Lets Talk About it with The Godmother
🎙️ LET’S TALK MUSIC WITH THE GODMOTHER | SEASON 2
Where music meets purpose.
Hosted by The Godmother, Let’s Talk Music is more than an interview—it’s a platform where artists, producers, songwriters, DJs, entrepreneurs, and music industry professionals share their journey, their testimony, and the story behind their success.
Each episode goes beyond the music, exploring the struggles, victories, lessons, faith, and legacy that shape today’s creators.
Every guest closes with The Godmother Level—one unforgettable question designed to reveal who they are beyond their career.
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Lets Talk About it with The Godmother
Danielle Marie
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Welcome to another powerful episode of Let’s Talk Music with The Godmother!
This time, I sit down with recording artist and songwriter Danielle Marie, aka Danni D, for an honest conversation about the woman, the music, and everything happening behind the scenes.
We go 10 Levels Deep into Danielle’s journey, including:
The “Body Parts” contest in Africa Why the focus shifted from “Jungle” to “Body Parts” Her record “Look at That” with Breed Upcoming “All Doors Locked” with 360 Stizzy The REAL cost of being an independent artist Lessons from 3 years navigating Miami Faith, spirituality & conflicts with the music she creates Sobriety, relationships & the internal battles behind the artist The Godmother Level: Purpose & Legacy
And of course, we close with What’s Next for Danielle Marie and prayer over her next chapter.
Follow Danielle: @daniellemakesrecords Follow the show: @letstalkaboutit_with_Godmother
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Real Music. Real Stories. Real Conversations.
#LetsTalkMusic #DanielleMarie #DanniD
What's going on guys? It's the Godmother and welcome to another episode of Let's Talk Music with Me, the Godmother. I'm so excited for this episode. Today we're having Daniel Marie. I'm so excited to talk about her new single body parts, her story, the beginning, where she came from, and the journey that brought her from Jersey all the way to Miami. So I hope you guys enjoy this amazing show that we have set up for you. Let's get this live going. There we go.
SPEAKER_01I was like, where is this link? And I finally found it. There we go.
SPEAKER_00You look so beautiful. Welcome to the live.
SPEAKER_01Thank you.
SPEAKER_00I'm so excited to have you on today. Um, I'm excited to have so many conversations. Um, so let's start with how are you feeling today on this Humphrey?
SPEAKER_01I feel good. I feel good. We got a busy night ahead of us, and I'm uh I'm excited. So good spirits. I got my rest, ate my Wheaties, we're here.
SPEAKER_00Amazing, amazing. Alright, guys. So we're gonna do 10 levels with Daniel Marie. If you guys have any questions or comments, you can go ahead and drop it in the comments and we're gonna get this live going. God is good, get us good, let's go, let's go.
SPEAKER_01Let's go.
SPEAKER_00Alright, make sure you share the live, share it with somebody, and give us some likes, give us some hearts, and let us know you're rocking with us.
SPEAKER_02Alright.
SPEAKER_00Let's go with level one, the beginning. Where are you from, and what parts of your upbringing helped shape Danielle Marie into the woman and artist you are today? And before you get that going, I know that in the promo I said she was from New York, and that is um, I'm gonna fix that. Is Jersey you are Jersey, dirty Jersey, dirty jersey. Dirty Jersey. So tell us a little bit about Dirty Jersey.
SPEAKER_01Dirty Jersey. Well, I'm from a town called Plainsborough. I was born in Perth Amboy, so I was born in central Jersey. Um, and then I kind of moved to I guess we call it central South Jersey, right? So we always identify exits on the parkway. So I was born exit 11, and then I moved to exit 8A. Um, my I was raised by my mom, and I was in Jersey up until I went to college. Um, and then I left and went to uh Pennsylvania to I went to Philly. Um, but Jersey, you know, my mom did she's a single parent, you know, she did the best that she could. And uh she just always made sure I was doing something and keeping busy, right? So like after school, I better not come home. Like I better be playing sports, like I better have a schedule. Um, but she always told me, like, so long as like, because I wasn't the best student until senior year when I realized like, oh, this matters. Like, I gotta get my life together.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh so she always told me, as long as you do the best you can, like, you know, that that's all that matters. So for a while I learned how to kind of like coast and BS. And then I realized like I gotta get my stuff together if I want to go get into college and all this stuff. So I buckled down senior year, straight A's, and then I was a you know pretty much an A student from that point on. But she definitely taught me how to just keep busy and keep with it. So that was Jersey for me.
SPEAKER_00What did you where did you study?
SPEAKER_01In college, actually, well, I studied a few things. So I graduated with a bachelor's in psychology because I didn't know what I want to do. I always knew I wanted to help people, so I figured, hey, let's do that. Um, and then I went to get my first master's in education, so I'm a licensed guidance counselor at KG12. Uh, and then after that, I got my second master's in human resources because I realized there was no money in education. I really needed business. I still wanted to help people, so I did all that. So two masters later, $200,000 down the whole in student loans, you know, like it is what it is. But at least I went to school and did all that good stuff, you know?
SPEAKER_00And you enjoyed it.
SPEAKER_01Uh yeah. I mean, like, I wasn't, I really like, especially when I went to Temple, I didn't really go to class. So I was like, remember, I learned how to kind of like just get by as long as I did my best. So I got a big street education when I went to Temple. Like, I was in North Philly hanging out with everyone who wasn't a student, uh, really getting that education, like really just understanding like the culture of Philly. Like, Meek Mills was coming up, young Chris was coming up, Jolly O'Beats, like I think his girl was in my class or something like that. So it was just like Kevin Hart was still at the laugh house, and like it it was just a time to be in Philly when I was there. Um, and uh, I just got like a you know a a crash course in uh you know North Philadelphia and a complete opposite lifestyle to the lifestyle that my mom, you know, she that she raised me in because I grew up in the suburbs, and obviously North Philadelphia is not the suburbs, so it was cool, it was really cool.
