Danny Giovanna: An Artist Finding Herself Through Creativity and Personal Courage 

Danny Giovanna is a Singer/songwriter whose music lives at the crossroads of a Blues/Rock, Indie and Americana sound. Blending grit of the Jersey Coast with soul of the South, Danny creates a unique sound of urgency, comfort and captivation. Her songs are written for those rediscovering their strength, calling back their power, and learning to forgive themselves. Delighted to be covering her story and her success. 

Many things to touch on with you. First off, I feel it important to mention that at present, you are a singer/songwriter. While you were in your 20's, you considered giving up on music. What made you want to stop, and also, how were you persuaded to go back to pursuing making music? 

It feels so good to say that I am a singer/songwriter! During my 20’s, I went through what I call “The Lost Years”. This was a time of grief, anger and sadness. My loss was not just of another person, but of my spirituality and everything I knew about myself. Giving up on music was not a choice; it just sort of happened. I was so lost in all of these emotions, living day to day in a blur that I did not even realize I let go of this part of me. I could not focus on the future because I did not think I had one to be completely transparent. At twenty-four, I met the person who would be my life partner. I was still in the early stages of healing when we met, and she did not get to know this part of me until a few years later. I had an accident at the end of 2023, and I remember laying in bed with this sudden call to get back to the person who lived and breathed music. The person who wrote every day. The person who was determined to give back to music what it had given me. Life is short, so chase that dream. I had reclaimed that fire instantly and it felt incredible. 

I am guessing music has not made you millions, as I see you have a day job as a Special Education teacher. In my research, I see that this field can be both stressful and lead to early burnout - as well as there being a shortage in this field. Is music one means to keep you balanced mentally and physically?  I also realize that sometimes the label of special education can be polarizing for some students - so how do you empower these children? 

Not yet…a girl can dream! Special education makes up the other part of my heart and soul. The job of a teacher is anything but easy. From Monday to Friday for six and a half hours,  we are in a whole other world - one that people do not understand unless they are in the field as well. When 3:00 comes around, I could easily go home and sleep until the morning - but that is my time to focus on music. Music absolutely keeps me balanced mentally, emotionally, and physically. Music sends me into another whole world, one that I release, story tell and relax in. Even on my most challenging days, everything feels more at ease once I pick my guitar up and fall into the zone of creating. 

I like that question, how do you empower these children? I try to help them embody confidence, understanding and most importantly happiness. Confidence in who they are and in who they strive to be; as a person, a student, a friend, etc. Understanding of the world within them and around, as well as others. More than anything, I want my students to look back on their time with me and say, “Man, she really loved me. She really wanted me to do my best and be proud of myself.” I want them to remember their years with me as fun, successful and full of growth. I want them to be happy when they leave my classroom and make their mark in the many places I know they will.  

LOVE when I discovered you came across and added a $75 guitar to your collection. Some could say that a secondhand guitar may be lacking as to sound and performance. How has your experience been? 

Oh, me and that $75 guitar! That guitar is the reason my first four songs were finally completed. That guitar is the reason I marched myself to an open mic with shaking hands and played my song, “Sinners and Saints” for the first time, making it a turning point in my music career. I grew up singing in bands, I wrote songs, but relied on other musicians to help put chords behind them. When I bought that guitar about a year ago (November 2024), it was merely to help me get melodies behind the songs I had been writing. I was desperately seeking a partner to come and help me bring them out to perform, but it never worked out. I sat down with that guitar and said, “Enough is enough, I am picking 4 chords to use, and we are making this work.” and that is exactly what I did. I always had a PSA during those first few open mics. I would say, “Hi, I am Danny and this is my $75 youth guitar. We are still learning each other.” This would lessen the pressure I felt standing up there and give the audience a reason to giggle if I completely messed up. The crowds were kind to me which was all I needed. That guitar ended up breaking six days before a festival, leaving me with no other choice but to purchase a “grown up” guitar and move on up in the musician world. 

The vocals you create are chock full of messages that speak of renewal and resilience, which are many times reflective of your journey. How does one find their voice when their waters are often full of troubles and tragedy? Also, do you find yourself more creative when singing in the bathtub? 

This one gave me chills. This is why I am here today, because The Universe, The Divine, a Higher Power knew I had to get this message out there for others. What I am going to say is what I needed to hear eight years ago. Feel everything. Feel every single emotion you have to feel during your times of trouble and tragedy. Feel it, but do not bring others into your sinking ship. This is a journey for you and you alone to complete. Your voice is all around you. It is in the movies you turn to (Steel Magnolias!); it’s in the sacred places you run off too and it’s in the music you listen to. The songs you blast in the car that make you sing until tears are falling down your face, the ocean water hitting your bare skin that takes your breath away and the lines from your favorite characters that make you laugh as if hearing them for the first time. Your voice lies within all of the things that make you, you. Connect the dots and then connect them inward. Your power, your voice, and your strength never leaves you. Sometimes they are hard to find but they are there if you are willing to feel. Do the inner work and heal. That voice will suddenly be there as if it never left. Through all of that you will realize you are not really alone. The people who wrote these songs and movies or the people a few feet away who are barefoot in the water with their eyes closed have had or are having similar experiences. If I can reclaim that voice, I promise, you will as well. 

