Danielle McKee
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Danielle McKee

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"POWERPLAY Magazine Review of "Twelve""

POWERPLAY "Rock & Metal Magazine" out of the U.K. has reviewed "Twelve" and given the album 8 out of 10 Powerpoints! Here's the review:

"Feisty looking (admit it, you would!) Danielle McKee has just delivered her new album"Twelve", on you, the unsuspecting public. Having begun her career as a backing vocalist for Nelly Furtado, Danielle has experienced first hand the machinations of the music business. That experience has given her a good grounding, enabling her to produce a body of work that is both commercial and appealing in its delivery. Reference points well, lets start at Avril Lavigne, stop off at Evanescence and pay the occasional visit to Alanis Morissette. That's the flavour of this album. It has all the bravado and attitude that only youth can give you. The production of the album by Mike K has major label written all over it. He has managed to capture Danielle perfectly. Whether it's poignant ballad "Stayed All Night" or the Avril esque "Didn't Want It This Way", the end result is still the same: perfection! All of th twelve songs on this album pack a punch with their infectious melodies. Danielle is both compelling and emotive, a real star on the rise. Remember her name!"
ROB EVANS - POWERPLAY Magazine


"FIREWORKS Magazine Review of "Twelve""

FIREWORKS "The Melodic Rock Magazine"also out of the U.K. has featured a cool interview with Danielle McKee and gave "Twelve" an awesome review! Here's the review:

"This high quality debut album from former Nelly Furtado backing singer Danielle McKee sees her join forces with guitarist and producer Mike K (also Nelly Furtado) and top Canadian session drummer Randy Cooke, to give twelve songs of edgy pop rock that are the equal of anything recorded by the likes of Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch or Kelly Clarkson. "I'll Be There", "Like Nobody Else", "Over You", "Not Today", "Never Coming Home" or the slightly edgier "Let Me" are hits waiting to happen, whilst the crunching opener "Didn't Want It This Way" or album closer "More Than Mine" show controlled melodic aggression more familiar to followers of the female fronted Scandinavian outfit Lambretta. On the evidence of "Twelve" Danielle McKee clearly has an outstanding future ahead of her. And my advice to the major record labels?....start forming an orderly queue now!!!"
MIKE NEWDECK

- FIREWORKS Magazine


"MELODIC.NET Review of "Twelve""

Attention please!,never judge a book by it´s cover and that goes for albums as well coz Danielle McKee´s debut has an awful cover but it´s what inside (the music) what counts.
It has nothing to do with her looks coz she´s a very pretty girl but it looks like a cheap country record you could buy in the local store for midprice.
Nothing could be more wrong coz Danielle rocks big time,she´s not at all like Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch that many might wanna compare her with.
This former background vocalist for Nelly Furtado puts up a big wall of hardrocking guitar riffs mixed with megacatchy pop choruses delivered in a big budget production from guitarist/producer Mike K. (also Nelly Furtado).
If you have heard Fefe Dobson you know what I´m talking about but Fefe is more punkpop-ish than Danielle,I can´t stop loving this record coz it contains 12 addictive songs with a big variation of rockers,radiofriendly songs and lovely ballads.
She´s one of the best female rockers I have heard in a long time,this album is wicked!!!
A contender for my top 20 album list 2005.
- MELODIC.NET


"MELODIC.NET Interview with Danielle McKee"


Danielle McKee rocks big time,she´s not at all like Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch that many might wanna compare her with. This former background vocalist for Nelly Furtado puts up a big wall of hardrocking guitar riffs mixed with megacatchy pop choruses delivered in a big budget production. A contender for my top 20 album list 2005.


MN: Hey there and congratulations on a really good debut album, have you got any publicity for it yet over there in the states?

Danielle: Thanks for the review on melodic.net. So far the publicity I’ve received has been on the internet on music websites like yours. My next step is getting the attention of some publicists here in L.A..

MN: I know some people will draw parallels to Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch but to me you´re more rocking and your music doesn´t feel as trendy as many Lavigne clones does,do you think you could´ve had the same artistic freedom in making this record if you have been signed to a major label?

Danielle: I think if I had made this record while signed to a label that there would have been a chance they would try to steer me down a particular path. I suppose they would have picked one song they loved and said “okay write me 11 more songs just like that one.” But, you never know what exactly those execs want even when they try to explain it to you.

MN: I´m glad that you´re using the guitars in a more hardrocking way mixed up with pop choruses,in that way you have more or less created your own sound - did you know how this album would sound like in your head before recording it or did your friend and producer Mike K. help you in the process of finding the right sound?

Danielle: Well I had recorded a short cd prior to this record and it was really really pop. After I was through with it, I knew I wanted to get dirty and edgy but still compliment my pop songwriting. I have to admit, in the beginning I had some hip hop ideas floating around my head, but rock really won out in the end because the songwriting really needed that rock playing and production. That was completely understood by Mike K. , who I consider an awesome rock guitar player. He always plays the best guitar riffs and picks awesome gritty sounds. Randy Cooke my drummer also shaped the style of the record by laying down his perfect interpretation of the bare-bones songs I presented him with.

