Check Out Danielle Portillo’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Portillo.

Hi Danielle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been singing for all that I can remember of my life. My dad is a musician, my sister and brother played instruments, my mom sings and is a musician with the accordion. I sang in choirs in church growing up, school choirs, college choirs, adult church choirs, and with my musician friends of all styles whenever and wherever I have lived. It’s literally been a constant in my life regardless of where I have been living. I started really focusing on writing and recording my own songs a couple of years ago after a really inspiring and meaningful conversation with encouragement from my most important man, Kev. I first recorded myself at home, then went to NLM in Traverse City and was moved to seek out soulful creators to be surrounded by and collaborate with. So, I headed to Kev’s hometown of Detroit and connected with a videographer and artist GMT. Through work on a music video project with him, I met a producer, engineer, and artist by the stage name of Shy Killer. He was working out of Chewy Chewy Studios at the time, and so that’s where I headed to and started creating a lot with Shy Killer! In that studio, I met and collaborated with so many artists; singers, producers, and rappers like Dan Dadda, Loyal Tribe D Beezy, Bella Black, and Big Diego, among many more. I really got to grow and was really growing and empowering myself in all the experiences I was blessed to have worked through there! Up in Traverse City, I had a DJ Skin Kqon Doe reach out and invite me to be part of a few shows at a venue that was here at the time, Studio Anatomy, and I also got to sing as part of the opening set for Boys II Men at the National Cherry Festival on the Bayside Stage last summer. That was amazing because I grew up here, and it was a beautiful view of the bay and so many faces I know, including my sons!

Plus, I grew up with Boys II Men cassettes and knew pretty much all the words to every song! Motowntphilly was always a favorite, and they started out with that song, so I was completely hyped! I have had so many amazing moments with music as an artist/singer, as a listener/witness, and also as a dancer. Music has so many possibilities and really makes being a human more expressive and authentic. We have the choice to use it to voice ourselves in ways that our society otherwise struggles to allow or to understand. Music is truly an amazing gift, and it’s our responsibility to utilize it for culture and authenticity in our world today. It’s an incredible thing and can also be fun as hell! That same friend Kev and I decided to open a recording studio in Traverse City, and it’s really a cool opportunity for us and our community to utilize the space for music and culture and creative growth. It’s called Maraschino Recording Studio. Find us on Facebook and IG. My artist’s name is Danielle_Terapeuta. Find my music on all major music streaming apps! I’m also on Facebook, IG and Tik Tok.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have definitely had obstacles and struggles in my artistic journey thus far, though with that said more doors open and paths emerge even in the darkest moments. There’s always been a light I strive toward and so really there’s nothing I can’t, or we can’t, overcome when we’re able to hold onto that light and our visions for what we want to create in life. You know?!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love that I cannot fake what I’m doing. In my songs, I’m not just saying things that I think people want to hear. I do leave out details I don’t want to share in lyrics sometimes! But I never say things that aren’t in line with what I value or like really think or feel- even if only in the moment. I’ve worked as a social worker, teacher, and therapist for a lot of years and also have had so many different odd or part-time jobs too throughout my young life. Those experiences and values and ethics don’t leave me ever. That includes when I sing. I’ve had the honor to hear so many people’s stories and thoughts and emotions and experience the presence of truly countless human beings of various ages, nationalities and life paths and well, I carry those who I have learned from, and in a personal sense those who I have loved and those who have loved me, with me always. Like Maya Angelou shared in an interview years ago, my confidence is because I’m never really alone when I accept the truth that so many are with me in mind, heart and spirit always. It really inspires me and gives me the confidence to create and be my authentic self. My sons and my parents, and my man- they really do so much of that for me too.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Not sure! Hopefully, more and more opportunities in local areas to create and share music. I also hope there’s a steadily DECREASING ego in the industry and in our society in general. It would do US ALL so much good!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/DaniTMusic
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle__terapeuta/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleterapeutaofficial/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdXHT0TuyVO_i-6du_F-uRQ
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/people/Maraschino-Recording-Studios-TC/100090436797387/

Image Credits
Photo 1 taken by Eden Grencheck.

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