’ has been nominated for a Youth Music Award. What was your reaction when you heard the news?

Honestly, I was really grateful and excited. When you’re creating something independently, you put so much time, energy and belief into it, often without knowing how far it’s going to reach.

To have ‘War’ recognised in this way is a reminder that the work is connecting with people beyond the immediate circle around you. I’m proud of what we created, so to see the video receive this kind of recognition is a special feeling.

It’s also motivation to keep pushing creatively and continue making work that has something meaningful to say.

DAYZY – War (Official Video)

You and your younger brother led the video’s creative vision. What was it like making something so personal together?

It was a really special experience because there’s already a level of trust and understanding between us. We were able to share ideas, challenge each other creatively and build a vision that felt true to the music.

Working with family can make a project feel even more personal because you’re not just sharing a creative process; you’re sharing something that means a lot to both of you. We both brought our own perspectives to it, and I think that helped shape the final result.

Seeing something we envisioned together come to life, and now receive this recognition, makes it even more meaningful. Shout out my lil brother Tez, @capturecultureee.

What does it mean to have the video recognised at an awards ceremony taking place here in Liverpool?

It means a lot because Liverpool is home, and it’s where so much of my creative journey has developed. There’s a lot of talent here, and I think it’s important that the work coming out of the city gets seen and celebrated.

Having ‘War’ recognised at an awards ceremony here makes it feel even more personal. It’s not just about an award; it’s about being part of the creative community that has helped shape me.

Hopefully, it also shows other young creatives from Liverpool that you can develop your own ideas, create something independently and have that work recognised on a wider platform.

Youth Music lists Merseyside Youth Association alongside your nomination. How has that space supported you, and what difference can places like it make to young artists?

Spaces like Merseyside Youth Association can make a massive difference because they give young people somewhere to explore their creativity, develop confidence and discover what they’re capable of. Having access to those environments when you’re young can open doors you might not even know exist.

For me, those early experiences with creative spaces helped me see performance and storytelling as things I could pursue seriously. It’s important that young people have somewhere they can experiment, make mistakes and develop without feeling like they have to have everything figured out already.

You never know what a young person might go on to create when they’re given the right encouragement and opportunities. And to add to that, Joe Carroll helped me get comfortable with singing and get set up with a band through MYA. With his guidance, we were able to make ‘War’.

What are you creating next, and where would you like to take the visual side of your music from here?

I’m always exploring ways to develop my sound and the world around it. Musically, I want to keep pushing the UK hip-hop sound while telling stories that reflect my experiences and background.

Visually, I want to be even more ambitious with how I bring those stories to life. I’m interested in creating work that feels cinematic, culturally rooted and full of meaning, where the visuals add another layer to the music rather than simply accompanying it.

I also want to keep collaborating with other creatives, especially young talent, and continue building projects that give us the freedom to experiment and create something distinctive.

For me, this nomination feels like encouragement to keep going and see how far we can take it.

Follow DAYZY on Instagram for music, videos and updates.