people - Why Daniel Donskoy sings without a first name
Actor Daniel Donskoy ("The Crown") typically drops his first name in his music projects to draw a line. "I don't lead a double life, I am both. Donskoy stands only for my music, the name Daniel Donskoy stands for so many other things," the 34-year-old told dpa. "Recently, various identities have been projected onto me and into me. Daniel Donskoy, the expert on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the sought-after interview partner for the Russia-Ukraine war, the mole, the Jew, or the hot pastor."
Donskoy's musical identity remains free of labels that people might want to attach to him, said the actor. "My music is an expression of uncensored liveliness in contrast to a time full of death and wars. "Sippin" was created in New York while I was on stage for the Holocaust drama "The Pianist" – a madly exhausting time that pushed me psychologically and physically to my limits. For Władysław Szpilman, music was the salvation, and it sounds crazy, but my music saved me there as well."
"Sippin" will be released this Friday and is the first single of an entire cycle: Every week for five weeks, a new single will be released with a mix of catchy pop and influences of electronic music.
Donskoy's decision to use just his last name in music projects stemmed from a desire to distinguish his musical identity from his public persona in Ukraine and Germany. The music project, titled "Sippin," was created during a challenging period in his life, while he was performing in the Holocaust drama "The Pianist" in New York. Donskoy shared his music on German television, using the medium to connect with people across the world, including those in Berlin.
