Q&A: Donna Dafi Channels Soft Power on "ManGo"
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
WITH THE RELEASE OF HER LATEST SINGLE “MANGO”, emerging artist Donna Dafi delivers a sun-soaked masterclass in self-assured clarity. Arriving via her own label, Record17, the track marks a pivotal evolution for the German-born artist, whose Albanian and Nigerian heritage informs a sound that fluidly bridges R&B, alternative pop, and global rhythms. Built on a foundation of rolling, Afro-leaning percussion and a commanding bass-led pulse, "ManGo" is a personal reclamation of power.
Drawing on her background in architecture, Dafi approaches her music with a refined sense of structure and intention, crafting a space that feels both intimate and effortlessly cool. On "ManGo," she explores the moment of seeing through manipulation and choosing self-worth over performance, effectively flipping a nickname once used to diminish her into a statement of strength. Following the momentum of her earlier 2026 releases, "Primadonna" and "Touch Me Like That," this latest single positions Dafi as a compelling voice at the intersection of music and culture, hinting at a wider, deeply honest sonic world yet to be revealed.
Read below to learn more about Donna’s "soft power" philosophy, how her architecture degree influences her songwriting and the way her heritage shapes the sun-soaked rhythms of her upcoming album.
LUNA: Your new single, “ManGo”, explores the idea of reclaiming power from someone who viewed your "sweetness" as a weakness. Was there a specific moment of clarity where you realized that softness could actually be your most commanding weapon?
DAFI: I think the moment of clarity wasn’t loud or dramatic. It was actually very quiet. It was that instant where I realised I didn’t have to harden myself to be taken seriously. My softness wasn’t the weakness, it was the thing that made me untouchable. There’s power in staying grounded, in seeing everything clearly and still choosing yourself. “ManGo” really lives in that shift, where you stop performing for someone else and start owning your own energy.
LUNA: The track blends R&B with Afro-leaning percussion and global rhythms. How do your German, Nigerian, and Albanian roots specifically inform the "sun-soaked" sonic palette you’re building with this forthcoming album?
DAFI: It’s all very instinctive. Growing up between cultures gives you a natural openness. You don’t really see genres as boundaries. The Afro-leaning percussion definitely comes from that Nigerian influence, that rhythm that feels very alive and physical. Then there’s a certain precision and minimalism I think comes from my German side and a kind of emotional intensity and storytelling that feels very Balkan. When I say “sun-soaked,” it’s that blend… warm, rhythmic but still intentional and clean.
LUNA: How do you balance raw, vulnerable honesty with the "effortlessly cool" and controlled delivery we hear in the final recording?
DAFI: For me, it’s about control. I can be saying something very personal, almost like I’m reading a diary entry but I don’t need to shout it. There’s something powerful in delivering it calmly, almost like, I’ve already processed this, I’m good, I’m fine now. That contrast creates tension. You feel the emotion but it’s contained. That’s where the “cool” comes from.
LUNA: You hold a Master’s degree in Architecture. How does that background in structure and spatial design influence the way you approach the "architecture" of a song or the visual world of Record17?
DAFI: Massively. I think of songs like spaces. There’s structure, flow, tension, release. How someone moves through a track is very similar to how they move through a building. I’m quite intentional about what enters when, how minimal or full something feels. Even visually with Record17, I approach everything like a world you can step into, clean, considered but with feeling underneath it.
LUNA: Releasing music under your own label, Record17, represents a high level of intentionality. Why was it vital for you to own the infrastructure of your career from these early stages?
DAFI: Record17 represents freedom but also responsibility. Every decision is intentional, from the sound to the visuals to the pace of how I release. It allows me to move in a way that feels completely true to me, without being rushed or shaped by outside pressure. At the same time, I see this as a foundation. I’m very open to evolving and taking the next step, including collaborating with other labels in the future. For me, it’s about finding the right partnerships that align creatively and support the world I’m building.
LUNA: You are currently the face of the global ESCADA Fragrances 2025/26 campaign. How does your relationship with fashion and fragrance influence the music you write? Do you find that a certain scent or visual aesthetic can spark a melody?
DAFI: I’m very sensory when I create. A scent, a texture, a colour, it can instantly trigger a mood or even a melody. With fragrance especially, it’s about memory and feeling. That translates directly into music. Sometimes I’ll think, what would this song smell like? And that actually guides the production or the tone of my voice.
LUNA: For the ESCADA campaign, you recorded an original track. How does your creative process differ when you are writing music to soundtrack a specific global brand vs. the personal storytelling found in a track like ‘ManGo’?
DAFI: It’s a different kind of discipline. When you’re writing for a brand, you’re stepping into a shared world. You still bring yourself into it but you’re also translating a bigger identity. With something like “ManGo,” it’s completely internal. It’s my story, my emotions, no filter. Both are creative in different ways, one is collaborative storytelling, the other is almost like therapy.
LUNA: Between “Primadonna”, “Touch Me Like That”, and “ManGo”, you’ve maintained a steady release cycle this year. How do these three singles fit together as chapters in the larger story of your upcoming project?
DAFI: They feel like different sides of the same woman. “Primadonna” had that confidence and edge, “Touch Me Like That” leaned more into desire and vulnerability and “ManGo” is clarity. It’s the moment where everything clicks. Together, they build a narrative of self-awareness. Understanding your worth, your patterns, and finally choosing differently.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the coming months?
DAFI: There are definitely more singles coming this year that I’m really excited about. For me, it’s about continuing to build but in a very intentional way. I want everything to feel aligned and true to the world I’m creating. It’s about expanding that world, connecting with people and staying honest throughout the process. And of course… enjoying it. Always. I feel incredibly grateful to be doing something I truly love and to be able to share it with people. The love and support I receive honestly moves me in ways I can’t even fully put into words. I’m beyond thankful for that. That’s also why I’m really excited to get on the road soon. To tour, to meet all these amazing people in real life. That genuine, face-to-face connection is something I’m really looking forward to.
