In a city that thrives on reinvention, few creative partnerships capture the electricity of New York nightlife quite like The Muses. Equal parts romance, mythology, and movement, the duo—Jack James and Daniel Walters—have carved out a singular space at the intersection of fashion, music, and community. What began as a chance meeting on a modeling set has evolved into a dynamic collaboration that channels the spirit of downtown culture into something both deeply personal and expansively communal.
Rooted in the pulse of the dance floor yet informed by art history, performance, and self-mythology, The Muses have become known for their ability to blur boundaries—between lovers and collaborators, DJs and recording artists, underground icons and cultural conduits. Their debut single “Geminii” marks a defining moment: a transition from curators of energy to creators of it, embodying duality not only as a concept, but as a lived experience. As they step into this next chapter, their work reflects a broader ethos—one that celebrates chosen family, creative freedom, and the transformative power of shared spaces.
In this exclusive digital cover story for The Untitled Magazine, editor-in-chief Indira Cesarine sits down with the duo to explore the evolution of their relationship, their journey from modeling to music, and their vision for The Muses as an ever-expanding creative universe. From Parisian proposals to late-night sets, and from underground clubs to institutional stages, the conversation reveals a partnership built on instinct, humor, and an unwavering commitment to connection.
Jack James and Daniel Walters were captured exclusively for The Untitled Magazine in New York City by Indira Cesarine. Read on for our full interview with The Muses and more from the shoot below.
DOLCE & GABBANA. Right: Daniel wears a suit by GUCCI with a shirt by TANNER FLETCHER and his own bracelets and rings.
Indira Cesarine: You’re both deeply rooted in New York’s cultural scene — can you take us back to where each of you grew up and the early experiences that shaped your relationship to music, nightlife, and community?
JACK: I grew up in Austin, Texas in a house flooded with music, so it was always part of my day to day. There was constantly something playing in the background — rock records, the radio, someone making noise somewhere. A wise prophet once said, “music makes the people come together… yeah.” I took that as career advice and have been testing that theory on dancefloors ever since.
DANIEL: Having grown up in southern Alabama, I always felt very disconnected from and foreign to the communities within reach. Now, I find immense gratitude in the communities and cultures I move through, making a point of participating in such a way that would be a touchstone for my younger self.
You first met on set for a modeling shoot — take us back to that day. What was your first impression of each other, and did you sense immediately that this connection would evolve beyond the camera?
JACK: Daniel walked into the shoot and I was like, “Woah! What is that?!” He was the most beautiful alien I’d ever seen. I remember he was shy, perhaps a little standoffish, but I knew he was special to me and I did everything in my power to get him to see me. Worked out pretty well. I didn’t really think beyond infatuation. I was totally hooked from the start. Extremely dignified behavior on my part.
DANIEL: I was immediately bewildered by Jack, and have been ever since. I’ll never forget thinking that he was bound to be the greatest decision I could possibly make or the most reckless; either way, I knew it would be an exhilarating one.
Before The Muses, you were both working as models. How did your experience in front of the lens shape your understanding of performance, image, and self-mythology?
DANIEL: Modeling is what brought me to New York and is really where I cut my teeth as a self-edifying creative. I wish I had the nerve and self-assuredness then that I have now. At the time, I think I really misunderstood the assignment. I gave away entirely too much of my power to individuals and institutions that frankly did not deserve that access. It was never that deep but at eighteen, everything feels like the end of the world and I would have done just about anything at that time to stay in New York.
JACK: At the risk of sounding like a total dork, when you’re in front of the camera, the images come out better if you’re having a sort of meta-dialogue with the camera. It’s like acting — your internal feelings, thoughts, and actions translate outward and convey emotion or vibe. Any time you’re in front of a camera is performance, and in the outcome you can learn a lot about yourself from what’s perceived in the frame. Sometimes flattering things. Sometimes deeply humbling educational moments.
At what point did your relationship shift from creative to romantic partners — and how did that evolution influence the formation of The Muses?
JACK: We were romantic partners first; The Muses came way later. I was touring for three or four years with my band UNI and The Urchins. Once Covid happened, touring stopped but I needed an outlet to perform — I’m a total show pony. Daniel was the one who suggested DJing together as a performance outlet and voilà! The Muses were born. Proof that boredom and love can be extremely productive forces.
DANIEL: After a formative, introspective tenure in Milan, I made a promise to myself to really hone in forging a truly gratifying path for myself upon my return to the city. Falling out of love with the whole modeling industry and in love with the great antiquities and Baroque art I discovered in Italy (primarily within museums, galleries, and architecture, the only outing where I could get away with knowing virtually zero Italian), I dove headfirst into art history at The New School, making Jack’s entrance into my life at that fruitful time the perfect storm of romance and adventure; together, we’ve manifested that spirit ever since.
As a couple and a duo, how do you navigate the intersection of intimacy and artistry without losing either?
JACK: I think it can be difficult at times because everything is so connected, but that can also be a very powerful thing. You have to trust, respect, and stay very humble. The secret to a healthy relationship is a willingness to apologize and forgive when things are hard, and to have gratitude and joy when things are great. It’s been the joy of my life to go on this amazing adventure with Daniel. We really should have a TV show following us around the world to these gigs. It’s a hilarious, love-fueled adventure — and sometimes misadventure — in platform shoes. Mostly misadventure.
