Danny Hatem: Building a Cinematic Universe Through Sound
Photo By: nxblame
INTERVIEW BY: Liam Collins
Liam:
I’m here with Danny Hatem to talk about his new album, Hatem.
Danny Hatem:
Yes, sir.
Liam:
I know it's been in the works for a while, so I’m excited to talk to you about it.
Danny Hatem:
Yeah man, I'm excited to be here.
Liam:
Obviously, the album is named after your last name, Hatem. Can you share more about the inspiration behind the name and what it signifies for you?
Danny Hatem:
I'll explain the name too. A lot of people think it's just me saying I hate people or something, but it’s literally just my last name — a Middle Eastern last name. The album was made around 2022, over a year to a year and a half. That time was me figuring myself out.
I started music young, and after a while, I lost myself in it. At first, it was like therapy. Then it became about portraying who I thought I was supposed to be in the industry. This album starts with HATEM, full EGO mode, and over time it transitions — like on Bitch Please, the first verse is me being vulnerable, and the second verse is like the ego kidnapping me. It's layered like that throughout. You get the point.
Liam:
Can you walk us through the creative process for this album — from songwriting to choosing beats and producing?
Danny Hatem:
Yeah, as far as production, the first track was actually generated using a site called Udio. It lets you make AI songs, and the first prompt I typed was just "Hatem Hatem Hatem." I told it to make it sound like a 70s theme song. That intro became the first thing I built from, and there was a moment where the vocals sang “HAAAATEEM” — I looped that and added drums and bass.
I produced a few tracks myself, and my bro Remy did Wait a Minute. Wilky and Perish also produced on this. Everyone brought their flavor.
Liam:
A couple months ago, you dropped the music video for Hatem before the album came out. What was that like to shoot, and what was your favorite part?
Danny Hatem:
Maya Raman creative directed it — she’s cold. We worked with Live2 to make it happen. Her and Ian Roper made something crazy. It’s actually part one of a short film series — every song on the album will have a visual storyline that continues the project. That first video is just chapter one. I’m actually directing the rest of them myself — it’s my directorial debut. But shoutout Maya, she really killed it.
Liam:
Yeah dude, I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s exciting to see you develop your skills beyond just music.
Danny Hatem:
Exactly, it’s a whole new thing. The visuals are half music video, half short film. That first one is the only full music video. I just want more creative control, so I can explore different bags.
Liam:
That’s been your energy since day one — building across disciplines. On the album, you collaborated with NoLimit TC and Pertinence. How did those linkups happen?
Danny Hatem:
Man, I’ve been wanting to work with NoLimit TC. He’s one of my favorite rappers in KC. We’d talked about working for a while. I had the song READY 2 GO, and after the hook there's a beat switch. I just knew it was perfect for him. He came in, brought that energy, and I think he freestyled the whole verse — it’s insane.
I met Pertinence in LA through the Live2 crew. He’s a good dude — walks into a room and makes everyone feel good. We vibed instantly and made FRUIT LOOPS effortlessly.
Liam:
Two of the songs that stood out to me emotionally were MISS YOU TOMORROW and GREY SKIES. Can you talk about what those tracks meant to you?
Danny Hatem:
MISS YOU TOMORROW is about ending a relationship but still missing that person. That’s probably my other favorite on the album. A lot of times it's easy to walk away from someone and just be like “f--- that,” but this one came from a more mature place. I take some accountability in it.
GREY SKIES is about living in extremes — chasing highs, hitting lows. It’s about that middle ground — the grey area — where I’m trying to find balance and peace.
Liam:
One of my favorite tracks is WAIT A MINUTE. What was it like making that one?
Danny Hatem:
That’s one of the few I didn’t fully produce. Remy Styrk made the beat. I added a couple of drum tweaks. Remy’s a wizard — he knew I wanted a Middle Eastern feel and was literally playing the horn for it. The beat goes so hard, I knew I had to float and go crazy. That’s one of my top tracks on the album too.
Liam:
You’ve mentioned this cinematic world you’re building. How did you decide to pair visuals with the music?
Danny Hatem:
Living in LA made me realize your brand as an artist is just as important as your music. I had an identity crisis around that — trying to figure out how to represent myself authentically, not just imitating artists I liked before. This album lives in that in-between space, but it's about stripping things back. I thought about everything I love outside of music — visuals, movies, storytelling — and how I could build a cinematic universe around it.
Liam:
So this album is a chapter of a bigger story, right? Based on your real-life experiences?
Danny Hatem:
100%. A chapter in the book. I got to be around everything in LA that the world said would make me happy — and when it didn’t fix anything, I knew I had to work on myself from the inside out. That’s where the real story begins.
Liam:
You performed in Westport a few weeks ago — that looked like a dope show. Are there more shows coming? What’s next?
Danny Hatem:
Yeah, I’m finishing up these visuals and working on the next project. I love the energy of the shows — sharing that moment with people. The crowd was singing the songs, even the unreleased ones. I was like, “how the f--- do you know this?” It was all love.
Big shoutout to Nelso, SBR MAG, and you for doing this interview. I appreciate y’all.
Liam:
Always, bro. At the end of the day — stream HATEM, out now on all platforms.
Photo By: @braysbrain