SPEAKER_00That's what's up. Well, that's interesting. That's really good to know stuff I didn't know. Fun facts.
SPEAKER_01Fun facts.
SPEAKER_00And do you talk about that in in your music at all?
SPEAKER_01In the earlier days, I mean, if you go find my MySpace page, which is probably floating around, you might hear me make reference to like eight gang, um, you know, uh stuff like that. So you might hear it, but I I guess maybe passively I'll bring up certain things, inside jokes, but not so directly. Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00Okay, that's awesome. Nice to know, good to know. All right, guys. So let's go to level two. Body parts goes global. Let's talk about the body parts contest in Africa. How did that come together, and what was it like watching your record connect with people across the world?
SPEAKER_01I don't know how that happened. Um, one day I woke up something just like this, and somebody had just sent me a video of them dancing. Um, and I think if I think about it, I think what happened was somebody that I'm uh close with, they knew a DJ in Africa. So the DJ in Africa starts to spin my music on the radio, and then that hit their airways, and the next thing I knew, there were you know dance groups doing dance challenges to them, and I was like, Well, why don't we make this into something? So we just made it into a real challenge. We got people involved, we got some influencers really helped promote it out on the street. Um, and uh it was great. And I'm actually about two weeks behind on letting people know who the winner is because I got so busy with everything that just came in my lap recently. So um, but it was fun, and it's it's kind of it's cool. Uh, there's only the only word I could think of is cool, like to just see like your music playing in a whole different side of the world, and uh people dancing and they're happy and they're getting creative. And there was one that really touched me, like this girl like drew a picture of me, and she like had a she made t-shirts for body parts, and she was running all over Nigeria, just like handing them out, like, hey, listen to body part, and I didn't ask her to know this girl for like a can of paint, like you know, and it was just kind of like wow, you get to re-reminded like how powerful music is and how how we can all connect because of it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's amazing. And I know that when um we were talking in the video shoot, you were telling me that um you actually talk to these people, like you know, you message them back and stuff like that. I think that's super cool that you still make time to, you know, respond to them and and let them know that you're you know you're rocking with the fact that they love your music, you know?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I try. I like I'm still pretty big about responding. Like, I'll probably take a good hour a day and and just make sure I'm liking everyone's stuff that with this and reason to like, you know, unless it's like something you know not friendly. Um uh but yeah, I'll respond to people. People send me DMs, I do my best to get back to them. Um after a while, I have learned that you can't respond to everybody, and I'm learning that in practice because it gets overwhelming and there's just not enough time today. But you know, I my intention is to get back to everybody, but it's cool. I've I've called called people, they've called me and they're in Nigeria, and we've been talking for 30 minutes, just like it's just it's just good. English is like the main language, they have they speak six languages, and English is one of their like main languages, so they're all they're all pretty fluent, and um, so we're trying to get out there next year uh because they showed me so much love. So, you know, we're trying to do some stuff to raise some money to get out there. Um, spend like you know, I wanna, in order for me to get like a work visa as an entertainer, you have to stay out there for a month. So trying to make some arrangements to do that, but it's a process for sure. But I'm doing my best to try and get it.
SPEAKER_00I'm definitely gonna keep you guys posted on that. We're definitely enough to hear more about that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00All right, so let's go to level three, the pivot. You were originally focused on pushing jungle, but suddenly the direction changed and body parts became the priority. What happened and what did that pivot teach you?
SPEAKER_01What happened was Papa Zoe. Um, that Papa Zoe show. I went, I did a show in Tampa. Papa Zoe was judging. Um, I was doing like a headliner. That's where we met. Yeah, and uh, you know, and actually it was you be it was because of you, I met Papa Zoe, so thank you for that. Uh Papa Gail, we love you. Yeah, so we can say that the pivot was uh your fault. Um it's back to you. Um you know, and then uh next thing I knew, I did a show because I'm in Miami, he's in my Miami, so I went to a show. Um, and I get there and he's like, hey, listen, like you take it out you want to take it, but jungle's not it. I think it's the body parts, but let's just let's go about it. We're gonna play both songs. Cool. And so uh fast forward, you know, I go onto the Angie Starr show. I met Angie where I met you in Tampa, and uh I go to Orlando, and same thing. Hey, this was in the same week, like like jungle, but body parts is that's it, that's a commercial, that's a commercial hit, you know, like that's gonna put you, you know, in the direction that you're looking to go. Um at this point in my life, like I've learned to listen. You know, you gotta listen to people. You're hearing, you know, like you hear the same thing twice in the same week, it's the same message. It's not it's not for nothing. So I'm like, let me just listen and and see what happens. Uh you know that you know what happened next. I I stayed in Orlando. I went out with the one of the producers for Angie's show, Shy. We got the club, we got the uh song playing in the club. Next thing I know, it's playing three times in another club. Next thing I know, it's on radio stations when it's in the hands of a bunch of DJs. Next thing I know, I'm in a DJ coalitions meeting doing 13 drops for DJs. Shout out to Dope Truth. Um, and yeah, now we're here. Uh, and that was probably what Michelle all of that happened the last three months. Well, like just just craziness.
SPEAKER_00Amazing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yep. So it's just a lot, but you know what when it's meant to be like what's what's for you is going to find you, and that's you know one thing I I stand on.
SPEAKER_00So and I love that, I love that. Okay, so let's go to level four. Look at that. You have a record with Breed called Look At That. How did that collaboration happen? And what does working with another artist bring out of you creatively?