DANIEL: If anything, I feel as though we are more connected because of The Muses. We were together as a couple for five years before this project came about so it’s really been a blessing to navigate this adventure together.
DOLCE & GABBANA. Right: Daniel wears a suit by GUCCI with a shirt by TANNER FLETCHER and his own bracelets and rings.
You got engaged in Paris last year — a city synonymous with romance and reinvention. What did that moment represent for you personally and creatively?
JACK: It was a beautiful moment. For me it represented certainty and clarity.
Before The Muses became a production and DJ force, what were the formative moments that made you realize music wasn’t just a passion but your language?
JACK: When I was around 13, I remember hearing Space Oddity by Bowie for the first time and my life totally changed. The walls of my suburban consciousness expanded and there was no going back. I basically blame Bowie for everything that happened after that.
“Geminii,” released in December 2025, marks your official debut single as recording artists. Why was this the track that felt right to introduce The Muses to the world?
DANIEL: “Geminii” really signals a continuum’s crossing for us. On one hand, it heralds The Muses’ first foray into something beyond DJing but, on the other, it’s a love letter to all of the experiences, friends, collaborators and colleagues that shepherded us to this kind of creative tipping point.
JACK: We had been working on a few tracks with Ivan Berko and this one just felt like the most fun. It’s equal parts mystical and tongue-in-cheek. That duality is very Muses. We like our sincerity with a smirk.
The title suggests duality — two identities, two energies, two lovers, two creators. How much of your own relationship is embedded in the DNA of this track?
JACK: That was on purpose. We’re both Geminis as well, so we thought that was a pretty cute idea for a debut track. I wouldn’t say it’s too much about our personal relationship, rather our relationship as The Muses to our community. We wrote the song together with Ivan, so what you hear is totally us. No committee meetings were harmed in the process.
DANIEL: And there are some lyrical nods to some beloved friends as well.
You describe it as a love letter to dance floor camaraderie and chosen family. How does that communal love intersect with your romantic partnership?
JACK: I’d say it intersects through gratitude. We’re so grateful we have friends who show up to our parties night after night, dancing and laughing together in a safe space. After the party is over, we go home and just marvel at how lucky we are. Then I eat something questionable at 3am.
There’s a sharp, sardonic humor woven through the lyrics. How do you use wit as both a stylistic signature and an emotional shield?
JACK: I wouldn’t say it’s an emotional shield — I’d say that’s just how we communicate. It’s very honest to who we are. The world can be a dark place and the only way through it, for me, is to laugh. I honestly wish I could write songs with simpler verbiage — it’s better for dance music. What can I say? I’m just a gal who likes puns. It’s a condition.
After years of curating music for others as DJs, what emotional shift did it require to finally step forward with your own voice?
JACK: I think I was most nervous about how fans of my band were going to react. Dance music is a total shift from the art-glam-industrial-prog rock I was making with the band. But I think the song has gotten a great reaction from fans of my previous musical work because I’ve always been myself, no matter how it sounds sonically. The hair changed, the attitude did not.
Working with Ivan Berko helped shape the sonic architecture of the track. What did that collaboration unlock in terms of confidence or direction for your debut?
DANIEL: Working with Ivan really unlocked a meta-language for us, giving form to so many of the ideas and sonic conceptions we’ve been seeking all along, whether it be in previous music projects or curating sets over the past four years. Since, we’ve been fortunate enough to not only continue that exploration with Ivan and other wonderful producers like Matt FX of Non-Friction Records but also delve into self-production on our latest project, releasing a new song every week through the end of 2026, which we’re hoping will all add up to a kind of evolving time capsule or sonic tapestry.
JACK: I’m a fan of Ivan so I really trust what he has to say. He’s open to anything and has great ideas. I felt like my ideas were safe in his studio, which is what makes the track fun. I have a massive case of audio neurosis and he never judged me for it. He just calmly watched the neuroses unfold.
Now that “Geminii” is out in the world, how has it changed your perception of yourselves — not just as nightlife personalities, but as recording artists with a narrative?
JACK: Not particularly. We’ve always seen The Muses as an extension of ourselves, so original music felt like a natural progression. Like adding another limb to the creature.
You’ve performed alongside icons across genres — from Ellie Goulding to Questlove to Crystal Waters. How have those cross-cultural experiences shaped your understanding of what a dance floor can be?
JACK: The dance floor is only a “dance floor” when people decide to make it one. That’s what’s great about it — you can just invent it together. Music can come from very particular cultures, but the through-line is that we decide to enjoy and engage with it together, no matter how it sounds. We can share and appreciate culture in this way. A dance floor can be anything you want. Ideally slightly sweaty.
DANIEL: Sharing stages and spaces with the great talents you’ve mentioned and others has not only been an honor, but moreover a learning opportunity by example of what it means to be a well-rounded artist and individual.
You often play museum galas one night and underground clubs the next. How do those spaces differ energetically, and what remains constant about your intention?