Water is SUCH a catalyst for creativity, I actually find myself coming up with ideas when I am washing dishes! I zone out while doing this, and suddenly I am running to my little studio with a half-washed spoon in my hand - writing down the idea that crossed my mind. 

During preparation for this interview, I discovered your wife - and you mention that she tends to be your biggest cheerleader. In what ways do you feel she enables you to be more entertaining or engaging with your audiences? Any chance she will join you when recording? 

My wife is the kind of person I hope everyone finds. I even said it in my vows, “I hope everyone finds their Alexandra in life.” She always gives me a little pep talk before a show. She will say, “Just be yourself up there and they will love you the way I do.” (So sweet!) She just so happens to find me to be the wittiest person alive so when I am on stage going about with my banter, I will always catch her giving me a thumbs up or a nod. When I see her do that, I know I am keeping the audience engaged in all the right ways.  

I will give her this, Alexandra does a great performance of Darius Rucker’s “Comeback Song.” So, maybe there will be a little country duet in our future…ha!  

Unfortunately, one of the things we share as to life experiences is the loss of a parent. Please share with your readers more about who your mother was, and also, have you done an homage to her within any of your songs? 

I could write about my beautiful mother forever. My mom, Jackie, is the reason I stand here as the woman I am today. She shaped me with her words, her advice, her love…watching her and all she did. I wrote my parents a letter one summer explaining how much I wanted to sing and begin performing when I was young. I was in vocal lessons a few months later. She drove me to lessons, shows and practices. Jackie had two other children, a job, and a house to run but made sure I never missed an opportunity for something I was so passionate about. She was the kind of woman who was born to be a mother, as well as SO many other successful roles. She also worked in Special Education and was loved so deeply by so many. Even when she was sick, my mother had a beautiful smile, caring heart and warrior energy. I remember friends growing up always wanting to hang out at our house because they felt welcomed and safe around Jackie. People still stop me in stores and ask, “Are you Jackie’s daughter? I have the most wonderful memory of her…” or “Oh, to hear Jackie’s laugh one more time…” She sure did have that kind of laugh.  

I have so many songs written for her, yet I feel as if they do not capture her enough. I am constantly revising them. I have songs written from my point of view, my father and sibling’s point of view, and even hers. I go through her cards, notes and letters religiously; always pulling out another line of inspiration. I will spend the rest of my life paying homage to the woman who gave me everything I have - whether it be through music, poetry or the little things she loved to do like walking along the shoreline of Cape May or dancing around the kitchen singing into wooden spoons.   

Hurricane in A Shot Glass is the name of your single. Do offer us a short synopsis of what the song is about, and how has the audience reaction been so far to this release? 

Hurricane In A Shot Glass - that line was thought of during a dish washing moment and is about loving a free-spirited soul! My grandfather called me Hurricane Danielle because I would come through like a storm. Alexandra always joked that I was the storm to her calm. Everyone has a little Hurricane in them and when you find the person who loves you for exactly who you are, it is a beautiful thing. The song has elements of this free-spirited person being a little cautious with who they give their heart to because of being hurt in the past, but the person who is falling in love reassures them, “Hurricane In A Shot Glass, you don’t scare me.” We are all out here looking for that person who is not afraid of the messy, wild and sometimes challenging parts of us. I have gotten such positive feedback on this song so far. I keep getting compared to Shania Twain with this one, which is such a compliment. Once you release one song people begin to ask, “When’s the next one?” or “When’s the album?” I could not have asked for a better reaction. I can only hope people continue to stream it, pass it along and share with others. It has been put on the rotation for a couple of independent radio stations across the U.S! Getting emails about that the first few times are moments I will remember forever.  

Now that your first single has been released, what are your next steps in the months to come?  

Well, this interview was a HUGE accomplishment for me. The moment you responded to my email, I let out a little scream in excitement. You were so kind, welcoming and positive. I cannot thank you enough for all that you do and taking the time to get to know little ol’ me!  

I have another song being released within the next few weeks called Hitchhike! It is a blues/rock song about not giving up on the person you know you can’t live without. I have six songs I have been religiously taking out to open mics and shows, Theyhave been getting great feedback, and I plan to record them ASAP. Being an independent artist means doing all the jobs! I have been emailing radio stations, submitting for festivals and learning how to make content. That last one has been quite the adventure. Social media is a great tool for getting your music out into the world but there are a lot of people also doing the same. I am going to continue befriending this new guitar, writing and getting my music out there.  

Music has given me so much. While I was not focused on my music during “The Lost Years”, I was listening to the music that is imprinted in my soul. (Shoutout to My Chemical Romance!) I want to give back to music what it gave me: strength to make it through to the morning, motivation to find my way back to myself and moments that reminded me what it meant to be alive. Car rides with wind in my hair, slow dances in the dark and shouting my favorite lyrics out into the open air at shows with my favorite people. If I can do that for one person (or thousands!), then my life will be well lived.  

More details on Danny and her music are available here: Instagram