SPEAKER_01Uh that happened because of Papa Zoe. Uh shout out to Papa Zoe. Shout out Papa Zoe. Um so Breed, young Breed is an artist on MMG, and Papa Zoe was like, hey, um, I got an artist that you know is dope. You can work with him. Cool. Um, and we had great like studio synergy. Breed is like, he's so professional, like, but he's so dope. Like, I can't, you'd have to be around him to understand, like, and you were there, like at the studio, the studio, the video shoots and all that.
SPEAKER_00Is is so cool. He had a really cool energy.
SPEAKER_01It's so chill, it's so calming, and like he makes you want to be a better artist in his own way, you know. Like, because Bree came to the studio to do uh look at that, look at that, and uh, which was produced by Scorp. I met Scorp in a writer's camp that I was at in Miami. Okay, so that's how that came about. And I believe I met Scorp because he was doing a live thing online. I was like, hey, that beats dope. And we just and that there there goes that story. Um, and then then it got in the hands of you know myself and young Breed. But he came to the studio here at Camp David and he laid his verse. I'm like, ain't this my record? He's like, I'm like, you can't body my song, so you have to go harder, you know what I mean? So, like the record that people heard about, I think we're dropping in like three, four weeks. Um let's go. Yeah, let's go. Like, Brie, I mean, Brie, he he stopped it to him. Like, that out to you. But uh, I I closed off. I I did my final bow at the end, you know. I'm like, you keep coming here and buying my record, you know what I mean? But he's a good guy, and um uh fingers crossed, we get to work on a few more. You know, we've been in conversation, so let's see how this one goes. But I'm excited. We got merch out uh right now for the look at that. It's uh you go on uh collections by Danielle Marie. The merch is out. It's awesome t-shirt, so we're excited.
SPEAKER_00That's what's up. So make sure you guys so where can they find that merch? You said in in say it again.
SPEAKER_01It's uh collections by Danielle Marie. That's www.collections by Danielle Marie.
SPEAKER_00Make sure you guys get your merch right now. Right now, go run it. I love that. Okay, let's go to level five, doors locked. You have an upcoming record with 360 Stizzy called Doors Locked. What can you tell us about it and what does it represent about where you're heading next?
SPEAKER_01Uh, so that record we just did it last week, so you know, surprise. Um just gave you guys the exclusive, so there you go. Merkle's online too. So, Stizzy, how'd that come about? Uh, I was supposed to go to the studio one day, and I didn't know that Stiz and I recorded at the same studio. So I messaged the owner, Lowe. So shout out to Lo at Camp David, and I was like, hey, um, is that the guy who did the trick flow? You know, and he's like, Yeah. I was like, I he's like, he's fan. Like, you guys should do a record. Cool. Um, so I had two beats that I had got from Scorp. The beat that Stiz jumped on was actually the beat that I was gonna get debris.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_01And we end up doing something else. And so Stiz got on that one. Uh, we go to the studio last week. We're out. I'm actually going back tonight um so we can finish it because it's on the move like that. Yeah, we got two, we got, I gotta drop that one. But then I'm not gonna tell you who's on the remix. I'm gonna let that be a surprise. But um, yeah, I I'm I think I'm gonna, you know, uh, if people didn't know I lived in Miami, by the time we get done with this run, they're gonna know I live in Miami. You know what I'm saying? Yes, you know, and and shout out to the 305 because there's some, I just want to say this, there are some dope artists out here, like dope, but absolutely dope. And so, like, you know, but I met Stiz and like I didn't realize how tall that man was, but I'm 5'2, so like I he walked in the studio and I'm like, holy crap, like I think Siz like 6'5, 6'6. Oh wow, yeah, and I'm like, whoa, you're tall, but again, good energy, like breed, like we just we just vibed off each other. And so, like, I think working with other artists to answer your question just brings out a better version of you if you're willing to take, you know, take no and take constructive criticism and not get offended because like you know, they want the record to do good just as much as you do because they're on it. So, you know, so it was just dope to be working in the studio with like you're just two very talented artists, you know. So, shout out to Breed and shout out to 360 Stiz. I'm you know, I'm super excited to see what everyone has to say.
SPEAKER_00I'm excited to hear that record. Yeah, as soon as soon as it's available, you send it to me so that we can promote it, put it out there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, maybe we'll do another video. I don't know, but it's gonna be gone.
SPEAKER_00Oh my goodness. Well, no, I don't even want to go there yet. Well, this video Okay no, let me just let me tell you something. Okay, so filming that video, filming body parts video with you was the most fun that I've had in such a long time. Working with you as an artist is you are so amazing, you are so professional. Let me tell you guys a behind the scenes, okay? So, in the video, she's in a tub, okay. The top scene is my favorite scene, and I think that what makes it so dope is that the water was cold, the water was oh my god, cold, and she got in there like a G, and she performed in that cold water. And when you guys see these visuals, you're gonna be like, it was so worth it, it was so worth it. Um, I just I I really do I applaud you.
SPEAKER_01That water was so cold. That water was so cold. You know my favorite scene.
SPEAKER_00Which one was your favorite scene?
SPEAKER_01Guilty, the wall and breathe.
SPEAKER_00Oh yes, I was like, let me tell you something. This video respectfully is gonna give it's giving my daughter, it's giving everything that you wanna see. Um, it's sexy, it's classy, it's I mean, it's just everything, and I can't wait. And my husband, high criteria, shout out to high criteria for the direction of this video. Amazing, amazing. I just can't wait for you guys to drop. And then with my husband, when you guys get the visuals, I have the behind the scenes. Oh, yeah, I have the behind the scenes that we're gonna put out for you guys. I'm excited.
