Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani King.
Hi Dani, 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?
My name is Dani, and I have wanted to be a singer since I was three years old. I saw Beauty and the Beast live as a musical and told my mom I wanted to “sing on stage like Belle.” Music has always been an inherent part of me, and my parents let me run wild with it. Piano lessons, voice lessons, guitar lessons, letting us have band practice in the house (VERY loudly), and even going to college for music. My parents are the biggest reason why I have felt so empowered to chase a difficult career path, and I am fortunate to have them in my corner.
I grew up all over the US, including Seattle, Atlanta, and Illinois, where I spent most of my formative years. I grew up listening to classic rock with my dad, folk music with my mom, and country music with my friends. I heard Skrillex for the first time when I was in high school and saw him live for the first time in 2012 while in college. I attended Belmont University in Nashville, where I majored in music with a minor in Music Business. While at school, I dove head first into my EDM journey with artists like Flux Pavilion, Nero, and Krewella. Krewella’s Get Wet tour in 2013 was the catalyst that made me switch over to a career in EDM.
While I loved my time at school, unfortunately, they did not teach me anything related to production or recording. Choosing to enter the EDM world meant learning all of that on my own. I taught myself vocal production with the help of some talented friends like Highlnd and OMAS. I built my own studio paneling by hand, created a cozy home studio, and I have been learning production and DJing for the better part of a year now.
I have been an active EDM artist since 2018, and this year surpassed more than 10 million streams across all streaming platforms. I’ve had the joy of working with some incredibly talented artists like Tape B, Jessica Audiffred, Sippy, Oliverse, Jeanie, and dozens more. I’ve performed at festivals all over the US like Electric Zoo, Lost Lands, Beyond Wonderland, and Lost in Dreams. 3-year-old me would be so proud.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a teen and in my early 20s, I attracted a lot of people into my life who wanted to keep me down. A boyfriend in high school who went from abusive to a stalker, resulting in over a year in and out of court, and ending with his removal from school for bringing a knife to campus and threatening to use it on me. I attended a catholic high school and grew up in a very religious community, and none of the leaders of our church or my school had my back. I was abandoned by the people who were supposed to keep me safe in the name of not ruining a young man’s future. My life was expendable just to ensure he could go to a good college. I forced them to face the truth when my life was truly in danger, and I came out on top.
While this experience was a huge source of very dark inspiration for me, the universe said, “One stalker isn’t enough!” When in college in Nashville, I had some of the worst deja vu a person can experience and ended up being stalked again. This time was much more intense and much worse, with him following me around my college campus disguised as a student, showing up to my job with weapons, showing up to gigs to intimidate me, and constantly threatening to kill me. I again acquired a restraining order which he broke 8 times, often resulting in violent and extremely public arrests. I lived in complete fear for 8 months before I was able to pick up my entire life and move to Los Angeles.
Moving to LA changed my life in so many ways. Being far away from the people who tried to hurt me allowed me space to process, heal, and write a LOT of music. I’ve built a community full of supportive, beautiful people who inspire me and help me to create. My music revolves around my negative experiences with abuse and the church, but also the people who have made my life worth living.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an EDM singer and songwriter, so I specialize in creating vocals for producers from start to finish. Writing the song, recording the vocals, editing, and producing them to sound beautiful. I absolutely love what I do because I love the collaborative aspect of music. Creating something in tandem with another person is a special kind of magic that I get to do over and over again. After the songs are done, I typically do guest performances with the producers at festivals such as Lost Lands, or at ticketed shows at amazing venues like Exchange LA, the Palladium, Mission Ballroom in Denver, and many more.
I am best known in the bass music scene for songs like Calm Before The Storm with Rebel Scum and Centrix, Someone to Hold with Tape B, and Eat Your Heart Out with Oliverse. I have so many songs, but those are some of my favorites.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am the summary of my experiences. I am a survivor – I am strong, tough, and full of grit. I am soft and a lovergirl. I am a beer-drinking country soul and a nature-loving hippie flower child. I love the person I have become, and my music is an extension of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3IoL23eRnUfAwnOTsbTLVp?si=BZYQrXokSZ2eJHT7RgWayA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danikingmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danikingmusic/
- Twitter: https://x.com/DANIKINGMUSIC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@danikingmusic
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/danikingmusic
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@danikingmusic
Image Credits
Pink and Purple photo: John Slack
Singing from behind photo: Dru Cook
Daytime Festival Photo: Jereme Verone
Side view singing and rock on photos: Bass Wizard Media
Dark solo singing video: Justin Litch
All nature photos: Maximus
