Dani Fernández: "It seems like I'm leaning toward indie, but it's indie that found me."

In 2016, Dani Fernández saw how the boy band he'd been a part of, Auryn , broke up after several years together. The Alcázar de San Juan native felt "a little mistreated." One of its members, Blas Cantó , participated in Tu cara me suena and released his album Complicado some time later. Another member, Carlos Marco, also released a solo album. He could never have foreseen at the time what has happened to him this year: being nominated for Artist of the Year and the release of a documentary about his life.

"Everyone has the right to industry support, but not everyone gets it. I was a bit mistreated in that sense because I was the 'hidden' one in my band. Carlos released an album, Blas was on TV and released an album too. There were doubts about me in my company," the singer laments.

"The industry hurt me a lot when I was in Auryn . Since I was in the band and grew up, I haven't seen music the same way," Fernández reveals. "But I don't hold a grudge against music. I've always thought the industry is carnivorous and bloody, because we're talking about a lot of money, so how can it be soft and docile?"

His reflections on his time in the band, his beginnings representing Spain at Junior Eurovision , and his current stage filled with sold-out performances and nominations will be featured in the documentary that Dani Fernández will soon release in collaboration with Repsol, Dadá Films, Warner Music, and Suricato Music. The documentary, titled Todo Cambia (Everything Changes ), was presented on March 19 at the Málaga Film Festival.

"When a kid my age called me 'faggot' for wearing hats and being in a band, it made me feel small."

"In this documentary, I wanted to tell both the good and the bad. At 14, I represented Spain at Eurovision. And at 18, I'm in a boy band . All of that led to good things and bad things on a personal level," explains the singer of Me has invitado a bailar . "Many people are going to discover feelings I had when I was a child in the village and how, when I was in Auryn , I returned to my village and was not loved."

"In town, they've really bullied me, and they've also really loved me," he confesses. "But we often focus more on the bad than the good. When a neighbor told me, 'Man, Dani, I'm so glad you're doing so well,' I brushed it off. And when a kid my age called me 'faggot' because I wore hats and was in a gang, I paid more attention. That's why I had such a hard time back then, and why I felt so small."

Being a teenager in a boy band is a complicated path, but the singer himself points out that not everyone goes from representing Spain at Junior Eurovision to being called by Leiva to "make a splash at La Revuelta or to do a song with Iván Ferreiro." "We've achieved it and we're playing at SanSan , alongside people like Amaia and Lori Meyers. Artists I never thought would be close to my music, and with whom I could even share a festival." Of course, they've earned "the respect of the people from the bottom up" and gone to "play in clubs with 100 people."

Why wouldn't artists considered indie approach Dani Fernández and end up collaborating with him? "I think they come looking for that melodic part of my voice," the artist reasons. "At first, I was freaked out when people told me I did a lot of collaborations, but it's Arde Bogotá, Viva Suecia, and Niña Polaca that are calling me. It seems like I'm leaning toward indie, but it's indie that sought me out."

"I don't mind people telling me my songs suck. But don't tell me I'm terrible without ever having seen me live."

Maybe indie music will seek out Dani Fernández . He, at least, feels comfortable and "sponsored" by the genre. During the former Pereza member's performance, "I looked next to me and saw Santi Balmes (Love of Lesbian), Amaral, Travis Birds, and I said, 'Man, I'm crazy about these people.' I'd do a song with each of them." He even spoke about the subject with Leiva "backstage at a festival," and they talked about music: "That performance, as Leiva explained, is a tribute to music, friendship, and good vibes. Not what we had in the past, from what I've been told. Bands that didn't get along because they were competitors."

Music destroys labels, according to Dani Fernández, although he warns: "I had a really big label. But let people say what they want. That I was in Auryn, that you're bad. I don't mind if people tell me my songs are crap or that I'm no good, but don't tell me I'm terrible without ever having seen me live."

Dani Fernández labels himself indie rock, or at least it's more his style, although "everyone knows" he comes from a pop background. He doesn't shy away from it either: " Aitana has incredible talent. I've mentioned doing a song together, but it's never come up. We're both very involved in our projects, but I'd love to do a song with her."