SPEAKER_01And and I just want to say one more thing about your husband. He also filmed the mic drop that we did for the 50k challenge, right? Facts, dope, just he's a just he's so he's I wanna, you know, he's dumb.
SPEAKER_00He's dumb. I'm excited to see where how your visuals are gonna grow from here because yeah, man, you are such a dope artist that working with you on set, you are very professional, you know what you want to get out of it, and and I I appreciate working with artists like you. I really do. Um, and I want to give you your flowers on that.
SPEAKER_01I appreciate you too. You got me out of my comfort zone. It was I it was fun, you know. Like you I learned how to dance a little bit that day. It was cool.
SPEAKER_00It's cool.
SPEAKER_01I did that.
SPEAKER_00I'm so proud of it I can't wait for you guys to see it. Okay, let's go to level six the real cost of independence. Everybody talks about being independent, but what does it really cost financially, mentally, emotionally, and personally to build your career yourself?
SPEAKER_01I think sometimes most of the time the finances do take a toll on your mental, right? Because it is what it is, you know, when you're funding your own venture, just to put some things into like practical, you know, practical reasons for everyone listening. And is let's say I go to the studio and I buy an exclusive beat, you know, right? Any song that I put out on Spotify, I have exclusive rights to the song. So we can talk about that's another conversation where the levels of you know, the levels of beats that you can buy. So exclusive basically means I own the rights to the song, it is what it is, no one can use it. Fine. So the co-called at $1,500 from a good producer, right? Some producers, you know, uh will charge you $5,000. Some producers will charge you $10,000. You work with someone like a Scott Storage, might be $50,000 for the beat, you know, and that's no studio time. And you know, like it's crazy. Um, then let's talk about going to the studio at you know, with an engineer. There's a hundred dollars an hour. You know, let's say you're not a seasoned vet, so it takes you forever in the studio to write the record. Um, so let's let's do $100 an hour times 10 to 20 hours, adding that to the math. Then you gotta mix and master the record.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01That's another story in itself, unless you're working with a dope, dope producer to Andrew, who really just vibes with you. So let's add another 2,000 to that. Screw all that because then you gotta pay for copyrights if you're doing things right. You know what I mean? Screw all to copyrights, then you gotta like, you know, you gotta go to the distribution site, you gotta pay for all of that, do-do-do-do-do. But here's the fun part. Say you have a record like body parts, and you're like, oh, it's a hit. Marketing. It ain't gonna sell itself.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you gotta market it.
SPEAKER_01So put things into perspective for people, and I'm like sharing this. Like, body parts alone is probably costing me like 30 racks.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_0130, and and I'm just being honest, and that's in yeah, and I I I I work full time, you know.
SPEAKER_00So that including the music video?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's yeah, yeah, yeah. And I and I might be and I might be being like very um modest. Modest with the number what I'm thinking about. I think so. I just I don't want to know the number to be honest with you. I don't know. When it comes to the mental part, that will if you if you get caught up in the money, you will beat yourself up if you are not making millions a year. You know what I mean? Like I I tell you have a corporate background, you know, I I run a company. I I'm not richy rich, you know, like I'm really out here doing this by myself. And you get to a point where, like, you know, like you gotta say sometimes you gotta take a loan out, and then you gotta pay that back. I learned a lot about interest rates. I learned a lot about paying Peter to pay Paul to rob Steve to bring it back home. Like, you know, like moving moving stuff around, and um, you know, there I've had dark moments because it's just like you know, you wake up and you're like, damn, when you're used to having a certain amount of money freely, yeah, and then you don't see that number, you have to remind yourself, okay, but you just made an investment in yourself. So it's not for the weak minded. I I'm just at this place in my career, Michelle, where it's like, I believe in myself so much at this moment.
SPEAKER_00Amen.
SPEAKER_01I'm not scared of a little debt, I'm not scared of spinning the bag, you know, because that hasn't failed me since I started to trust, you know. Like, I you know what they say, spin a check, get it right back, you know. So I'm like, you know, whatever. I wasn't even gonna do the 50k challenge. And then I'm like, yo, why not? I can use 50k. Yeah, let's go. Like, you know what I mean? Like, so I'm like, you know what? Like, feet don't fail me now. So it's just, you know, you just go for it. So it's scary, it does play a toll on you mentally. I've had days where I'm like, nah, I can't get out of bed, man. I don't even want to, I don't even want to look at the amount of money that I owe today. But you get through it, you really get through it. And you know, I'm sitting here today telling you, like, I, you know, I went shopping today, I bought some clothes, we're good, like, you know, I can pay my rent, I can pay my mortgage, everyone's happy, you know. So that's good, man. All the time.
SPEAKER_00It's the same thing, you know, and you know, it's crazy because my husband, he broke his camera shooting the music video for your thing. And it's just so crazy because this is how the devil works. It was such an it was right after we rapped. But you know what? God is so good that we were able to send it out. We already sent it out. It's in California already.
SPEAKER_01So we're good.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we're good.
SPEAKER_01Y'all don't even know. We're giving you like the light work. We can be done with the whole video. It's a wrap.
SPEAKER_00It's a wrap. And it went.
SPEAKER_01And then the the the smoke alarm went off because we forgot to turn off the haze machine. So we're all running. And it's like no one knows our left foot from the right foot. And then you hear crash. And we're like through the fire alarm. What the and then my night didn't end when you guys left. I had to leave rooms. I had to move all the stuff out, go upstairs. I got charged for the smoke. Whatever. You know what I mean? And it's like, I'm like, you couldn't make it up. I didn't go to bed. And you guys remind you, we were shooting all day. We started shooting at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. Yeah. I didn't go to sleep until 4 a.m. the next day.
