Check Out Dani iVory’s Story

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

Hi Dani, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a musical household. My mother is a music teacher and liturgical musician and gave me my first piano and voice lesson when I was 5 years old. Because of her musical influences, I was active in church music my entire childhood and adolescent life as well as choirs. I also continued to study privately (both voice and piano) until college where I was awarded a scholarship in Vocal Performance at Duquesne University. When I decided Opera was not my cup of tea, I applied to Berklee College of Music in Boston and was awarded the Berklee Entering Talent Scholarship (BEST) for my three years there. After graduating from Berklee, I was awarded three internships in Los Angeles which jump-started my move across the country. While in my first year in Los Angeles, I was able to perform and make the necessary connections to meet the talent agent that gave me my first audition for professional touring. Once I landed the role as keyboardist and backing vocalist for Cee Lo Green, my career path had begun a strong trajectory. I then toured with artists Beyonce, Imagine Dragons, Gallant, Rhye, Bridgit Mendler, and many others. While touring and performing has always been a love of mine, at my core, I am a singer-songwriter. I wrote my first song when I was 7 years old and my piano teacher at the time was able to record it on her computer software. I believe I still have the sheet music at my parents’ house in Pittsburgh, PA. Writing and creating is what brings me the most joy besides playing for people. Throughout tours, I would be working on my original music in my hotel room before soundcheck and on off days. That is where most of my album that will be released this year was written. After I got married, my husband and I decided Los Angeles wasn’t the place we wanted to raise a family. When the timing worked out, we moved to Nashville several years ago and here we are now a couple years later. Nashville is still new to me but I am feeling more and more at home with each and every person I meet, gig I play, and song I write. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
So many sayings come to mind when I read this question like…”the road to success is never straight” and the term “struggling artist”. I’ve experienced so many obstacles in my journey so far, ups and downs, and zigs and zags. I think that is the very nature of following your dreams. Taking risks and taking leaps into unknown waters. Although it is so difficult to venture in unfamiliar territory with no safety net, the reward is that much greater. Some of my struggles have been meeting with A&R from Interscope Records and having a very promising conversation about moving forward with a record deal to being completely ghosted because my manager at the time and I got into an argument and he was slandering my name. Putting so much money and time into my music and not getting anything in return (profit-wise). Being cut from tours because of budget. Moving and starting all over again several times. Being rejected! You definitely grow a thick skin from being in the entertainment business. 

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 am an artist, songwriter, and musician. I’ve mostly been known for my touring career as a backing musician for major pop artists but I am also an artist in my own and am working to make a name for myself. I’m most proud of the album I am about to release this year, Dreamland…but I am also proud of the incredible experiences I’ve had touring around the world with Beyonce and Rhye. I think what sets me apart from others is that I am multi-faceted. I can play almost any instrument you put in front of me, I can write and read music, produce, teach, mix, and perform the music. 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that Nashville raises the bar for musicality. There is NO OTHER CITY in the world like Nashville (and I have been to a lot of cities in the world). It is not common to walk into any bar/restaurant at 10 AM and have the most incredible band playing on stage. You HAVE to be a great musician and/or songwriter to even get a gig in this town. What I like the least is that Nashville is land-locked. I definitely miss being able to have access to the ocean when I was living in Los Angeles. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.daniivory.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniivory/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniivoryartist
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/daniivory
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/daniivorymusic
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/daniivory

Image Credits
Casey Curry
Edward Wayne Romack II