By Staff | October 30, 2025

The Queens band MANiK is on the rise, and nobody embodies the spirit of pure rock and roll more than MANiK frontman, lead singer and guitarist Danny Sanchez. As the newest member of the band, he has integrated fully into the band’s dynamic and provided the missing piece to put this band over the top. When not tearing up the stage with MANiK, Sanchez is studying audio engineering, showing his dedication to music.

We are big fans and were glad to have the opportunity to sit down for an interview.

How did you get into music, and when did you begin playing guitar and singing?

Danny Sanchez (guitar/lead vocals): Music has been present in my life since I was a little kid. I started singing when I was like 4 or something. I was self taught most of my life and only started taking vocal lessons a year and a half ago or so. Fun fact is that I sang in front of Aaron and an old friend of his for the first time when I was like 7 and it apparently took them back completely! I saw them both playing guitar in his room at a family gathering and came in and said “Hey I can sing too!” I still remember that day like it was yesterday, now we’re here! As for the guitar, I’ve been playing for almost 10 years now … started when I was 10 years old. Loved it from the first day! I’ve definitely had more formal teaching on guitar, so I play almost every genre and absolutely love it.

What's the meaning behind the name MANiK?

Once upon a time, there was a band called Manic Blues consisting of Erik, Jeff, and Noe. Eventually, it turned into Manic Moonshine, then into The Moonshine Runners when Aaron joined them. Jeff had to take a temporary departure and I joined in, which became Silk Feather Sun. When Jeff came back, we renamed ourselves ONCE AGAIN into MANiK! Silk Feather Sun still exists just as a smaller acoustic version of MANiK.

Who are your biggest musical inspirations?

There are so many dude… when I say so many I mean so so many! My inspirations range from Ella Fitzgerald (I know shocker, because I’m primarily a rock vocalist) to fucking Myles Kennedy, to Chester Bennington. I love SRV, John Mayer, and Mark Tremonti. I also admire Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree for the compositional aspect of things.

Describe each of your bandmates using only three words

Aaron - Leader, Reliable, Dedicated!

Jeff - Skillful, Open, Adaptive!

Erik - Insightful, Groovemaster, Tio!

Noe - Backbone, Octopus, Scapegoat!

Do you write the songs for the band? What's your songwriting process like?

Aaron (Sanchez, guitar) and I both do an equal amount of writing. Honestly songs come from almost every member of the band but Aaron writes most of the lyrics, I take the instrumental part and turn it into something massive! I also do some lyrical writing and throw suggestions where I believe it may be useful to. For example, Fly Away (our soon-to-be-released first single) was an idea of the first three chords Aaron pitched my way. I wrote all of the instrumentals after that and Aaron and I wrote lyrics. It essentially works the same way with every song we write. Some are also already pre-written, dating from before Aaron and I stepped into the picture. In order to make a three-piece song work for a five-piece, I do a lot of orchestration especially among the guitars.

What's it like being in a band with your family? Do you ever clash creatively?

Well creative clashes will always happen regardless of some members being related by blood. The most important thing to keep in mind when creative clashes happen is openness. Be open and willing to hear each other’s ideas. There is nothing to take personally if someone doesn’t agree with your idea. Be willing to compromise. There’s nothing worse than a difficult band mate. I’ve played in orchestras and bands, don’t be that one asshole band mate or stand partner. LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR!

How do you balance studying sound engineering with being in a band?

You have to learn how to manage your time… trust me I learned the hard way. Not only that but personally, I find music to be my de-stresser. Also, studying Music and Technology has helped me actually shape how we want each part to sonically sit in the band. We are still working on our live sound but especially in the recordings, I have more ease communicating our ideas to engineers. It all goes hand and hand and the skills I learn are still applicable to other parts in the audio field.

Do you incorporate any Latin rhythms or sounds into your music?

Ahhh yes the Latino heritage part! Personally, I haven’t adapted much of the Latin stuff to my own style. But in Noe and or Jeff’s styles and tones, the Latin stuff is very present. If you really pay attention to what Noe plays and how his toms sound, you can definitely hear the Latin influence.

What's your favorite song to perform live and why?

In terms of covers, Stockholm Syndrome by Muse. As for originals, I’d probably say Freebird. It’s got a deep meaning that many people can relate to. Plus, I can scream and headbang like crazy during the breakdown. I feel that song demonstrates my vocal skill to a lot of it’s capabilities. There are low parts, high parts, quiet parts, and loud parts.