SPEAKER_02Wow.
SPEAKER_01That's when and you left about an hour or two before that. Like that's what I'm saying is so when you and then you off to do an user video.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Let me tell you something. It costs, but you know what? Like you said, it's an investment, you know, um, in yourself because no one is gonna believe in you the way you believe in you. Yeah, and the reality of it is that when God gives you a vision, he only gives it to you, you know, and you know, others they they don't see it until you can make it make them see it. When you see this video, you're gonna see that it was all worth it. Let me tell you something.
SPEAKER_01I'm excited, man. I'm excited. I'm excited. I told Breed I'm like, I can't wait to see the video. You know what I mean? I really want to see how that scene looks too in my own little mind. I'm like, I wonder how I look in that position on camera.
SPEAKER_00And then shout out to the photographers. Photographers, yeah, shout out to the photographers that were there that they would say their names.
SPEAKER_01Tony and Elvis, yeah.
SPEAKER_00They are so dope. They shout out to you guys. They did an amazing shoot while we were, and and let me tell you, we we had we met on set, and it was almost like we already knew each other, you know. Facts energy in that room, the everybody that was there, shout out to Papa Zoe, Bree, the the chick that does your nails. Um that came out.
SPEAKER_01Oh, Jillian, shout out to um nail culture and winwood, by the way. Uh, I will say if you call nail culture and winwood, get your nails done, and you say Jillian, Danielle says to tell you to nail me, they'll give you 10% off. Oh, no, you gotta say just nail me. Nail me. Just Gillian, Danielle said to nail me, and like they'll give you 10% off. So, shout out to Nail Culture and Windwood. They do all my nails last time.
SPEAKER_00It was such an amazing shoot. God is good. And let me tell you something. I pray, and we're gonna pray at the end of the life, but I'm gonna continue to pray that God continues to bless you because you're moving in the right direction. Yeah, you know what? You're doing the right things, and and I'm excited for everyone, for everyone to see what all the work that she's been putting into her music, her videos, and everything. Amen.
SPEAKER_02Amen.
SPEAKER_00All right, let's go to level seven. Three years in Miami. After three years of navigating Miami as an independent artist, what have you learned about the industry, relationships, networking, loyalty, and recognizing who genuinely who genuinely wants to see you win?
SPEAKER_01That's a loaded question. Um real people are hard to oh, everyone is real. You can talk to their brain, they're real. So genuine, honest people who really just want to see you win. Like you're one of those people for me. Like they're hard to come by. And I had to learn how not to take things personally. Uh because I'm by nature, I'm like Zoe always thinks like you're you're too kind, right? And there's really no such thing, but there is a there is a such thing, you know. Like sometimes I I I'm the kind of person that like if my if my friends are struggling like uh and and they need money or whatever, even if I don't got it, I'm gonna go get it. You know what I mean? You know, even if I gotta take a day off of what I'm doing and make sure that they're they're gonna eat or they can pay their rent, and I've done it several times, you know, like in and it's just that's who I am. But I had to realize, and it took me up until like last year to realize like not everybody who smiles in your face is your friend. You know, and I've had the last gosh, the last four months. I've had a close friend of mine steal money from my company. I've you know, I've had you know, and I and it takes a lot for me. It actually doesn't take a lot, it's just like it I can sit here and vent and name drop about this person hurt me, this person hurt me, and some of them are industry, but what do I gain out of that?
SPEAKER_00You know, you the I've I've learned them giving them space and and time in your in your interview.
SPEAKER_01You know, like I so I I guess the model is like, you know, I'm not saying that they say Jesus turned it turned his cheek when you know he was betrayed or someone, whatever. Like I'm not saying to let someone keep slapping you or keep turning your cheek. Don't be dumb. But I've learned not to react, you know.
SPEAKER_00I've learned to just like okay, you know, like you genuinely are. She's you are such a a genuine person, and it's true. You know, when the camera broke, her first instinct was how can I help? You know, and and and let me tell you something, and we we we didn't, it wasn't your fault. It would, you know, you didn't have to help with anything, and and that's why, but I we do appreciate the fact that your first instinct, you know, was hey, how can I help? And I and I told my husband, I said, you know, she has such a you do have a really good heart, you know what I'm saying? And people people can take advantage of that, you know. That's why you do have to guard yourself, you have to be careful with who you allow when you're 24, who you allow when you're in your um energy, you know what I'm saying? I I learned that the hard way. I learned that the hard way.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, man. That's a whole like that's a whole podcast in itself. Like, but you gotta watch like what it called, like soul slopping, who you shaking hands with. Like, you know, I've had to learn how to observe a room. I've and I've also very recently started being okay with being vocal. If I don't, if I don't mess with you, like yo, like respectfully, like if I I'm okay to like at this point I'm getting better at saying, you know what? It's really nice to meet you. It's been a pleasure, but I I'm I'm not interested, but this isn't gonna work. But I wish you well, right? And I've learned how to do that without like burning a bridge, I hope. Uh but like you can't be friends with everyone, and you can't independent artists that are trying to make it like you cannot do business every everyone. If someone's gonna say, Oh, I plug in with this person, just give me $50. I'll plug in this gonna be $100. Don't do that. Like, yeah, I've I've done the research, and you know, like I said, fortunately, in the last probably really since I've met you and maybe a few people before that, God has sent me so many, that's so many, because that's that'd be crazy, but like a handful of people that I can count on my hands that like I genuinely know, and you included that I can call for anything. You know what I mean? Like anything, and it's and it's real advice. It ain't no fake, it ain't no phony. If I'm wrong, you're gonna tell me. If I'm right, you're gonna tell me keep going. But those people are hard to come by, you know, they're really hard to come by.
