Daniel Seavey Reflects on Debut Album & Why Don’t We’s Legacy: ‘All the Good Memories Are There’

Daniel Seavey’s bid for solo stardom is no surprise. At 25, Seavey has already been carving his path in the industry for years — first capturing attention on American Idol in 2015, and then making waves as a member of a pop group, formerly known as Why Don’t We. Now, he is once again stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist with the release of his debut album, Second Wind, out today (Mar. 7), using the project to prove that his journey is just getting started.

Following the formation of Why Don’t We in 2016, Seavey and the rest of the group scored a pair of top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, earned a top 40 hit on the Hot 100 with 2020’s “Fallin’ (Adrenaline),” and toured the world, with sold-out shows alongside the rest of the group later leading to solo performances. Yet Seavey’s pursuit of music stalled in 2022, when Why Don’t We disbanded amid lawsuits between their former manager and then-current management over control of the group.

The ligitation forced Seavey to cancel his 2023 solo tour in support of his debut EP, Dancing In The Dark. The case finally concluded last Thursday (Feb. 27), with a jury ruling that the four ex-band members named in the lawsuit (Zach Herron, Corbyn Besson, Jonah Marais, and Jack Avery) owed their former managers a symbolic $1 each, but could no longer utilize the Why Don’t We name.

With all the hurdles Seavey has overcome as an artist, he’s not only been determined to solidify his spot in the industry as a solo artist, but to also make his mark. Following multiple EPs and singles throughout 2023 and 2024, Second Wind encompasses the mentality of growing older while clinging onto youth: the project, which was executive produced by Michael Pollack, draws inspiration from early-’00s pop-rock, blending infectious energy with introspective lyrics, and radiating both optimism and artistic freedom. 

Determined to reconnect with the childlike joy of making music, Seavey aimed to create something fun and meaningful. Throughout the 12 tracks on Second Wind, he opens up to fans, sharing his struggles and hopes for the future in an honest and heartfelt way.

This month, he’ll embark on his international headlining tour in support of the project, kicking off on March 18 in Dallas and wrapping up in June in Auckland, New Zealand. His jump into a world tour comes as no surprise — Seavey has been anxious to hit the road. In 2024, he built momentum as an opener for Benson Boone’s Fireworks and Rollerblades world tour and Dean Lewis’ Sad Boi Winter run, in addition to a main stage slot at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

Billboard sat down with the star to discuss his album, touring and his plans for the future in music.

Congratulations on the release of your debut album, Second Wind. How does it feel to finally be putting it out for the rest of the world to hear?

It is the biggest relieving moment to have it finally coming out.  It was a long time coming, more than I would have hoped, but it also feels really special timing in that I finally got my head out of all the dark clouds of the last couple years and what better way to celebrate that than to have people hear the music that I’m putting my heart into… It nails how I feel, I’m hitting a second wind, and enjoying life right now and excited for [fans] to hear that in the songs.

Can you walk me through how you decided you wanted to create a full album on your own? 

I think making an album was always a dream of mine. I’m very musically inclined and I play a lot of different instruments, and I think an album is a great way to showcase the different sides of me and all kinds of different ways in which I wanted to travel musically. And I think this album does exactly that. It goes a lot of different directions, and I think I’ll look back on it and I’ve dreamt of doing as I started making music on my own at 15. 

Do you feel any relief knowing the lawsuit has officially come to an end?

One hundred percent. In the sake of trying to get back to a good place, the wind was taken out of our sails and a dark cloud was above us. With that gone, we can breathe again. Time heals, and with time we can take this and crawl back to that standpoint of being friends again… It’s a breeziness in the air that’s unbelievable, and so nice for all of us.

What do you think of Why Don’t We’s legacy, and what do you hope people think of when listening to your band’s past music? 

It’s a tricky question for me right now. It’s unfair, and being so transparent, anything that relates to the band – the name, the music – right now I’m in the thick of it, it’s a little traumatic. And I hear the songs and it brings back tough memories but I have such an appreciation for the music and when I think on it a little longer. All the good memories are there. I hope to get my head and heart. I would love to be able to look at it and fully accept it.

The overarching theme of Second Wind is about growing up, and not only reminiscing about your youth, but finding memorable moments to cling onto. Compared to your previous singles and EPs, how different was bringing this album to life?

With all my original EPs, I wrote those in a really tough time… I was in the thick of life being really hard. I wrote those first singles and EPs in my house and the difference was that I was completely on my own for the most of it… I produced the whole thing myself and it was great for that time, but the biggest difference of this last album was that I brought in some people who I love and immensely trust and it really reminded me of how fun music is. I think you can hear it in the songs.

If you could pick a favorite song that you wrote but also to perform what would it be?

It changes all the time — when I was performing last year, I did a couple of the songs off this album. “Sleeping With The Lights On”  was a fun one. I haven’t performed “Waves” yet, but I’m really excited for that one. I’m most excited to perform “Eden,” it may or might not make the album.

If there was one song you could encourage fans to listen to off of your album, which would it be? 

“The Older You Get.” It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever penned. It really sums up my standpoint and perspective on life. It includes where my life was at and what was going on and the optimism I have.

You opened for Benson Boone and Dean Lewis in 2024, and you’re now preparing for your own global headlining tour this year. How excited are you to be on the road, and what are you most looking forward to on tour? 

I am beyond excited… I was so nervous for that first tour, I had no idea of what it would be like to be on my own. It was a completely new experience. I was just a nervous wreck. Since then, even opening and being in the uncomfortable position of opening for people that aren’t there for you and kind of getting to win them over, I feel so ready and comfortable to be back on stage more than ever. I’m dying to be back in front of my fans and really build that bond and I know it’s going to be so special. I’ve been dreaming about it this whole year.

Do you have any fun surprises for the tour that you’re willing to share? 

Me being the nerd as I am, I’ve been messing with this Looper [loop pedal] a ton. On my first tour, I don’t think the technology was particularly there to do what I wanted to do, so I kind of made the Looper work, in a sense I wanted to loop all the instruments together to be a one-man band. Looking back on it, it’s giving band class, but I think I cracked the code a little more.

Manifesting your dreams into reality, do you have any fun guests for the tour or collaborations in the future?

Possibly! I’m just getting into those conversations toward the tail end. I was so focused on saying who Daniel was, and I’m definitely talking about certain collabs… We’ll see!

Check out Daniel Seavery’s Second Wind below:

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