On a sometimes predictable music scene, Dani Kerr wants shake things up a bit.  “My motto is, I’m gonna bring soulful rock back into play, try to keep that flame alive, keep it lit, keep it going forever.” 

The 23-year old Statesville, North Carolina native knows her voice is the most compelling aspect of her artistry. People often tell her they’re emotionally engaged by its earthy, raspy quality. “My voice is not technically perfect, nothing like that,” she says, “But I feel like it’s soulful, I can do soft or I can do rock, it’s just very diverse in that way. I’ve been overwhelmed by how people respond.” But it did take a while for her to work up her confidence to perform in front of people. 

At one low point, Dani backed out of a school talent show because of debilitating stage fright. At 16, working at her aunt’s restaurant, she finally garnered the courage to step onto the stage.  “It was like throwing myself out on a limb, which has pretty much been my career so far. Just throwing myself out to the world and see what happens.”

The fiercely loyal following that Dani has been able to amass in such a short time is a huge inspiration.  “Being up there and having people clapping afterwards, that’s when I knew I wanted to do it, all the time. My whole life I’ve kind of been the underdog. I knew I had to put in the work, I had to prove myself.”

As a teenager, Dani faced her share of personal woes.  She was homeless the last couple years of high school and although traumatic, she was able to use that pain as an anchor for her songwriting and it shows in the energy of her dynamic live performances. “It gave me a lot of strength and power, having to go through that. I think that’s really helped my music. I feel thankful for the bumpy road that has led me here. And to be able to make my living in this world as a musician and performer is beyond a dream come true. It’s everything to me.”