Meet Dani Hagan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Hagan.

Hi Dani, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I just came across my collection of lyric books from over the years. I wrote my first song when I was nine years old. Looking back at those first few books and reading what I wrote at such a young age, there’s no surprise to see I’m still writing about matters of the heart, but what is surprising is the intensity of emotions that I had as a kid, such mature topics to tackle back then, I can’t help but laugh. I’ve always had big emotions, I have come to look at them as superpowers and the gift that fuels my music. I started teaching myself piano at age 5 and bought a guitar around 18, they are beautiful writing tools. I came to LA and started doing solo shows, very singer/songwriter style. That era was really developing myself as a songwriter.

Now, I’ve gone full rock. I guess you’d call my sound Blues Rock. I”m so honored to have my band these days, so I can put the instruments down and just sing. My performances have really leveled up over the last three years with my band, The Reverie. My music has never felt more authentically me, and my sound has really expanded with the influence of my bandmates (Aaron Medina on guitar, Jake Roach on bass, and Andrew Crosswhite on Drums) and my producer, Mikal Blue. I’m about to release my EP titled “Kissing You,” we’ve released a few singles already, and the next few months will be an exciting whirlwind of touring, recording, shooting music videos and releasing all the content along the way. I’ve come to realize that I love the process more than the destination. So I’m happy to be in the thick of it all right now.

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?
A big challenge in this industry is standing out from the masses, everyone has an opinion as to how you should sound, look, and dress. Trying to accommodate the vision of those developing you while staying true to who you actually are, is super challenging but also part of the fun. Constantly expanding and exploring has really helped me root into my own authenticity. Another challenge is keeping up with social media. I’m a live performance artist, that’s where I really shine. Put me in the room with a live audience and I’ll rock it out for you, but it’s hard to make that translate to short-form content for apps. Peoples online attention span is so minimal, it’s hard to make an impact. So much of the music industry is channeled into reels and TikTok, views and likes. I’m relieved that live music is back in full force, touring has been rejuvenating and good for my soul. Especially performing outside of LA, people are ravenous for music and it’s electrifying to be on stage with all that energy being given back to you in person. It’s lonely when you have to perform for a phone screen. My heart belongs on the stage.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m very excited to return to The Hotel Cafe and make my MainStage debut with my band, The Reverie, on Wednesday, May 24th at 7pm. This is a milestone for me to play such an iconic stage. We’ll be celebrating the release of my EP “Kissing You” while also performing unreleased tracks off my upcoming album. My music has evolved so much over the last year, I can’t wait to sing my originals in the heart of Los Angeles. This show is going to be special, so be sure to grab your tickets!

My music crosses a number of genres. The song always comes first, strong storytelling with an intriguing melody line. Then you build it out. I tend to have some bluesy undertones, a little r&b flair, a bit of pop and a foundation of rock. Again, my band has been instrumental (pun intended!) in developing my sound. We all met through performing at the Viper Room Sunset Jam, which was full-on rock and roll. When we came together as a band, the chemistry was undeniable. I just love rock and roll, especially in front of a live audience. I’m so honored to be the frontwoman of our rock band.

My singles I’ve been releasing lately were all produced by Mikal Blue, who was just a dream come true to work with. He is known for developing Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz and OneRepublic. His impact on my sound has been awesome. The caliber of artists that have all played a role in my music over the last couple of years is just astounding. So really, I feel like they are a big part of the reason why I get to stand out and shine these days. I’ve got good people and crazy talent all around me, so I have no other option than to be equally great for them.

I write from the heart, I tend to be unfiltered in my songwriting, which is what makes my songs so relatable. It’s easy to hear your own story inside my words and melodies. Rock and roll from the heart, I guess. I’m really proud of the fact that I’m a Billboard charting artist, that I’ve performed of the big stages of Carnegie Hall and the Viper Room as well as small-town stages around the country (my tour through New Mexico was really special, shout out to Truth Or Consequences Brewery). But I’m really excited for all the new stages I’ll get to perform on over the next year as we continue to tour. We’ve got some special plans in development. I’m very visual in my creative expression, so music videos are a big part of my music. I’m also a painter, there may be some special performances this summer, putting all my talents together. So stay tuned!

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Recently, my biggest lesson has been what I mentioned earlier, the fact that I love the journey more than the destination. I thrive in the creative process, the writing of the song, the development of the track, recording in the studio with amazing artists and producers, creating the music videos, performing the music live, I could go on and on. The actual release day has proven to be a bit anti-climactic for me. And maybe that’s because it’s so business oriented and digital. I always look for ways to be in person, to celebrate life by hugging my loved ones and feeling the frequencies of live music pulse through your body, you just can’t get that through screens. So while being goal focused and keeping up with the business side of things as well as trying to have an impact through streaming and socials are absolute necessities, I soak up the creative side of things a little more deeply now to help me succeed through the parts of the industry that come a little less naturally to me. Again, I’m so grateful to have my incredible team in place, they really balance out my weaknesses and allow me to lean into my strengths.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danihagan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dani.hagan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danihaganmusic/
• Twitter: https://www.danihagan.com/tour
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE_q4vBKxuEdAQXN6HO3krA
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@danihaganmusic 

Image Credits
Jack Lue, Luckyshot photos Edson Ochoa, Erin Jake Photography