Aitana premiered her documentary on Netflix on February 28th, showcasing her more vulnerable side. But Fernández clarifies that she hasn't recorded hers because of the popularity of Metamorfosis : "When I was filming the documentary , I didn't know Aitana was recording hers. At first, we were following it from when she was recording the album. Yarea was pregnant, and we used a lot of footage from the tour or moments at home. Repsol suggested it to me because I was playing at the FIB, which they sponsored, and they suggested I talk about my evolution. Aitana talks more about her current personal stage, while I talk about everything I've been through to get to where I am."

The "Todo Cambia" singer also has a vulnerable side; he's even considered "quitting music" or wondering if it's "profitable" for him. "Especially during personal moments," he reveals, "professionally, I'm very clear about my strengths and weaknesses. What I don't like is being criticized personally. When a headline comes out and someone says, 'What an asshole,' it affects me. I'm not here because of the person I am, but because of my love for music. There have also been times when I was pushing the envelope and things didn't work out financially, and I thought about quitting music to avoid further setbacks, but those are insecurities that you overcome."

Now we're putting more focus on mental health, according to Dani Fernández , and we're talking about issues that were previously "taboo," like anxiety. "I don't think there's anything wrong with explaining it. It's a very beautiful thing for the artist to feel vulnerable," he explains. And Fernández defends that profession, that of an artist, and takes a stand: "We talk a lot about mental health and being able to express what we feel, but we're not shy about expressing our opinions to others. We say: 'Joe, be careful with your mental health.' Or: 'I'm taking sick leave for depression.' And then on social media, while I'm on sick leave for depression, they call someone: 'You asshole,' to hurt them. That's exactly what hurts us artists."

On the composition side, Dani Fernández writes all his songs. But he doesn't do it alone. Among others, he works a lot with Paco Salazar and many composers he "teams up" with. A very important pillar is Yarea Guillén , his wife, with whom he "writes all his songs." But it was the Alcázar native who was nominated for Composer of the Year at the Academy of Music Awards. Unfair? "There may be some kind of injustice, but I think there's always a bit of that in these awards. I'm not the one to answer that question. Yarea is one of the best composers in this country. She makes music, and I grow more and more as an artist and composer every time I'm working with her. I also think Yarea is proud of me being named Composer of the Year. I would have liked to see her as Composer of the Year almost more than me."

Perhaps women are undervalued in the field of composition, although Fernández believes that "women have been undervalued in all areas of music. Within record labels, I have seen discrimination against women with my own eyes. Thanks to the work they are doing and the struggle they are waging, things are gradually improving. I am a man and I can also do more for this. I have always tried to fight for my wife to have the importance she deserves, although she is talented enough that I don't have to be promoting her. My wife is talented enough not to be 'the wife of.'" It may seem contradictory to look at Dani Fernández 's band and see only one woman, Mary, the last to arrive. But the singer warns: "When you go on stage, you see all men, but then there are women behind them. We need their talent."

All guys, and Mary. Dani Fernández 's band. His "family": "I handpicked each and every one of the kids and crew, and they've all stayed. There have been some changes, but you have to adapt, although I don't see anyone leaving my band. Everyone has their own role that goes beyond their instrument."

It's clear. Dani Fernández 's success is the result of teamwork. And it all pays off: an upcoming festival tour this summer, the imminent release of his documentary, and nominations for Artist, Album, and Songwriter of the Year. It seems like the singer's big moment, but he doesn't want to think about it that way. "It makes me very dizzy to think that I'm at my best. On a professional and emotional level, I believe that everything that's coming to me is a result of the past and the work we've done. There are things that I'm afraid to normalize. Releasing an album is normal now. Not everyone has the option of releasing an album."

What goes around comes around. And Dani Fernández has done just that. "I had high expectations when I finished the album, because I thought it was the best I've made so far. I'm not much for looking at the numbers, but they've turned out really well too. I don't base my career on pleasing others and chasing numbers." For now, he's pleasing others and making numbers.