Singer-songwriter DANiiVORY is an independent, R&B/soul pop artist who has had an absolutely stunning career in the music industry. Hailing from Wexford, Pennsylvania, Danialways had music in her life.
Ivory’s mother was a music teacher and a liturgical minister and encouraged Dani to pursue her passion for music. Dani then went on to obtain a higher education at Berklee College of Music and graduated with a dual degree in Contemporary Writing and Production and Vocal Performance.
“Pink Lightning” acts as the perfect showcase for DaniiVory’s unique musical style and it is guaranteed to leave the listener wanting more. The single is a combination of wonderful production, inventive instrumentation, and otherworldly vocals that result in a dreamy pop masterpiece.
“I want my audience to know that they can be liberated from their own preconditioned notions and beliefs, and there is beauty in discomfort and the rare moments of “going against the grain. Feel the lightning, feel the beauty,” Dani states.
Tell us about your story as an artist.
I started writing music on the piano when I was 7 years old and never stopped. My mom is a liturgical musician and was a piano teacher when I was growing up. She gave me my first lesson when I was around 5 years old. I grew up surrounded by music, participating in orchestra, choirs, and taking private piano lessons. I also dabbled in musical theater and dance, but I was also athletic, so I never was able to commit to being in the school musicals since it would compete with my Field Hockey and Lacrosse games and practices. Going to watch the Pittsburgh Symphony was a monthly outing in our household, and I developed a deep love and appreciation for symphonic music and music from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Eras. I was playing Beethoven Sonatas by the time I was 10 years old. My songwriting and artistry didn’t develop until later while I was in college, but I did write an original song for my graduating high school class and performed it during the after-party of our Prom. Playing music is a wonderful way to expand your intelligence and creating music is the best form of expressing emotion. I love to tell stories and paint pictures with words. Music has been deeply rooted in me all these years and despite the odds, I know I will continue to make music as long as I’m on God’s good earth!
What do you think is the most important aspect of your life right now?
Right now, the most important aspect of my life is making sure I am present and the best mother I can be to my daughter, Sierra. Of course, growing as an artist is part of my daily culture and I am still striving to reach my dreams.
What makes this song special in your opinion?
This song is special because I view it as a short story from an experience in my life many years ago. So, the motivation behind the song is truth even if I elaborate and exaggerate on that truth. I suppose you could make it analogous to a movie that says “based on a true story” in the title sequence.
What inspired this track?
The inspiration I had for this song is a memory from when I still lived in California. I was playing in a ’50-’60s cover band in Long Beach, and met this very special individual during the last set break of our show…and the whole night spiraled into this crazy experience. Not much longer after that, I was visiting a friend (while on tour) in Houston, TX, and saw a HUGE streak of pink lightning flash across the sky. It reminded me of that memory and I went back to my hotel room and wrote the song.
What are some of the core messages here?
Core message of the song is to ‘go with the flow’ when that is the natural thing to do. I have spent so much of my life being caught up in what I “should do” and what I “shouldn’t do” that I almost lost a sense of what I really WANT to do. When the situation arises and you are safe, follow your instincts. It’s fun to take risks and very boring to play it safe.
How do you think Tik Tok and social media are contributing to changing an artist’s career?
I think TikTok is how the youth are consuming their music. I’m not very present on TikTok, but that is one of my goals this year! I teach middle school general music and when I play older songs from artists they’ve never even heard of (like The Beatles or Ray Charles), they will immediately recognize the chorus of their most popular songs because they heard it on TikTok. Artists cannot just be sheer ‘creatives’ on the music side of things anymore, they need to be a brand and with that brand comes social media life…posting, videos, snippets of your life, songs, and everything! I always say technology is a blessing and a curse because as good as it is for us to be able to communicate with one another in an instant, we can never rest because the internet is open 24/7.
What excites you about your life?
We recently just bought a home in Tennessee and I can’t wait to renovate and decorate it. I’m also stoked to FINALLY release my album, Dreamland! The album has been done for a while but I have been holding onto it as the timing hasn’t been right. I am also excited for all the new songs I’ve been creating for my next album and am most likely going to self-produce it. Self-production is daunting but extremely rewarding.
What are some of your core values as a human being?
Follow your heart, follow your dreams, and don’t let anyone tell you “NO”. Believe in yourself because that is all you have from the alpha to the omega: YOU, so DO YOU! Trust God has a plan for your life. Doubt is a disease and confidence is key.
What are your projects for this year?
As mentioned above, I will be releasing my album, Dreamland. I also will be diving deep into more production and composition work. I will have a tab on my website soon which will showcase my compositional side.
