Today, we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Simeone.
Hi Danielle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and as a young girl, I fell in love with electronic music. I was a singer since about 8 years old, and over time, I naturally gravitated to singing house music. When I turned 15, I started recording in studios and working on my first vocal collaborations.
I was also frequently going to nightclubs such as Sound Factory NY, amongst many other nightclub staples (yes, I was young), but I found my way. I also interned in a music studio for a few years to learn about recording, writing, and production. Throughout the years my releases got better and better I landed on some of the biggest labels in electronic music such as Spinning, toolroom, black lizard, and Ultra Records.
I was able to do all of that by learning how to record my own vocals so I would email people my ideas and that’s how all of that came about. When I hit my 30s, I felt like I wanted more for myself as an artist, so I taught myself how to DJ. I started working in fitness as a cycling instructor in NY, and one of the companies I worked for, Lifetime Athletic, gave me my first gig djing.
Eventually, I moved to Miami and I started throwing after-hours events with my partner at the time, which opened the doors for me to DJ here in Miami. I still felt that there were some missing pieces to me as an artist so I decided to fully start producing my own music. I feel like there’s a lot that I want to express as an artist, and although my journey has its ups and downs, I feel I am doing exactly what makes me happy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road by any means. I think most artists will tell you that. However, I worked with amazing producers and enjoyed writing and recording. Singing vocals for DJs really helps the producer more than the vocalists, and I don’t always get a total say in the music behind my voice.
Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with that either, but at heart, I am a producer too and have music in my mind that I wish to express. Making money was also hard, which is one of the reasons I chose to start DJing, as well as the obvious, my passion for sharing good tunes with the world.
Moving on from being a singer, DJing is also quite the challenge with many ups and downs. You can be busy for months and then go months without gigs. There is also a lot of competition and sometimes not a lot of room for art because everyone wants to hear the same music, unfortunately. At the end of the day, you have to take the lows with a grain of salt and keep it moving.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would say first I’m a singer, but now I’m a DJ too, which I love. I like to combine all of the subgenres of electronic music, such as indie, house, minimal, afro, and deep tech. I look at it as telling a story and taking people on a journey.
I think what sets me apart from others is that I never give up, and I truly try to educate people on the dance floor as much as I can. I think it’s also unique to be able to sing, DJ, and now produce my own tunes which I am eventually trying to combine all together. I also have been following all the changes in this music since I’m about 12 years old so I have an extensive knowledge of the industry.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I have a beautiful oriental short-haired cat named Onyx, the love of my life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Danielle_simeone_official
- Facebook: @Daniellesimeonemusic
- SoundCloud: @Daniellesimeone
