The state of Virginia is steeped in Country Music and has given us such peformers as Mac Wiseman, Carter Family, Patsy Cline, Reno Bros, Juice Newton and the Statler Bros. However, in 1998 a new Virginian came to the attention of the Country Music fans when Danni Leigh's debut album "29 Nights" was released to critical acclaim. This talented lady not only sings but plays guitar and writes songs too. The follow-up album "A Shot Of Whiskey And A Prayer"is due for release in January and this beautiful blonde will be one of the artists appearing at the Americana Festival at Newark, Notts in July . For more information about Danni and her music then visit her website.

CMF:-You were at Fan Fair this year - was the atmosphere and experience like?
DANNI:- Overwhelming. This year, I opened the Sony Records Fan Fair Show and played for over 20,000 people. The crowds were so supportive. I do what I do because of the fans. Without their support for me and my music, I couldn't do what I do. I think that is what country music is all about. No other musical format could pull off fan fair. There is such a connection between the country artist and their fans. It is like an extended family.

CMF:- From a recent experience back to your roots - You've always enjoyed singing even from a very early age, presumably because your family was very musical What are your recollections of those early years in Virginia?
DANNI:- When I was growing up, we had a lot of outdoor barbeques. We used to call them "pig roasts". A lot of my Dad's friends had Bluegrass bands, so there was always the chance to sit around picking some music. I love the chance to join in and sing. I can't recall a time when there wasn't something musical happening in our family.

CMF:- Weren't you a little boisterous?
DANNI:- I was a lot like I am now. I love to live life to its fullest. I squeeze every minute out of life and stretch it to the limits.

CMF:- Now although the area from which you came was steeped in Patsy Cline tradition you didn't always sing Country - in fact you played with both pop and rock bands. Did you decide upon Country Music as being the music for you before moving to Florida or later?
DANNI:-I grew up listening to all kinds of music - everything from country, to ska, to pop. When I worked at a music store near my hometown, I really got a chance to listen to all types of music and get a taste for everything. I did play with some pop bands in Florida, but I already knew then that country is what I wanted to do. I still have a lot of friends in pop or alternative music, but country music is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

CMF:- Orlando - the place where dreams come true? Well, not exactly and although you stayed for a few years you had to take a variety of jobs, including a bungee jump instructor and a waitress, to feed not only yourself but also your Great Dane Dexter. What made you decide to stay for so long when things weren't going as maybe you had hoped?
DANNI:- I made a lot of friends while I was there. I was singing in several different clubs and working as a bartender and bungee jump instructor, but it was the music I was hanging on for. Sometimes, it was hard to make a living. I think my Great Dane ate better than me. We lived on canned tuna and crackers most of the time. I got a chance to sing with Foreigner when they toured through Florida.

CMF:-Late 1993 and you moved to Nashville through an opening with the company you were working for in Orlando. Was that a daunting time moving to a strange town particularly as it was almost Christmas?
DANNI:-- It was, but it was also something I knew I had to do. I went to Orlando as a steppingstone to Nashville. When the opportunity came for me to transfer to Nashville with Federal Express, I jumped at it. I knew I could get to Nashville and have a steady paycheck, so I did it. Once I was there, then I could figure out my next step to get into the music business.

CMF:- Another string of jobs - Country Music Hall of Fame, looking after animals for Tom T Hall and as a waitress at the famous Bluebird Café (what would budding female Country singers do without waitressing?). However, it was the waitressing that brought you good luck as you met Michael Knox, who unbeknown to you was Warner Chappell Publishing's Creative Services Vice President. At the time were you getting despondent about breaking into the business?
DANNI:- No way. I was biding my time learning everything I could to get ready for the time I would get a label deal. I wasn't worried at all.

CMF:- How did you feel when you knew who he was, and was offered a contract with them?
DANNI:- By that time, Michael and I were friends. I felt like I could trust him. I was very confident in signing with him and excited about the opportunity.

CMF:- You started writing with people like Monte Warden, Jeff Stevens and Steve Bogart but you were in 5th grade when you wrote your first song - "I Traveled the World Alone". Did you find a big difference between writing alone and co-writing? Was it difficult making the transition?
DANNI:- It is easier to write with someone else because you have to face the truth. If you don't the other writer will confront you and say, "Come on, now tell me how you really felt about it." When you write alone, your don't always face how you feel. You tend to gloss over the emotion.

CMF:- How did you feel when "I Wanna Feel That Way Again" which you had co-written became a Top Ten hit for Tracy Byrd?
DANNI:- I was extremely excited about the success of that single. As a songwriter, I think the greatest praise you can get is when another artist cuts a song you had a part in writing. To see it receive overwhelming response from the public and achieve top 10 chart success, is even sweeter praise

CMF:-The songwriter is very often forgotten and the kudos goes to the singer but a lot of thought and creativity must go into writing songs. Do you find the process easy? Where do you draw inspiration from when song-writing? Personal experiences?
DANNI:-Sometimes the process is easy and other times it isn't. I think the writers have to have a special karma between them to write the best song. When writers get inside that room and start to write, they often share a lot of their life's experiences and emotions. Whatever is happening in their personal lives or a friend's life or in the news at the moment, may serve as the catalyst for a song. You never know where the inspiration will come from until it is there. Sometimes, you jot down a phrase that comes to you and save them in a notebook until you get a chance to come back to it - either by yourself or with someone you think will be able to help you write the song.