MN: What many don´t know is that you started out singing background vocals with Nelly Furtado and probably got a lot of experience from touring with her,will you try your own wings now which is a long hard struggle in the music business or will you go the safe way and make money working as a background vocalist?

Danielle: I knew that question was coming. Since singing back-ups for Nelly Furtado I’ve come a long distance investing in me and my career and that is good incentive to keep on keeping on! And of course just the feeling I get when some small accomplishment comes my way as a result of my hard work is another good reason to stay out on my own. I did have a great time touring with Nelly though. And it gave me a good sneak peak at what lies ahead of me.

MN: When did you start writing the music for this album and where do you find inspiration for the lyrics?

Danielle: I started writing specifically for this album “Twelve” about 1 1/2 years ago when I decided to record a full length record. Most of those songs were inspired by what I was literally experiencing at the time. For example “Stayed All Night” is a ballad which illuminates the questions I faced when relocating to L.A. to record my record….I was wondering if I was doing the right thing. Of course there are always dumb ass ex-boyfriends to write songs about too – they’re real easy. Also I have a couple oldie but goodies that I re-recorded from past recordings, like “Like Nobody Else”, “Over You” and “If I’m Not”.

MN: I know that the album title "Twelve" stands for many things by reading your biography,the meaning behind it feels very personal to you - almost like if it was your baby and to many artists the first album is special. Please tell the readers more about the album title!

Danielle: Ya this first album is very special to me and the title “Twelve” does have a unique significance to me. Well the first inspiration for the title is obvious, there are twelve songs on the record. The second is that it took twelve months to get all the ideas, songwriting, recording and mastering to where we wanted it. Those were twelve amazing months that I’ll never forget. I really did a lot in that year – a lot of learning and growing. I have some great memories! And the last thing that inspired me to name the album “Twelve” is that I began singing at age twelve. Twelve years old was the age that I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

MN: Mike K. is a very good producer, he is also playing the guitar on your album - if you´re going to do another album which I hope,will you be working as a team on t - MELODIC.NET


"PUNKY MENDOZA Interview with Danielle McKee"


"A rock sound has more balls and really grabs the listener"

Danielle McKee

PM: Danielle, it is customary to welcome people into their homes, and since I regard my website as my online home I'd like to welcome you with a huge thanks for coming along with your words and for taking part in my interviews. It is a great honor to have a beautiful woman with an equally beautiful talent for creating exceptional sounds furnish my neurons with loud melodic rock music.

Danielle:Thank you. I feel the warmth already. It’s my pleasure to furnish your neurons with my music mojo.

PM: Ok. Let's start with some tracks from your debut album 'Twelve'. Right now I'm listening to Never Coming Home and it really rocks. I can hear in my mind the stadium response to that song live. What influenced you to write it?

Danielle:Oh well Never Coming Home was a song I used to express my frustration with an ex-boyfriend who was jealous and accusational. I had become tired of always reassuring this guy that we were solid so I blew-up in the form of this rebellious song. It definitely helps a song to rock when you feel down right pissed off.

PM: Stayed All Night sounds like a hit single and has a great first line in the chorus 'I stayed all night looking for the answers in the sky'. When writing the lyric for this song, what was in your mind at the time?

Danielle: Stayed All Night is an emotional song for me. When I left my friends and family behind in a different city to record my record and start up my carreer, I felt a little torn and wondering if it was worth all the risk. So that line in the chorus: “I stayed all night looking for the answers in the sky” is me here in L.A. exhausted from searching within for the right thing to do and finding no answer. It felt like I was staring into the sky looking for some miraculous sign. The song was written on guitar with my producer Mike K. , but we decided to set it to piano and strings to really bring out the right feel. Claudio Pesavento is the one who made the ballad come to life with his piano playing.

PM: 'I'll Be There' is a typical radio rock song that fits well with the contemporary notion that classic rock music is again the preferred sound of people who demand quality music. Are you consciously writing music that is designed for radio and live performances, or do you write according to what sounds good to your own tastes in music?

Danielle: When I write I have a predominant pop sense. But I felt that a rock sound has more balls and really grabs the listener more than your typical pop. And ya that definitely translates awesome for radio and live. I like to rock it out even more for live shows.

PM: The opening track of your album 'Didn't Want It This Way' has a great heavy guitar sound throughout and again it rocks like hell. I know this is credited to your guitarist/producer Mike K. How much sampling of guitar does Mike go through when producing and how much input do you have about how the guitars feel and sound?

Danielle:Getting the heavy rock guitar sounds for “Twelve” was so easy and fun with Mike! He usually knows right away what sound is perfect. We usually listen to a few to get just the right edge. When we get the right one for that hooky guitar part we both just know, then its real easy to lay down the rest of the guitars on the track. “Didn’t Want It This Way” is my favorite guitar riff on the record.

