7C - Dani Darling

Article by Melody Brooks

Dani Darling is a 2021 fellow for Amplify Washtenaw, an organization committed to empowering Black artists within Washtenaw County. Dani heard about the Amplify project during the COVID-19 pandemic and applied during our state-mandated quarantine. Playing guitar at home during a time of uncertainty allowed Darling to remain connected to music. 

“Having Amplify find me during that time made everything come together. It’s awesome,” stated Darling. Under the direction of Dr. Rod Wallace and Maia Evans, Dani Darling curated her 6 track EP “The Future.” Darling’s track titles are as follows: The Sublime, The Down, La Femme, The Interlude (Made It Back), The Future, and The Age. In 2021, Darling created her EP with fellow band members on New Year’s Eve. Darling is heavily influenced by musical icons from the 70s, including James Brown and Diana Ross. Darling described her EP as ambient and psychedelic.

From singing in choir and church and playing violin, Darling became immersed in music at a very young age. When describing her upbringing, the songwriter mentioned that her family encouraged her to create music and inspired her artistically. Having grown up as an identical triplet, Dani credits her sisters as her main collaborators who inspired her large spectrum of musical styles.

Dani’s song “The Age” begins with raw vocals soothing to the listener’s ears. Her vocals follow melodic lines on flute, futuristic synth sounds, upbeat bass lines, and drum cadences that drive the beat. 

While “The Age” is an undeniably fun experience, Dani utilized her songwriting process to highlight serious issues. Her song “The Sublime” evokes strong emotions from listeners, as it mentions the tragic killing of George Floyd and the COVID-19 pandemic. During our interview on the 7th series, Darling described her song “The Interlude (Made it Back)” as a “retro” vibe, which references issues about civil rights and the systemic oppression of Black people. 

Throughout her EP, Darling utilizes the sounds of different instrumentalists to curate sonically captivating music. Darling created “The Future” to be an escape from reality. Through this audibly cohesive project, listeners can envision a plane of existence that is more enriching than our own. I implore our audience to take the time to enter the world that Darling created and to step into a reality that transcends our own.

• Article by Melody Brooks

  Melody Brooks is a journalist from the Washtenaw area with over six years of experience. Known to the public under her stage name Baddie Brooks, the fellow singer-songwriter and instrumentalist ushers in a relaxing energy with Dani Darling to create a one-of-a-kind interview between two of Washtenaw’s most artistic and dynamic performers. 

  Brooks displays lighthearted fun, poise, and conversational control, chronicling Darling's early life in church choirs to her captivating EPs Nocturne, Mage, and The Future.

• About Dani Darling

  One of Washtenaw’s most prolific artists, Dani Darling, is a multi-talented singer-songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist. As a singer, Darling has captivated the Washtenaw County area, including being named one of the Detroit Metro Times artists to watch in 2020 and voted best singer by the E-Current Magazine. 
  
  For her Seven Series performance, The Ann Arbor-based singer performs her new song “Bossa,” dancing and displaying a stunning stage presence that’s fun, attention-grabbing, and downright entertaining like only Darling can provide.

• About The Seven Series

  The Seven Series is a seven-episode performance and interview production for up-and-coming musicians and journalists.

  The Seven Seires allows local artists around the area to showcase their talent and offer aspiring journalists an opportunity to sharpen their on-camera and writing skills by engaging in entertaining interviews with the featured musicians following their performances.

  Sponsored by The Ann Arbor Observer, Destination Ann Arbor, Leon Speakers and FedUp Ministries, the Seven Series showcases an abundance of local talent, The Seven Series will highlight local arts-based businesses and venue Leon Speakers as the primary venue for shooting locations.

  The series is being powered by The Amplify Project, a 501c(3) nonprofit that identifies and mobilizes resources for independent Black musical artists in Washtenaw County. The initiative has supported Washtenaw County artists like Ki5, and London Beck, to release critically acclaimed projects.

• Press & Media Contacts

  Antonio Cooper
  Executive Producer
  Antoniocooper88@gmail.com