SPEAKER_00And I and I do I do want to applaud you for continuing your journey, even through hard times like that. Because one of the hardest things that uh we as artists go through or creatives or just people, you know, is when someone lets us down, it takes a toll on us, it takes a toll on our energy, it takes a toll on our spirit, and we and we carry that weight, you know what I'm saying? So to release it, and I'm proud of you for saying, now you know how to say no, I'm nice to meet you, but go about your way.
SPEAKER_02I'm good.
SPEAKER_00You know that I you know that I started doing that for me. Um my journey through that has been the last five years. The last the last five years is when I started putting boundaries, like real boundaries, like hey, I I I can't I just can't do it. You know what I'm saying? And that's why I do it. I love when I met you. Um, you know, real recognize real. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Oh, and by the way, that notebook that you gave me as a gift when you went to the Papa Zoo. I love you. Let me tell you something. Um, Habakkuk, that was that is my mother's favorite Bible verse.
SPEAKER_01Wow, and you didn't know that. No, I had no idea. You didn't even know me from a can of pain.
SPEAKER_00No, she had no idea. And she gave it to me and she gave me a notebook and she put it in there. My mother, every single year, that's every year, that's my mother's gift to us. She gives us a calendar and a journal.
SPEAKER_01Wow.
SPEAKER_00Every year, that's the Christmas New Year gift that we get from her.
SPEAKER_01That's crazy.
SPEAKER_00That's crazy. That's why when when I was crying, she you're like, what is wrong with you? You good?
unknownWhat is wrong with you?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, are you good? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you know, um, but that's the whole energy of real recognize real. And God always puts people in, you know, whenever you feel like, hey, um, I'm running low, God gives you some somebody or something to let you know. Keep going. You're not, you're in the right, you're doing the right thing, you know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. I've had plenty of times where I've like gone on the balcony and it's like in the silence, and I'll look up and like there'll be a rainbow or something, and I'll and I'll be like, all right, you know, like it'll always be right when I need it. You know, I'm like, all right, I'm gonna keep going, or you know, I'll see something that's just like that's gotta be God, you know. Like, I and I just I just pay attention to stuff like that because you know, life be life and in the process be processing, you know what I mean? Like process be processing, boy.
SPEAKER_00Wow, and you know what? That's gonna take us straight into level eight, which is faith versus the music. You were raised with certain spiritual values, but some of the music you create may conflict with those teachings. How do you navigate the spiritual conflict between how you were raised and the music you chose to create?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Uh so body parts will just start there. I was raised, um, I have like eight pastors in my family. My grandparents own a church, you know. My grandmother's got a doctorate in theology, my grandfather is you know the head of a church, and so you know, they always raise me to put God first, say my prayers, you know, be obedient, respect my elders, all those things, you know. Um, very traditional, you know, Christian situation, Christian home, if you will. Um music has always been like very natural for me. Like, I didn't start, I didn't just because I grew up with like pastors mean I started writing Christian music. I listen to Eminem, you know, I listen to Britney Spears, I listen to you know, Missy Elity, I listen to the Wu-Tang, like, and so my uh my artistic brain is very diverse. But I also really loved Kirk Franklin, right? So if I if I really go back, like I'm like, well, he he had done beats, you know, but he still found a way to like put his message out there. Yeah, uh, you know, but you know, Kirk also taught us that you know people are still human, you know. And so with that being said, I realized that you can put out Christian music, you can put out club music, you're still human, you know, and it's all about I asked, I was at a Zaythoven writers camp uh two weeks ago, and I actually Zayethoven grew up in the church, he's a big producer for those of you who don't know. Um, and I asked him the same question. I said, Oh, how do you deal with conflict? Because the music you put out ain't praising Jesus. And he goes, and it made sense. He goes, as long as I keep my character and people know who I am, and I know who I am, that's all that matters. Because at the end of the day, this is a job, and it is a job, you know what I mean? When you realize how to make money, it's a job, like you know, but it's a job that we love, and in you know, music is I think music, you know, Lucifer was a fallen angel, he was a head of the choir. Like, music is powerful. Um, and so I just been telling myself, especially since then, just stay true to who I am. You know what I mean? You don't have to you don't have to be talking about body parts and all this in every song, but as long as I know who I am and I can stand on my 10, yeah, I'm good. I'm good.
SPEAKER_00And that's that's real. Um, my father's a pastor too, and so when um when we were in the music industry, that was my dad was the pastor of the industry, you know. Wow, yeah, and uh he was uh he used to sit at the table at the Baptist Association here in Miami, and it was always a thing with unique, you know, the daughters of pastors, Marcial Cordeman, Antoni, Little Wayne. Talk about pressure, talk about pressure, wow, that's a lot of pressure. But you know, my dad being the label owner and also being the pastor, he used to always tell us our calling, your calling is personal, you know, your calling is between you and God, and you cannot allow anyone to come in in between what God is calling you to do. You know, and we make you know, we made it you you we serve God, we serve God in our in our way because your heart is pure, your heart it belongs to God, and that's it. That's really all that's it, that's it.
SPEAKER_01It is personal, it is definitely purple for you or God, because every time I'm like, I don't know. I always I it you always just there's something, and you know it's gotta be God, at least I know it's God, that just says keep going. So I know must be doing something right, you know what I mean? Because that little that little voice, you know, like keep going, keep going, you keep going. It it hasn't it hasn't left my head in forever. So we're gonna keep going. Amen.
