On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, Girls Who Listen hosted a Q&A with singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, and choreographer DaniLeigh for a final celebration to close out Hispanic Heritage Month. During the conversation, Dani spoke about her career as an artist, her female music inspirations and what she is looking forward to doing post pandemic. In case you missed it, here is the transcribed version of the interview.
How did you begin your journey into the music industry?
In music, I feel like I’m a real Hollywood baby because I moved to LA when I was 16 and I literally stopped school and just focused on being an entertainer and being an artist. That’s all I know. It’s crazy.
When I moved to LA I would be in dance class all the time, meeting choreographers, and then eventually I started booking jobs. I was booking music videos and different things like that.
That’s when I started meeting producers and artists and connecting with people. Eventually, I linked up with my producer, Yanni, and we just started getting into the studio because I always loved singing. He started bringing in writers for me and then we started working. I would try signing on pop records, trap records, on all different types of beats and developing my sound and who I was, what I loved, and my style. So, I did that and, you know, after that I just decided to stop dancing, for artists, just to be taken seriously as an artist and as a musician. So, I stopped at like, what was it like, 20 or 21? I was like, all I’m going to do is music. So, I just kept dropping independent music videos, covers, and just continuing to build my social media fans.
So, I did that and then eventually started getting noticed. Then, I got noticed by a couple different labels and I had meetings with them and then eventually signed with Def Jam. That’s when I feel like, you know, my first EP dropped, Summer with Friends. It was like 5 songs and then I had a pretty well known song on that, All I Know. Then my next album came which had Easy on it and Lil Baby and that’s what really made me go.
Now I’m here and my next album is coming very soon. You know, everything takes steps and I have been doing this for a super long time, that’s why I feel like everyone has their own journey and everything like that. Never compare yourself to nobody because someone could have blown up over night that just started rapping and then someone could be doing this for ten years and then pop. So everybody’s different.
What can we expect from your next album? Could you give us a sneak peek at how many songs will be on it?
I got you. Well, the album has sixteen songs. So, that’s a lot and it has about seven features on it. I’m not going to say who. I got some really dope people. You can expect a lot of R&B. My R&B is like dance R&B. Because even Easy, I feel like you can dance to it. So there is still a vibe, you know what I’m saying? So, that and then of course we have records like Monique that are hard and like my little trap vibe. Then we have the more upbeat songs, where I am happy and dancing Dani. So, there are those types of records.
I like to call myself a versatile artist, so I try to incorporate all those sounds into every album that I do and I really do that all the time. Just like, R&B, trap, and then fun. So, it’s kind of like that. You will have different types of vibes and moods.
Speaking of Monique, what was the creative process behind that record and how you ended up naming it, Monique?
Okay, it was my first time working with this artist, Rayvon, and he is so fire. He is really dope with the pen and I’m the type of writer where I write all of my stuff. My melodies are usually all mine. But this guy, he came in and did his little flow and he was like, “Big money speech and my pockets Monique.” I was like, “What the heck was that, that’s crazy!” So, I’m going to give him his props for that line because then I felt like oh we have to name it Monique.
But also, Monique from The Parkers, y’all know Monique from The Parkers. She was a very big boss and I felt like that was the vibe and she was a strong woman and it was empowering to be like, “My pockets is Monique.”
So, that’s how it went about and my boy Retro produced it. Right away he dropped the beat and was like, “Let’s do this,” and I was like, “Bet.” Retro’s done so many songs. On my last album, on my first album, so any time he plays something I’m always like it’s about to be that because he is so good. So, yes it was such a vibe. The whole energy in the room, my brother was there too helping us plan some lyrics. It was just, you know, that record that you talk your sh*t and you just be real confident. I just love to feel that way and I feel like, when people hear it they feel that way. I love to make people feel that way.
What do you feel are the most important steps during the development of your career?
I think during my development as an artist, starting at such a young age, I don’t know if you guys know but I worked with prince at 18 and he had me direct a video. So, I feel like I have worked all types of fields in my industry. I’ve been a background dancer, a director and I have been in the industry, I have been in the game and I have seen everything.
As a background dancer, I was with Meghan Trainor. Her biggest song was, All About That Bass. So, I went to her audition to get in her music video and I booked it and nobody knew who she was. That song (All About That Bass) came out three weeks later and it blew up. I saw everything happen and I saw she needed to have a makeup artist, a hair stylist, a this, a that, and everything around her. So, I got to learn that being in the background.
So I feel like that has helped me grow to who I am now because I feel like I am such a hands on person with everything that I do. With my stuff, I am super involved and I know how to make a video out of nothing like, let’s make this room right here look like a freaking whatever, like I have learned that through my development. Just being in it and being in the background and the behind the scenes. So, I would say that has helped me with who I am today.
Talk to us about the videos that you have produced?
I feel like as an artist, you have to know what you have to offer. I know with me, God gave me the blessing of knowing how to dance so I am always going to dance and make sure that is showcased because back in the day we had our Chris Browns, we had our Aaliyas, we had our Beyoncés, we had our Ciaras, and I feel like that was so performance and people were so drawn to that. I feel like I have that to offer so I always make sure that is in my stuff. Just be creative. I feel like I am a creative person and I like to see different things and I study different people too. Even from the old days, to see this and that.
Who are your female inspirations?
Definitely Rihanna, I think she’s a style goddess and she could literally wear anything and people would just copy it because it’s so fire. So, I really look up to her and she’s not super girly all the time either. So I feel like she can be a rocker and then be in a dress and heels. So she’s definitely a chameleon and I get inspired by that and try to do that as well. I loved Missy Elliot with her visuals. I think she is so creative, I think she is so fun and child friendly too. Very commercial, where kids can watch it. I would say those two are the top. I loved Aaliyah as well. I feel like she wasn’t the biggest and strongest singer and it gave her her own lane. She had the soft falsetto and I feel like I have that too. So, those are people I am inspired by for sure.
If you had to have one collaboration with one of them, who would it be?
Out of the three! Well, obviously not Aaliyah because we can’t, but that would be crazy. But, probably Rihanna. I think Rihanna for sure. That would be crazy. People would be like, Rihanna hasn’t dropped music and she’s going to do a song with you?
Covid has obviously affected the way you are working, I know something you said that you missed out on was tours, what is the first thing you are looking forward to after the pandemic?
I am definitely looking forward to shows. Being in front of people. Everything is virtual so I think it is even more hard work because you really have to put on a show because all people are doing is looking. We aren’t really vibing with you, you can’t just have a moment where you go off and talk with your friend, you are being watched the whole time. It’s like, okay we really have to put in our work and showcase who we are virtually. So, once we get live, back in person, that’s what I am really hoping and waiting for because I can;t wait to hear people singing my songs with me.
What advice would you currently give to those new artists who are new to the music industry?
I would just say, keep practicing until it’s dope. I feel like I have made so many songs and then the next one will be the one. The more consistency you put into your work and craft, the better you will get. You’ll only get better. It’s not like you will end up getting worse. I would just say consistency.