CMF:- October 1998 must have been an exciting and emotional month for you with your Opry debut and the release of your debut album "29 Nights". What was it like performing on the Opry stage where so many great names have appeared and releasing your first album?
DANNI:- I don't think I can even begin to describe what I felt when I first walked onto that stage. To stand there reveling in the history of that wonderful performance hall and literally stand on a section of wood from the old Ryman stage was too much. Every emotion in you is on overdrive. I was and am honored to play the Opry every chance I get. I think I have played there six or seven times since that night. One of my ambitions is to be inducted into the Opry cast membership.

CMF:- As a result of the album release didn't you come over to England. Did you manage to sightsee at all and what were your impressions of the people and the country?
DANNI:- Actually, we had plans to come to the U.K. and Ireland but it got cancelled. We do have a date booked for the Americana Festival in Nottingham, England on July 7, 2001. I hope to get the opportunity to see the country then and meet some of the wonderful people who have e-mailed me or posted messages on my website.

CMF:-As Country fans know you have been dubbed the 'Female Dwight Yoakam'. You first met Dwight at a Buck Owens Birthday Bash - Where you apprehensive of meeting him?
DANNI:-I wouldn't say I was apprehensive. I was extremely excited. After all, can you image Buck Owens AND Dwight Yoakam in the same room with me? How cool is that? I have such reverence for both of them and the Bakersfield sound. I am so honored at the comparison to Dwight Yoakam. But, other than the hats we wear and the love of the Bakersfield sound, the comparison kind of stops there. We are uniquely different performance styles and our albums are musically very different. With the tour we just ended in Bakersfield on September 25, we have become very dear friends. His whole crew is now our second family!

CMF:- Earlier this year you met Dwight again at the ACM awards show where you were both presenting and as a result he asked you to appear with him on tour. How exciting was that?
DANNI:- You can't even image. To have the opportunity to present ALBUM OF THE YEAR with one of my musical idols was a dream come true. We were waiting to rehearse our lines and Dwight asked me if I was on any of his summer tours dates. I told him I had one date in September at The Naval Academy in Baltimore, Maryland. He said "One date. I want you on as many dates as you can do. I'd love to have you on all of them." So, our managers got together and worked it out. Most of the dates were already booked, but we were able to open on about twelve of them.

CMF:- Your current single "Honey I Do" is from the forthcoming album - "A Shot Of Whiskey And A Prayer". Tell us about the song and the album and have you written any of the songs (like on your debut album)?
DANNI:- "Honey I Do" was written by Stacy Dean Campbell and Al Anderson. Blake Chancey cut it on Stacy Dean when he recorded for the Sony label some years ago. When we were looking for songs for this album, Blake said he wanted me to listen to this song because he thought it fit me. When he played it, I was already familiar with the song and thought it would be perfect. It ended up being the first single and video from the album. As for writing, I wrote seven of the eleven songs on my "29 Nights" album. I wrote three of the eleven songs on this album. I got pitched some incredible songs that I wanted to record, so those songs won out. I wrote "Longnecks, Cigarettes" with Rory Lee. It looks like this will be the third U.S. single shipping in late December 2000. I wrote "Little Things" with Doug Swander. "Little Things" is one of the first songs I wrote when I got my deal with Warner Chappell. I love writing with Doug. He is such a sexy, good-looking guy, it was easy to write the words to a song about what a woman likes about a man and the "little things" he does to attract you. Doug co-wrote three of the songs on my "29 Nights" album - "29 Nights", Chain Me", and "Weren't You The One." So, yeah, I think we have continued where we left off with that album. The album will be released in January 2001, I can't wait

CMF:- We now know about Danni Leigh the singer but what about the person? How do you like to relax?
DANNI:- I love to work out. I run about 3-5 miles a day. I also like to ride my motorcycle. There is nothing better than being outside with your thoughts. It gives me a chance to unwind and get inside myself.

CMF:- Have you got a secret ambition?
DANNI:- To find my TRUE LOVE -- The one person I will love and who will remain in love me forever. I won't settle for less. I have waited too long to settle for anything less.

CMF:- Are you a computerphile or technophile?
DANNI:- I barely know how to turn on a computer. I am fascinated by the information I can get from the Internet and go down to my manager's office and check out websites. She prints out e-mails and notes from my website message board so I can read what people are writing to me. I think I am afraid that if I mess around with it too much, I'll get hooked on it and not have time for anything else.

CMF:- If you were having a dinner party who would you invite (living or dead) and why?
DANNI:- Hank Williams Sr., Madonna, God, the Dali Lama, Martin Luther King, and Adolf Hitler. Can you imagine the conversations around that table?

CMF:- Finally after your family and friends, who or what do you cherish the most?
DANNI:- Life itself and the chance to do what I love to do everyday - perform for audiences. Singing is the only thing I have ever wanted to do. I never want that to end.

CMF:- Good Luck with your forthcoming album and we hope to see you in the UK in July. Take care Danni and thanks for your time

©2000 CountryMusicFile