Dani Stacy is the Total Package, Songwriter and Vocalist

Dani Stacy is relatively new to Nashville, but she is not new to music. For many of you, Stacy’s appearance on season 25 of “The Voice” is the first time you have seen her perform. But I discovered Dani while scrolling through Instagram. I came upon a video posted by Song House, which featured Dani Stacy. At that moment, I was a fan. Her vocal tone and subtle rasp is pleasing to my ears. Afterward, I slid into her DMs to ask her to play our live show in Nashville. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Stacy and share her story with you because I believe Dani Stacy is the total package. Please keep reading to learn more about Dani and her music.

California to Nashville

Dani Stacy has been in Nashville for a few years now but is a California Native. Stacy said, “I was born and raised in Hanford, California. There is a lot of agriculture around there, such as dairy and walnut farms. At twenty-one, I moved to Ventura, right by the beach. Eventually, I would make it to LA, then Tennessee. When I moved to Nashville, it was the tail end of the pandemic here, but probably mid-pandemic in LA. I remember going for the first time in a year when I got to town. Bartenders and others apologized and said that it was usually more fun. But I thought it was great. I low-key miss Covid Nashville because only a certain number of people could come into the bars. So everyone had a place to sit.”

As you wonder what brought Stacy to Nashville, she, like many others, visited Music City and fell in love with it. Dani said, “I had visited Nashville with one of my best friends, and we had a great time. I remember digging the vibe. So, Nashville was always in the back of my mind. During COVID, everyone was making changes. I lived in LA then, and it was super shut down. But I am a fan of change in general and was looking for something new. Since I was still determining when things would get back going in Los Angeles, I went on the Facebook marketplace and found some roommates. While it was initially challenging and scary, everyone has been so welcoming. 

Dani Stacy was Always Around Music

Every musician has an origin story. Dani’s story is interesting, especially considering how good she is now. The singer/songwriter said, “So what got me into music? Well, my dad was a musician and played in a rock band when he was younger. Dad would have friends over, and they would jam together. He also had a recording studio behind our house. I would sneak in there at times but never got super involved. There was the pressure of having a parent who was a good musician, and I didn’t feel I was good. I didn’t want to feel judged by him, so it was always my little secret.”

When Dani Stacy moved out of her parents’ house, she would dive into music. Stacy said, “I did a couple of open mic nights in Hanford, but when I moved to Ventura, I decided to reinvent myself. I became a little hippie chick for a little bit. I would ride my longboard to jam sessions and the open mics. So, I would play my ukulele and jam out there. Before I started my band, I was briefly part of a reggae band. I was singing background vocals and enjoying the lifestyle. Since there were ten members in the band, sometimes, there was little money to be made. But, my involvement in music grew from there.  

The Evolution of Dani Stacy as a Songwriter

Most songwriters begin writing in some form or fashion when they are younger and continue to grow as writers. Stacy’s evolution came later, but she has been honing her craft for quite some time. The California native said, “I would write a little bit when I was younger. One of the first songs I remember writing was when I was about thirteen. I was heartbroken about one of my best friends, so I wrote a song about that. It was therapeutic for a long time, and I always wrote alone. Then, I started doing a few co-writes, which I didn’t think I would be into. But it unleashed something in me. I had always been scared of co-writing, and I couldn’t acknowledge that someone could help me tell my story better. When I started working with John Sherwood, he helped me dial into what I wanted to say in a song. So, co-writing became my favorite thing to do.”

So, why is co-writing such an integral part of Nashville? Another songwriter can help you see the story you want to tell differently, which can vastly improve the song you would have written alone. Stacy agreed with me. Dani said, “It’s the questions. It’s always a co-writer asking the right questions, which is like a therapist in some ways. 