What's the most challenging part of being a lead singer?

The most challenging part of being a lead singer is definitely memorizing lyrics and vocal parts. On the guitar it’s no problem, for vocals it definitely takes much more time and work. Also maintaining your voice during rehearsals and shows. It’s a lot easier said than done focusing on vocal technique while everything around you is loud and you’re playing an instrument along with singing. During a show, you also have a ton of adrenaline pumping. It’s a drive but you gotta be careful how much you use it!

What's one of the most memorable moments the band has had on stage?

I would say that one of the most memorable moments we had on stage was our first time playing Fly Away. It’s funny, that was actually at a venue called The Shrine, which is in Harlem. I remember completely letting loose and letting the music completely take over. Good times!

What's a typical practice session like for the band?

A lot of jokes haha! But when we lock in, we really lock in. This applies especially when shows are coming up!

What's your favorite piece of sound engineering equipment?

Mics all the fucking way! There are so many good mics that fit so well for every technique and style. The list is endless dude, I love trying out and experimenting with new mics to see what fits a certain type of vocal best!

How do you think your sound engineering studies will change your approach to making music?

Sound engineering changes my approach to making music because it helps me paint a picture on how the music by MANiK will be perceived by every listener’s ears. This ranges from things like tone all the way to our delivery of things and how we sit in an overall mix. On top of that, it helps me orchestrate which guitarist plays what. We’re three guitarists, it’s not as simple as everyone playing the same thing, otherwise it becomes a clusterfuck of frequencies.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned so far about the music industry?

I’m still in the process of learning extremely valuable lessons about the music industry. Ask me again in about 4 years!

Who would you most like to collaborate with outside of your band?

I would love to collaborate with another full band… I’d have to say Alter Bridge!

If you could open for any band, who would it be?

Once again, Alter Bridge!

What's your dream place to play, in New York or anywhere in the world?

Four words… Madison Square Fucking Garden!

Do you have a pre-show ritual?

I absolutely do and no it’s not pregaming! I always warm-up my voice and drink room temperature water the entire day leading up to a gig. Keeping my vocal cords hydrated and ensuring that they are feeling ready and healthy is crucial for me. If the venue is dry and hot (which is usually the case for every single one), I take some Grether’s Pastilles! I also stretch and warm up my hands and arms for guitar!

What's the most surprising thing you've learned about your voice?

The most surprising thing that I’ve learned about my voice is that I’m able to belt up to a high E (12th fret of a guitar’s high E string) if I try cleanly! I learned that while taking vocal lessons so I promise it’s not just a super strained high note hah!

What's the best advice you've ever received about your music?

The best advice that I’ve received about my music is to prioritize minimalism when writing and recording. Keep the showoff stuff for CERTAIN SONGS during SHOWS!

What's the best part about collaborating with your family?

The best part of collaborating with my family is that I have people that I can really trust in the band. I can trust that none of us will stab each other in the backs if shit hits the fan. On top of that, we can be much more productive in different times because Erik and I actually live in the same house. It makes things a lot easier for us in terms of that.

What's your creative process like? Do you start with lyrics, a melody, or a rhythm?

I don’t want to say that I’d start with rhythm. The way my writing process goes is that I come up with chords first. By that I mean singer/songwriter chords. Then I come up with the lyrics and melody and bring it to the band. It’s there when the specified “genre” gets put together. But I will say that I always keep drums in mind during the process!

How do you use your sound engineering knowledge when you record your own music?

We don’t have to hire a recording engineer. I’m taking the first required course of Sound Recording at Stevens and it’s been SUPER informative. I’m learning proper recording techniques and I’m even learning how to effectively mix music now. It comes down to even the room you are recording in. If you’re recording drums for example, you don’t want to do it in a garage, too many harsh room frequencies!

Where do you see MANiK in the next year? Five years?

I see us playing some bigger stages and for some bigger crowds. I see us making more songs that resonate with more people and I see us finally making it!

All In: An Interview with Danny Sanchez of MANiK

No Speed Limits: An Interview With L.A.’s Violent By Nature

Astoria’s Polite Punk: An Interview With Meghan Taylor of GIFTSHOP