Founding member, lead singer, and bass player of Kansas City blues-rock band Trampled Under Foot, Danielle Nicole stepped out on her own in 2015 with her debut album “Wolf Den.”
In 2018, Nicole returns with a follow-up release via Concord Records. She just released an official lyric video for a new song “Save Me”, featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, from the new album “Cry No More,” out February 23, 2018 on Concord Records.
Read Girl Gang Music’s Q&A with Danielle in full below:
1) How did you get here? Did you always know you’d be a musician?
I am a 4th generation musician from my father’s side and 3rd on my mother’s; that’s just what we know of through stories and pictures. I’ve always loved to perform and took several years of dance as a child but really fell into love with music during high school. I began performing in coffeehouses and open mics in KC, then fronting bands in my late teens.
2) What has been your proudest moment so far in life? Music or otherwise?
I have two; becoming a mother to my best buddies Elijah and Michael. Musically, I feel pride is in every performance, every time I see someone connecting to my music, I feel it.
3) What was the songwriting + production process behind this record/album? If you have any pictures, we’d love to see them.
My writing process is ongoing and changes with every song but I really wanted to dig deep on this one and I wrote a song about my father. He passed away when I was a teenager and I hadn’t yet written a full song about him. Beyond stretching out in my songwriting, my last release, “Wolf Den” was very NOLA inspired and had a lot of mellow groove and I wanted to make sure there was a different sound and more rockin’ feel sometimes. I was happy to get back into LA at Ultratone where I was comfortable working in familiar surroundings and with friends I’d known for a few years, but still able to push boundaries and create new sounds.
4) What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I am an open book, maybe too open sometimes. People may not know that I love to cook, especially ridiculously complicated recipes.
5) What’s something other than music you’re passionate about
I am very passionate about exploration. I love trying new foods, music, styles, and exploring all the cultures I travel. I love gaining different perspectives and trying to understand different ideas.
6) Do you think being a woman in music has affected your career? If so, how?
There are plenty of specifics I’d prefer not to go into, but yes; of course being a woman has affected my career. Being a woman musician, you are usually deemed a Diva. I’ve been treated lesser because I’m a woman, been paid less for the same slots because I’m a woman. However, I’ve been booked because they’re “looking for a strong female performer” among a festival of Male fronted acts. However, Warren Haynes just told me that 2018 is the year of the Woman, so I guess word is spreading…
Follow Danielle Nicole
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website
Danielle Nicole’s Girl Gang Picks
Andra Day