Dani Stacy: The Performer

Some people are natural-born performers, and others must learn the art of stage performance. Stacy recalls her first few performances. Dani said, “I look back on old videos of me, and they’re incredibly cringy. But strangely, I was very confident. I’ve always been delusional in that way, but when I began surrounding myself with people who were much better than me at what they do, I realized I had work to do. I still get nervous, but when you feel the audience supports you, there is freedom to be more natural on stage. Performing on “The Voice” is incredibly nerve-wracking because of the audience, famous coaches, and knowing it’s on national television. But it proved I could do anything if I performed on this show.

“The Voice” Experience

It would be journalistic malpractice if I didn’t ask Dani Stacy about her experience on “The Voice.” When we did this interview, she had yet to be eliminated from the show, so she could not discuss some things. When I learned she had auditioned, I knew she would get chairs to turn. So, when four chairs turned for her, I was not surprised because Stacy has such a unique vocal tone. 

However, I was disappointed to see her eliminated because she would have done well on the live shows if left to the fan vote. But Dani felt good about her time on the show. Stacy said, “The whole experience started so long ago, from getting the first call to audition to the time it airs. I was hopeful when I began the journey, and the response and support from people has been amazing. All the hard work is starting to pay off, and I’m getting recognized for it.

I always wonder what someone thinks during their blind audition performance and watch their reactions when chairs turn. The singer/songwriter said, “I didn’t think much about what I would do when they turned around. When all the judges turned around, it was quicker than I imagined. If they did turn, I felt it would be later in the song when I hit a longer or bigger note. So when it happened, in my mind, I said, on my God. But I went cross-eyed and looked to the sky. By the time you get there, you have practiced so much you want to get it over with. So, it was good that I didn’t prepare myself for whether they turned for me.”

Dani Stacy Releases “Pretty Bad Reason”

So, what is next for Dani Stacy? It’s new music. Stacy’s latest single, “Pretty Bad Reason, was written by Stacy, Ryan Brisotti, and Daniel Leathersich. JC Balserak was the producer of the song, and he also mixed and mastered it. Dani said, “Daniel Leathersich and Ryan Brisotti are my homies. It’s funny because I write my sassiest, girliest songs with these guys. I am trying to remember what I went into the write thinking, but I think what we wrote was different from the original goal. I’ll find myself writing about past experiences when writing with Daniel and Ryan since I am in a happy, healthy relationship. I wanted to do something fun. Ryan started playing the guitar, and it flowed out of us.”

 “Pretty Bad Reason” is relatable to many who have dated someone and broken up. When you see them with the next person, you think, okay, that makes sense. Stacy said, “It’s a story about when you are in a situationship or not quite dating someone, but you see them with someone much hotter than you. The line is, you had a ten but found an eleven, but you can’t be mad because you weren’t anything serious. We wrote the song on acoustic, and it felt good. So the verses are groovy acoustic, but the chorus has so much attitude.” You can find it on all streaming platforms if you have not listened. 

For Those Who are New to Dani Stacy

Dani Stacy has gained new fans due to her appearance on “The Voice.” The challenge for Stacy is riding that momentum as long as possible. The California native said, “Being able to ride the momentum keeps me up at night because I know how quickly people can forget about you. I know this is the most free publicity I will ever get. I am harnessing it by releasing original music to maximize the exposure.”

Since contestants only sing cover songs on the show, hearing their original music is like discovering them all over again. Stacy said, “I hope they dig my originals more than my covers. That’s always the goal of an artist. But what I hope they see in me or what they should know about me is that I love writing songs. I am a singer/songwriter first and will do what is best for the song. So, if someone gravitates toward one genre, you won’t get that from me. I have my country influences, but I grew up on 2000s pop and R&B. So I hope they hear all that in my music.”

My Thoughts

Dani Stacy is the total package. She is a great writer, performer, and vocalist. Dani has the makings of a star, but it’s an uphill battle as an independent artist. So, if you became a Dani Stacy fan the first time you heard her sing like I did, share her music with others, add her to your playlists, buy her merch if she has it available, and support her live shows. Those small things mean so much to an independent artist. I cannot wait to see how far Dani Stacy will go, and she always has the support of Undiscovered Nashville.