From heartbreak to harmony: Darryl Scotti's new single "Better Day" gives a voice to the voiceless

Music News recently sat down with US songwriter Darryl Scotti to discuss his latest work and what’s inspiring him. He also recently put out a new video for the track “Better Day”.



“Better Day” seems like an obvious title, but what meaning did you have in mind? What inspired the song?
Thanks for asking. I wanted to follow up on Weight of the World, which we released previously to shine a light on homelessness. Better Day takes that message further — it speaks to the hopeless.

I was deeply moved after watching a film called MVP, a true story about former pro athletes and military veterans helping each other through PTSD, depression, addiction, and homelessness. When the uniform comes off — whether from the battlefield or the playing field — the internal battles often begin. That inspired the heart of this song.

What made you care about veteran issues specifically?
Because it’s personal, and it's tragic. Every single day, more than 22 veterans take their own lives. That’s more than we lost in combat. These are men and women who served this country, and they’re struggling in silence.

We can't ignore that. Whether they served in war or gave everything to a pro career, they deserve a path forward — not isolation.

You mention Community Partners in Action — who are they, and why are they important?
They’re a nonprofit based in Hartford, Connecticut that helps people transition from incarceration back into society. These kinds of programs are rare — and they shouldn’t be. Every city in the U.S. should have something like this.

Their Director of Communications, Adam Brill, reached out after hearing Weight of the World. He’d been following Big Yard and asked to use the track for their awareness campaigns and fundraisers.

That led to a conversation where I learned something heartbreaking: 1 in 5 individuals was homeless upon release, and more than 70% reported unstable housing — proof that we must do more.

How can people help right now?
Thank you — this is the most important part.

If you want to help the formerly incarcerated get a real second chance:
Visit: www.cpa-ct.org
Call: 860-271-7205
Follow: @CommunityPartnersInAction on social media
Donate: Every dollar helps them provide housing, counselling, job training, and reintegration support
Attend: Their Annual Gala this September — they’re at risk of losing key state funding

When they asked if they could use Better Day as part of their campaign, it was an easy “yes.” And, what else can we do to help?

If you want to support our veterans:
Visit: www.vetsandplayers.org
Follow: @Vetsandplayers on social media
Donate: Every dollar helps them provide housing, counselling, job training, and reintegration support
Watch the Film: MVP

What do you want people to know about you as an artist?
I try to stay focused on the music and not get caught up in chasing viral trends or hype. I care more about growing a fanbase through songs that matter.

I’m not here to bash songs about bars or silly love songs — I’ve written a few myself — but with Poets and Heroes, I wanted to write about real struggles, with real hope. Songs that shine a light on what society tends to hide.

Music has power. If a song like Proof — from my EP 54th Street — helps even one person put down the bottle and get their life back, then it’s all worth it.