SPEAKER_00And we're gonna keep going. Amen. All right, let's go to level nine, the internal battle. Behind the artists are real battles involving self, sobriety, relationships, and personal growth. What have those experiences taught you about Daniel Marie when the artist isn't in the room?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so I'd like to think that what you see is what you get with me, right? Like, so Danielle Marie is my actual name. So I'm just gonna put that out there. It's like beautiful. Thank you. Um, so who I am in the studio and who you make, if you catch me on Miami Beach or whatever, you're you're probably gonna get the same person at this point, you know. Like, I'm not, I you know, I'm like the artist, Danielle Marie is me, you know, like I'm a writer. I'm a writer, I'm a dreamer, I'm a visionary, you know. I I I you know, I I'm a jokester, you know. My music, even though like some of the like body parts all this like a sexual song, it's actually not it's sexy, but it's not sexual. And you know, I like I love playing on words and making people laugh, you know. And a lot of my music, even though it might be good for the strip club or it might be good for like, you know, whatever, a walk in the park with your loved one, like there's a line in there that like I intentionally will put in it and make somebody crack up. At least I hope, you know, and that's who I am. Like, I'm always trying to like make people laugh and you know, um, you know, make people like, oh, wait, what did she just say? You know, like did you did you just say that? Like, what? Uh like it's a I just feel like yeah, like, but it is a it is a battle because and this is something that I really want to start to get better at as a as a writer, is being more open. Uh, because I am honest, but more open. So I I'm like a zero to 100 person. I'm either all in or I ain't doing it at all. You know what I mean? You either got me or you don't. I either love you or I ain't messing with you. Like, there's no in between for me. Um, and so it's been that way when it comes to like drinking, you know, like I it's been like I can go eight months completely sober, right? And then I start drinking this like whoa, like you know, so you might see it's it's up, it's hot, you know what I mean? Like, you see me drinking this up, you know what I mean? Like, and it and it's not like I'm a sloppy, but it's like yeah, it's up, like you know, like and I'm like, yeah, you know, but then like sometimes you catch yourself because like when you're in the music business, it's not like it's always a party, but I'm sorry, like you're in a studio, it's it's always something going on, you know. Yes, and you I've had to learn over the years, like one discipline, knowing when to just just what they call the Irish exit, like yeah, yeah, like you know, like knowing when to like say no, um, you know, curiosity does kill the cat, right? So I I just but it's action brings it back, though. It satisfacts amen. You know, but yeah, but but but which sometimes, but like what satisfies me when I'm lit is not what satisfies me when I'm sober, right? So it's been like it's it's trying to find that balance. Um, and I think sometimes, at least for me, uh that that's been it's been tough, you know. And you know, I went through a lot of stuff that brought me back to the business, and I and I struggled for a while with just very dark days and you know, thoughts that I hope to one day be able to openly talk about in my music and not be so cautious about how I say it, you know what I mean? Be like, hey, this is me, this is what happened, you know. Like, um, and so I'm that's one thing I'm working on because you know, I think the stats right now are like 71% or 79% of my fan base is men. And as a female rapper, I'm like, it's just a little different. But they're the ones that pay for the music, so you know, but then I'm like, okay, how how do I relate to us? You know, you gotta be honest, you gotta be open, you know, because like you know, talk about you know those dark times, talk about, you know, we all go through breakups, but talk about what led to it, the accountability, the all that stuff, you know, and um, you know, talk about getting sober, then not getting sober like all because what I come to realize too is that we all go through it. Yeah, like yeah, we all go through it from the pastor to the jazz, like we all go through it. Like, yeah, and so I just like I'm hoping that you know I can uh figure that formula out, and that would probably be my next hope for myself as an artist for sure.
SPEAKER_00That's amazing, and I love that. And um, shout out to my dad who joined the live daddy. I love you. Um he probably his ears were tingling about me talking about him, is what I happen.
SPEAKER_01All good, all good things, all good things.
SPEAKER_00Amen. But you know, um, I do love I do love your journey. Um, I love watching your journey. I I see how how passionate you are um about what you're doing, and you know, everything one day at a time, you know. Right now, you have you the fact that you have a fan base, you know, you know, and um the men, yeah, men are the hardest ones to actually convince, believe it or not. Oh well, yeah, doing something right. Yeah, so you're doing something right, you know. Wait till I see that video, but you know, um, which is gonna bring me to level 10, which is the legacy of Daniel Marie. Okay, so this is the godmother level. This is where um I want you to put you me, uh, put us in 30 years from now. 30 years from now, we are sitting in your living room in your house, and you are about to do your I'm gonna just call the Netflix documentary, okay?
SPEAKER_01Um that's gonna be juicy.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I want you to tell me who's in the room with you, what are you saying that you have accomplished, and who are you passing this legacy to?
SPEAKER_01Who's in the room with me? Uh the husband that I haven't met yet. Um, you know. Uh probably one or two kids that I've adopted. I've always wanted to adopt children. Um probably a dog. You know, you know, you know, probably a dog, maybe cat. Um, but outside of that, the legacy. Um I go back to the story about a girl named Mania, and I always go back to it when I think about this question. So I used to teach uh songwriting and audio production after school for free at a uh uh high school and middle school in North New Jersey some time ago. And there was a girl there, her name was Mania, and wherever she is in the world today, and I hope she's doing well. Um, Mania had gone through tough times. She was young, and Manaya must have been maybe 13 at best, and she didn't speak. But for some reason, she gravitated towards me and she spoke through poetry. So I have these, I save them to this day, I always kept them safe. And I I just remember reading like how vulnerable this young girl was, but how exposed she was. And she she came to me and like you know openly just shared it in poetry. And I I really hope that when this documentary airs, that I have a foundation to you know help kids find their voice, right, practice poetry, maybe we do some open mic nights. You know, it's a it's a safe haven for kids, youth, I should say, who just need a safe place to go. You know what I mean? And I don't care if this they're safe and they get to play basketball outside and don't have to worry about, you know, I remember like hearing gunshots in Norfolk and the kids, everyone's they're like, Misty, it's like an eye jump. They were all accustomed to it. I'm like, nah, like you know, like there's gotta be a better You know, like and it's gonna happen. There's gonna be places in the world where we can't stop everything, but like that can't be the mentality for all of us because if that isn't, it's always gonna be crazy stuff. Like, I just hope to be that one one of the people, you know, that makes a difference in the youth's life. And then one of those people, God willing, goes on to I don't know, maybe they're gonna be the next like female version of Martin Luther King, and they're gonna go do something great because it's something that they picked up in that, in that place, place. So like, I mean, if I really think about like that, you know, when this is all said and done, you know, I hope body parts opens up the door that opens up a door that opens up a door that opens up 20 windows, like you know, like and I just uh that that would be the legacy. But in that in that uh quaint atmosphere that they're filming, it's definitely a family that I don't have yet, for sure.
