We had the good fortune of connecting with Dani Hagan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Grand Forks, North Dakota. There was an incredible arts community that I was raised in. I grew up on stage and back stage surrounded by good people. I was immersed in acting, singing, and dancing since I was 5, taking lessons at every opportunity. Ballet gave me discipline, acting gave me imagination, singing gave me confidence, and songwriting gave me expression. I have more creativity than even I know what to do with, so my parents were wise to enroll me into every creative outlet possible. I’ve worked very hard to maintain the foundation of who I was raised to be as I’ve continued to grow up over the years.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been writing songs since I was about 5 years old, and I’m just now putting out my first album, titled “Kissing You,” it’s my first completed collection of work that I’ve released. My songs are generally about matters of the heart. I process my own life experience through songwriting. It helps me wrap my head and heart around things and enriches what I gain from each moment. I hope that the listener can hear their own personal stories through my songs. I’m really proud of the sound I’ve developed over the years, from working with some of the most incredible musicians in LA. Now that I have my band, The Reverie, my songs have never sounded more like mine then they do today! I’ve really tapped into a blues rock and roll vibe.

The best music generally comes from the hardest life lessons, in my experience. And I’ve had my fair share of challenges. I believe that’s part of why my music is so relatable. I’m able to put my history into lyrics. I find a lot of people don’t know how to express their stories and that’s how music becomes so powerful, they hear a song and say “Thats it! Thats what I felt, that’s what I went through!” I believe that that’s my gift to my community. There is a lot of truth and vulnerability in my songs, if you really listen to the lyrics. My vulnerability is one of my biggest strengths. Even the upbeat, more rockin songs have a lot of depth and layers to them. I overcome my challenges by singing about them.

I’ve learned that we are in the Wild West these days, when it comes to the music industry. There is no right or wrong way, no clear path to follow. You just have to choose a direction and put one foot in front of the other. Every one has their own measure of success, and my measure tends to shift back and forth. Is it the number of views your music video gets or the number of streams you get on Spotify? Is it the number of people who buy tickets to your show? Is it the number of individuals who resonate personally with your music and tell you about it…or don’t? I’ve learned the value of all those things, while also understanding how none of those things matter. But they certainly do add up. By not living and dying by the numbers and statistics from the business side of things, I can create more freely and authentically. And that’s generally what gets the most “success” is authenticity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love when friends and family come to visit me in LA. I tend to be a workaholic and forget to enjoy my city and all it offers, so when I get a visitor, we go all out! I love my West Hollywood/ Beverly Hills neighborhood. First stop would be Cecconi’s for some happy hour. They have the best staff, cocktails and pizza in town! We’d defiantly have to hit the farmers market, I prefer the Melrose Place farmers market, its on the smaller size and less chaotic than the Hollywood one. Oooo, the Fairfax flea market is always a good choice, don’t forget your sunscreen! Its always fun to catch a rooftop movie at E.P.L.P. For dinner, I’ve been loving The Conservatory, its such a vibe without feeling pretentious. On a Monday night, we would head up to the Valley for a Jam night at Last Call, where all my musician friends and I take turns getting up on stage and perform our favorite cover songs for each other. Of course, I’d book my own show at the Viper Room for my guest, so I could perform my original music and show you how I have a good time. For an after party, we’d probably just head home to my living room, that’s where the best connections happen. I would make sure to get my guest to a pilates class, either at Love For Pilates, or just at my home studio, I’m absolutely obsessed with Pilates, obviously, considering I have a reformer in my living room! And you can’t visit LA without a drive through Venice and Santa Monica, you have to dip your feet in the ocean!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout would be to Salome Azizi. She is my best friend, first and foremost, but also an incredible actress, room mate and built in therapist. She came into my life as I was going through a massive turning of the tides. She became an anchor as well as a soft place to land as my world was falling apart and coming together all at once. She is wonderfully creative, loving, and supportive. We get into a lot of trouble together and always help each other out of trouble as well.. I don’t know how things would have turned out for me without her guiding light. She knows when to just hold the space for me or when to come crashing in with a bottle of wine or Champagne. No matter the situation, she and I always make everything an occasion and find a way to celebrate. I love my Salome!

Website: https://www.danihagan.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dani.hagan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.hagan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpk9C17l8ONsLd1CSaIIPpQ

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@danihaganmusic

Image Credits
Jeff Xander, Erin and Jake Music Photography, Jack Lue

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