PM: I like what you say about each song on the album as being expressions. In this sense each song is the collective result of different artistic activities which have been "woven" into making a killer album. But aside from the artistic activities that went into making 'Twelve', there was also the 'stupid ass stuff' you did along the way. Tell me more about the 'stupid ass stuff' as you put it.

Danielle:Oh god, well you know when people say “If only I knew then what I know now”? Well it’s kinda like that. I can say that some of the stupid ass stuff concerns the choices I’ve made in guys I’ve dated and that certainly enriches my writing material. Anytime I fuck up, there is usually a song than follows.

PM: From listening closely to your voice it is easy to tell you have worked hard at creating your own unique sound. How were the vocals recorded for the album? Do you sing the song from beginning to end or do you do it over multiple takes and choose the best takes?

Danielle: Well usually, and I think this may be the same with a lot of vocalists, my first take is the best. So, I’ll usually sing the whole song through once and then sing a bunch of takes of each section to see if we can get something real unique. Then we’ll listen to them and see what fits best for optimal dynamics and feel of the song.



PM: Debut albums can make or break bands or solo artists. Your album has everything in there to be successful. However, part of being successful lies in the 'business' part of music. How aware are you how the music business works?
- PUNKYMENDOZA.COM


"ALTERNATIVE ADDICTION Review of "Twelve""

Twelve
Danielle McKee
Purchase Online

Reviewed: 3/12/2005 by Mike Newdeck

This high quality debut album from former Nelly Furtado backing singer Danielle McKee sees her join forces with guitarist and producer Mike K (also Nelly Furtado) and top Canadian session drummer Randy Cooke to give twelve songs of edgy pop rock that are the equal of anything recorded by the likes of Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch or Kelly Clarkson. ‘I’ll Be There’, ‘Like Nobody Else’, ‘Over You’, ‘Not Today’, ‘Never Coming Home’ or the slightly edgier ‘Let Me’ are hits waiting to happen, whilst the crunching opener ‘Didn’t Want It This Way’ or album closer ‘More Than Mine’ show controlled melodic aggression more familiar to followers of the female fronted Scandinavian outfit Lambretta . On the evidence of ‘Twelve’ Danielle McKee clearly has an outstanding future ahead of her. And my advice to the major record labels?....start forming an orderly queue now!!! - ALTERNATIVEADDICTION.COM


Discography

Danielle McKee has one full-length debut record called "Twelve". "Twelve" is available on Cd Baby and her website: www.daniellemckee.com, as well as on several digital distributors for downloading and streaming like Rhapsody, Apple Itunes, Sony Connect, Napster, MSN Music etc. Danielle has had her songs played on Star 93.3 in New York, Kerrang Radio in London, ARFM in London as well as Pod-casts and internet radio.

The track list for "Twelve":
1. Didn't Want It This Way
2. I'll Be There
3. Over You
4. If I'm Not
5. Not Today
6. Like Nobody Else
7. Stayed All Night
8. Can't Believe
9. Let Me
10. Power To
11. Never Coming Home
12. More Than Mine

Photos

Bio

Danielle McKee Biography
Danielle McKee, former back-up singer for Nelly Furtado, unapologetically unloads her conscience mind into gratifying melodies that take you on a roller-coaster ride experience on her debut record "Twelve".

Originally from Toronto, Danielle teamed up with producer and fellow Nelly Furtado band-mate, guitarist Mike K. (also from Toronto) to create a empowering and edgy record together in Los Angeles, California.

This new emerging female rocker has been compared to Avril, Kelly Clarkson and Michelle Branch by industry; and has had impressive reviews in music magazines such as Fireworks Magazine and Powerplay Magazine and online reviews and interviews at www.melodic.net, www.alternativeaddiction.com and www.punkymendoza.com to name a few.

Danielle's song “If I’m Not” has been featured on the WB series 'Charmed.' “This Is Me” a new song written by Danielle specifically for MTV’s ‘Laguna Beach- The Real Orange County’ was featured in a trailer for the season 3 series and can be seen on MTV’s ‘Laguna Beach”website. Danielle’s song “More Than Mine” is featured on an interactive cd included with the January 2006 issue of “Mac Addict Magazine”. And several of Danielle’s songs are on the playlists of Pod-casts, radio stations in New York like Star 93.3 and Kerrang Radio and ARFM in London as well as internet and satellite radio stations.

Unabashed to tell you what's on her mind, Danielle has invented a record that Screams out her frustrations, Cheers her discoveries and Explores her doubts and fears. " 'Twelve" " has been like a not-so-secret diary that documents an impressionable time in my life."

Currently Danielle is playing live shows in L.A. and continuing to write for herself, other artists and for t.v. and film.

www.daniellemckee.com