SPEAKER_00And you can definitely gonna have that because you are an amazing, yeah. You're an amazing and just see you know, man, she's single and lovely.
SPEAKER_01Very single, very single, but I don't say yes to everybody, so you gotta come with it. You gotta come with it.
SPEAKER_00Amen. I love that. Okay, and what is next for Daniel Marie?
SPEAKER_01Well, uh, the merch. We just opened up the merch store, so we're doing that.
SPEAKER_00Um exciting. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I'm I'm excited, and uh, you know, I just I do all my graphics designs and then like, you know, like just figuring stuff out of Adobe, working with AI, incorporating manual automation, it's been cool. So I lose myself in that, and that's fun. Um, so the merch is is there, it's up. Um, you know, we're really I'm really, really hoping I get to Africa. So just figuring all that out, fundraising and learning how to do that. Um 50k challenge, you know, I'm hoping like maybe, maybe if nothing comes from it, I know we're killing more fans. Um and then uh I'm in the Timberland contest right now at Orbit. So there's 100K up. We're still in first place. I've been first place in my group for the last five, six days. So a couple more days there. So, you know, whether it's the 50k, 100k, or maybe I take them both. I don't know, you know, like that's that's what's next. Um, and then outside of that, you you know, maybe like we we drop an EP next year, God willing, you know, as long as it's it's uh funded by more than just me at that point. I'm hoping that at some point that uh there is a I there's investors, and I put that an investor or a great a great group of people. I don't want to just say a record label because there hey, you know, pros and cons, but some somebody there that believes in me enough to say, you know, I'm gonna put some money behind this and help you. Um because I really do want to run to the top of it. And um, that's so that I'm head, that's where I want to go. I want to head there. I've known since I was a kid, and and now I'm just sprinting my way up, you know, uh up the mountain, so to speak. So I'm hoping that in time that the right people come into come into place. And I think they are starting to come into place fully but surely that'll just allow me to get to where I need to be so I can help out who I need to help out so they can go to do things that you know I could never do, but they it's you're just leveling up, everyone, you know, it's one step at a time.
SPEAKER_00Amen. I love that. I really have appreciated you coming on my show. I love every time we get together, it's always a good time. You know, um, you have such amazing energy. Everywhere, guys, if you ever meet her in person, she has she is a genuine heart, a genuine person. Um, and I want to thank you for coming on my show. If I pray for you, yeah, so Father God, we want to thank you right now for allowing us to come together to worship you, Lord. I want to ask you right now for Daniel Marie, Lord. I ask you, Lord, that you open all the doors that need to be open, that you close all the doors that need to be closed, Lord. I ask you, Holy Spirit, that you bring the right people to her team, Lord, so that she can succeed, that she can fulfill the mission that you have called her for, Lord. I ask you, Holy Spirit, that you cover her, Lord, walk in front of her, beside her, behind her, Lord. And I ask you, Holy Spirit, that you continue to show her what it is that she's supposed to be doing, Lord, and finance this dream and vision for her, Lord. Everything belongs to you, Holy Spirit. So we want to ask you, Lord, that you finance it. In the name of Jesus, we pray, amen.
SPEAKER_01Amen, amen, and amen. My grandfather always says three amens.
SPEAKER_00Three amen. Amen, amen, and amen.
SPEAKER_01Amen.
SPEAKER_00I love you so much. I love you too. Thank you for watching. So beautiful, and I can't wait for you guys to see this um on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook. It's gonna be everywhere. Um, follow my girl. Where can they find you? How do they find you?
SPEAKER_01On all platforms, including this one, it's just Danielle Makes Records. So D-A-N-I-E-L-L-E makes M-A-K-E-S records, like R E C O R D S. I'm always thinking my mind like one thing I'm gonna spell like records wrong. You know what I'm gonna do? No, but that's but that's across all handles. So you can find me on Instagram. Um, I'm very active on Instagram. I'm trying to get better on TikTok. I'm trying, you guys. Um, I had Facebook's there too. I'm I'm across everything at this point and the YouTube channel that we're picking up. Uh, I think we like I think we just reached like 400 subscribers, but that we went from like zero subscribers in the last month to like 400. So I as I wasn't on YouTube. So I'm like, yeah, let's let's go. So let's get it out.
SPEAKER_00Let's keep it going. Let's keep it going. Thank you for coming on the show. I can't wait to see you again.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's good.
SPEAKER_00And I love you.
SPEAKER_01I love you too, and thanks for everybody who joined in. I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_00You guys have a good rest of your night. Bye. Bye. What's going on, guys? It's the Godmother. Make sure you follow us on all platforms. Let's talk about it with Godmother. I love you. Bye.