Danielle Nicole (born Danielle Nicole Schnebelen) is an American blues/soul musician from Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Her self-titled solo debut EP was released March 10, 2015, on Concord Records. The self-titled EP features Grammy Award-winning producer and guitarist Anders Osborne, Galactic's co-founding drummer Stanton Moore, and keyboardist Mike Sedovic.[1] On February 25, 2015, American Blues Scene premiered the track "Didn't Do You No Good" off the EP.[2]
In May 2019, she received Blues Music Awards for both Contemporary Blues Female Artist and Bass Instrumentalist.[3][4]
Background
Nicole was previously in the band Trampled Under Foot with her brothers Kris and Nick Schnebelen.[5] At the 2014 Blues Music Awards, Trampled Under Foot's album, Badlands, won the 'Contemporary Blues Album of the Year' category. At the same ceremony, Nicole, under the name of Danielle Schnebelen, triumphed in the 'Best Instrumentalist – Bass' category.[6]
Career
Brandon Miller & Danielle Nicole
In September 2015, her debut album, Wolf Den, was released on Concord Records.[7] It reached number 2 in the BillboardTop Blues Albums chart in October that year.[8] The album was produced by Anders Osborne and Ryan Kingsbury. Writers included Nicole, Anders Osborne, Al Jackson Jr. and Mike Sedovic. Players were Nicole, vocals/bass; Anders Osborne and Luther Dickinson, guitars; Mike Sedovic, keyboards; Stanton Moore, drums.
Nicole, along with Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, did the warm-up show for the Fourth Annual Utah Blues Festival in June, 2018, at the State Room,[11] headlined with her band, Brandon Miller and Kris Schnebelen at the International Blues Festival in Canada in July 2018,[12] and at the Bean Blossom Blues Festival in Indiana in August 2018.[13] She performed with an orchestra her tribute to Etta James and Aretha Franklin at Knuckleheads Saloon in November 2018[14] and, in February 2019, she was part of a cruise[15] and concert at Knuckleheads[16] for the Michael Ledbetter Foundation.
Nicole's awards have included the Independent Blues Award for best contemporary CD in Blues Blast magazine,[17] and Top 20 Blues Rock Roots Album.[18] She was inducted into Canada's South Blues Society Hall of Fame.[19]
Cry No More was nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award in Contemporary blues.[20][21] In May 2019, the album received two Blues Music Awards for Contemporary Blues Female Artist and Bass Instrumentalist [22] and garnered three additional Independent Blues Awards in September 2019 for best R&B Soul CD, Music Video for the album's title track, and R&B Soul Song for Prince's "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?".[23]
In June 2021 and May 2022, Nicole was awarded the Blues Music Award for bass instrumentalist.[24][25] She was on the cover of Blues Blast magazine [26] and garnished the bass guitar award for 2022 in their magazine in September 2022.[27] She had a featured article, "Lady Sings the Blues" by Bertrand Deveaud, in Rolling Stone, France, June 2022.[28]
Danielle Nicole, Go-Go Ray & Brandon Miller at Knuckleheads 2023
In August 2021, Nicole paired with Bonfire Music to oversee the Danielle Nicole Band's booking and tour schedule.[29]
At the 2023 Blues Music Awards, Nicole again garnished the award for 'Instrumentalist – Bass'.[30] and continued to tour in support of her music in the United States and Europe.[31]
January 26, 2024, following three single preview tracks, welcomed the release of Nicole's The Love You Bleed[36][37] on Forty Below Records;[38]
produced by Tony Braunagel, co-produced by Danielle Nicole and mixed by John Porter. It featured Danielle Nicole - vocals & bass; Brandon Miller - guitars, mandolin, vocals; Go-Go Ray – drums,[39] Damon Parker – keys; Stevie Blacke - violin, cello.[40] All but one of the tunes were written by either Nicole or co-written with Brandon Miller. The one cover was penned by Steve Goodman and J. Fred Knobloch, “A Lover Is Forever.” In its second week of release "The Love You Bleed" ranked number 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart.[41]
On May 9, 2024, Danielle Nicole received the Blues Foundation Music Award for best Contemporary Blues Female Artist of 2024[42][43] and in September 2024, she was named Bass Guitarist of the year by Blues Blast Magazine
[44]
Danielle Nicole is the first studio release by American singer-songwriter Nicole. It was released on March 10, 2015. The studio tracks were recorded in New Orleans, while the last two tracks were recorded live at Kansas City's KTBG-The Bridge 90.9 radio station.[45]
Critical reception
Writing for Blues Blast magazine, Rex Bartholomew said that the EP "provided a great sound bite of what [Nicole] can do on her own, and it is a very nice piece of work."[46]
Track listing
Danielle Nicole track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"You Only Need Me When You're Down"
2:44
2.
"Starvin' for Love"
3:30
3.
"Didn't Do You No Good"
4:17
4.
"Wandering Heart"
5:03
5.
"You Only Need Me When You're Down (Live from the Bridge 90.9)"
2:13
6.
"Don't Think Twice It's Alright (Live from the Bridge 90.9)"
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