JACK: My intention is always to be of service — to help people escape, connect, and feel free, seen, and safe. I try to put my ego in the backseat. The energy is different. A gala has the vibe of “this is where I am for the night,” whereas in a club there’s always a search for more. But they intersect in the same desire: wanting to be seen, wanting to enjoy, wanting to connect. I also love the ability to play both. And of course, I love the fashion. Very important.
You performed at The Untitled Magazine’s NYFW event in September 2025. Are there any special memories from that event that stand out to you now?
JACK: I remember Indira’s hair looking really good.
DANIEL: Yes, that – and how kind Crystal Waters was. Spending time with someone like that really reaffirms what it means to be a legend of your craft.
New York nightlife has been declared “dead” countless times. From your perspective inside it, what is actually happening right now?
JACK: It’s looking pretty good for a dead bitch. I’m over people saying it’s “dead” like it owes them something. To those who say that, I’d challenge you to bring what you feel is missing into the room yourself and see how your perspective changes. Be the nightlife you wish to see in the world.
DANIEL: To Jack’s point, nightlife – and life in general – is all about what you bring to the party. It’s always the sourpuss in the corner complaining that nightlife is dead, and I’m not really interested in their opinion. I’m much more interested in the first diva out on the dancefloor, those that move with love, positive energy, loving intentionality, the individuals who are working tirelessly to make the club a safer space for themselves and their community.
Right: Jack wears a face mask and necklace by ERICKSON BEAMON with a shirt and pants by A. POTTS and a coat by LORIS DIRAN.
You’re currently releasing a song every Friday — vault tracks, demos, remixes, collaborations — essentially chronicling a year in your lives. What inspired this creative weekly drop?
JACK: It was Daniel’s idea and I was up for the challenge. I’ve never heard of anyone doing that before and I thought, why not? It seemed either visionary or extremely chaotic. Those are my favorite artistic categories.
DANIEL: In its most rudimentary form, the project is really in response to streaming culture’s continual (if not disheartening) shift away from LPs and long-game output in favor of singles. We’re not claiming to be experts here but we do have a lot of ideas that we are excited to share along the way, and we’d rather do things our way than be stagnant under the guise of waiting for the dream record deal, PR team, pangs of perfectionism, etc. But let the record show, we’re open to that too in due time.
Does the discipline of a weekly release schedule free you from perfectionism, or intensify it?
JACK: Yeah, that was part of the reason I wanted to do it. I can be very precious in the studio and never release anything if I don’t have a due date, so this frees me up to just go with my gut. Deadlines are spiritually cleansing.
DANIEL: Jack has completely spearheaded the production side of this project and I could not be more proud of the work that he’s done, that we’ve done.
You’re pulling from unreleased vault tracks, remixes, demos, and collaborations. What does revisiting older material teach you about your own evolution?
JACK: Minimal is best — ideas are clearer. I tend to throw every idea into a song, but it’s usually better to just let things breathe. Otherwise it becomes a musical hoarder situation.
Now that you’ve introduced yourselves as recording artists with “Geminii,” how do you envision expanding The Muses beyond the DJ booth — albums, live shows, visual worlds?
DANIEL: We introduced The Muses as a DJ duo but, in truth, that was never the extent of the vision for us. The essence of The Muses rings true to its Greek mythological origins – a multifaceted, multidisciplinarian umbrella beneath which many creative projects can and will be fostered. Beyond music, we both have some pretty aspirations for The Muses that are not a departure from but moreover a continuation of the brand’s identity. Having taken our time cultivating the mythology and community, let’s just say that The Muses’ next era is quickly approaching and we could not be more grateful for all of the support making this possible.
JACK: I think there’s no limit to what The Muses can be. I see a television show, fashion collaborations, touring, bigger shows… who knows. Maybe we’ll end up training tigers like a postmodern Siegfried and Roy. I’m open to it.
Five years from now, what kind of cultural footprint do you hope The Muses will leave — musically, romantically, and within the New York creative ecosystem that raised you?
DANIEL: From the beginning, it has been imperative to us that we give back as much – and ideally, more than – as has been given to us, and we’ve been given some truly wonderful opportunities by some truly wonderful people. So, five years from now, I hope there are more DJs and creatives in general taking paths less traveled – and that we can be there to support and platform them. And I feel confident that in five years time, our footprint in the New York ecosystem will be infinitely deeper, well beyond our musical endeavors.
JACK: I hope to leave a footprint in the shape of my platform heel for others to sniff.
It was fabulous to work with you on set for our cover story. Thank you for sharing more about the universe of The Muses!
DANIEL: Thank you very much, Indira. The pleasure has been ours.
JACK: Thank you so much — we loooove you.
FEATURING: The Muses @themusesnyc
Jack James @jackjamesbusa, Daniel Walters @letsblamedaniel
INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY: Indira Cesarine @indiracesarine @icphotoarchive
STYLING: Kris Fraser @krisfashion1
HAIR + MAKEUP: Luis Guillermo @luisguillermobeauty
UNTITLED ASSISTANTS: Kiley Cacace, Camilla Chiriboga, Gianna Znidarcic
