From Star Search to dance clubs, Danielle Bollinger has had an interesting launch for her musical career- taking her everywhere from Nashville to New York on the path to create her album. Her debut single "When the Broken Hearted Love Again" became a dance radio staple, and the follow up "Kiss the Sky" is set to explode. But what's next for one of the true up-and-coming divas of dance?
DJ Ron Slomowicz: What inspired you to become a singer?
Danielle Bollinger: Ever since I can remember, everybody told me that I was going to be an entertainer. Maybe it was my personality when I was little, because it didn't faze me to talk to anybody or sing. I did my first solo when in church when I was five, so kind of started from there.
RS: You grew up in Detroit?
Danielle Bollinger: I grew up in Flint actually…
RS: Madonna grew up in Flint, didn't she?
Danielle Bollinger: She grew up outside of Flint, actually in a suburb of Detroit.
RS: So how did you get from Michigan to Nashville?
Danielle Bollinger: I had some friends in Nashville that were in the music industry and one of them was connected with friend here, and so it was the perfect opportunity for me to go and kind of see what the whole music industry was like.
RS: When you were here in Nashville, were you working with Faith Hill where you were doing the demos?
Danielle Bollinger: Actually, I was down in Nashville twice. I worked with Faith the first time around.
RS: This last time around, what were you doing?
Danielle Bollinger: I came down there because I had just been on Star Search in February 2003, which triggered a lot of attention and a reaction that now was the time. I moved to Nashville and lived with Brent Jeffers, who's the piano attack for Jonathan King of Journey. With him, I met Cindy and Andy Gurley the guitar player of the country band Blue County. They wanted to produce a demo for me and try to get me moving in the right direction, so I had a backer from California and he put up the money to do the demo and that's how I kind of ended up at eSntion.
RS: Were you aiming for the dance market?
Danielle Bollinger: At the time no, I went through a couple of different genres of music just to see where I fit in the best, because I pretty much like every music out there. I actually did a rock project, and it was kind of cool but it just didn't fit my personality.
RS: That makes sense, because listening to the album I can hear a little bit of country in your voice. I always think of country as the white soul and I hear that soulful sound in your voice.
Danielle Bollinger: Yes, I did do country for quite a few years, so that was kind of where it started. I think everybody starts in country, don't they?
RS: Yes, you're right.
Danielle Bollinger: I even remember the first song I ever sang on karaoke when I was fourteen – "Mama He's Crazy" by the Judds. That's where it all started.
RS: Do you write your songs?
Danielle Bollinger: I didn't write any for the album, but I did have some input while I was recording. I wanted to change some of the lyrics in order for me to really feel the song when I was performing it.
RS: So how did you find "When the Broken Hearted Love Again?"
Danielle Bollinger: It was given to the label first and they loved it and passed it on to me. I loved it as well because it had great meaning to it and I think a lot of people can relate to the song, including myself.
