We recently connected with Dani Louise and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, thanks for joining us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

When I transferred colleges during the pandemic, I found myself in a very isolated and interesting situation. I was alone in a new city, just having pivoted away from my ice hockey career, and living on campus in person but with restrictions and online classes only. The experience was uncanny, being somewhere but not feeling like you were actually there at all. I needed something to lean on, and through my mom’s encouragement, I found my way back to music. It had always been present, but had taken a backseat to my athletic pursuits. We went to guitar center and I started online lessons with my mentor, Tom Kelly. During one of the most difficult times in my life, Tom encouraged my love of music and believed in me and a bright future ahead. He helped me to grow as a musician and as a person and took every chance to support and encourage my dreams, bringing me along to play with his band and teaching me how to record my own music. Tom remains one of my close friends and I am so grateful for his unwavering belief in me and his commitment to sharing his own gifts with the world. This true belief, mentorship, and encouragement is the kindest thing that anyone has ever done for me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a singer-songwriter and, in recent years, have also expanded into producing my own music. My work is influenced by Indie and Rock genres, drawing inspiration from artists like The Arctic Monkeys, The Last Shadow Puppets, Sam Fender, and Bruce Springsteen. What truly captivates me about music is the connection it fosters between the writer and the listener, particularly when the writing is raw, honest, and deeply personal. I aim for my songs to create the same sense of belonging and understanding that Sam Fender’s music in particular has given me—a feeling of being seen and understood in shared experiences.

This focus on the personal and the universal is at the heart of my music. I believe that in sharing our experience through vehicles like music we often learn that we are a lot less alone than we think or feel. It’s been incredibly rewarding to hear from listeners who have felt like my music has voiced feelings and situations they thought they were alone in facing. One song in particular, ‘Flip Phone,’ explores navigating today’s world and the impact of social media on our culture. When I wrote it, I felt isolated in my feelings, yet it’s been one of the songs that has connected most deeply with listeners.

What sets me apart is that this honesty and connection is at the heart of my music and is central to its purpose. I aim to allow myself to be seen in my own music which I believe inherently translates to helping others feel seen through our shared humanity. That’s the core of my work, and what I am most proud of in my songs: knowing that my music can help people feel less alone, just as the artists who inspire me have done for me with theirs

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

A book that has heavily impacted my management and entrepreneurial philosophy is “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin. The book is an incredible resource for creatives and has highly benefited my mental health as an artist. It has influenced my management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy by allowing me to connect with many lessons that we intuitively know but are conditioned out of us — especially with the increased chatter that comes with progress in any field. One insight that has been especially beneficial for me and my work is the notion that the audience comes last, and that is actually in order to best serve them. Using yourself as the audience and trusting that if you enjoy or resonate with something it will connect has proven to be a valuable lesson from the book. I use this not only in my music writing but in my marketing efforts and continued expansion of my musical career. I always recenter back to my own taste to tune out the chatter and it has proven beneficial in terms of my own well being as a creative and in creating something I am proud of.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Springsteen said that music is like a repair shop, that we repair ourselves and if we do it well enough it can repair others too. Music has been a major part of my own healing. Growing up, my favorite artists provided me with both ways to have an escape and to address different challenges that life brings. In times that I felt I was entirely alone, my favorite artists made me feel seen and understood, and brought me hope that things would be okay. Just knowing that you are not the only one going through whatever it is you may be can be so powerful and healing. I want to be for others what my favorite artists have been for me, and to let people know that there is hope and they are never alone. That is the goal and mission of my creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danilouisemusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@danilouisemusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/281NMHB7JzT2AJBibgrxgD?si=X77N55zmTXaPG9fL12na9A

Image Credits

Lily Cruse