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DANIELLE FRENCH BIO
Danielle French is a nomadic singer/songwriter based out of Calgary, AB who has been writing, recording and performing for 20 years. In 2012 Danielle was invited by creative director Pat mAcdonald (Grammy-nominated songwriter, formerly of the band Timbuk3- he wrote “The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades”) to participate in a series of songwriting intensives at the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Three times a year, on Pat’s invitation, dozens of songwriters of varying genres are housed at the Motel for a week at a time to co-write, record and perform together. Songwriters are paired through a random “spin-the-bottle” process, and this is where the magic happens…
Reflecting on the material she had co-written at the Holiday Music Motel songwriting intensives over the years, a group of songs emerged that proved to be transformational for Danielle, inspiring her to conjure up her latest project… Miss Scarlett & the Madmen- Dark Love Songs!
This project was recorded primarily at the Holiday Music Motel and at Makin’ Sausage Music in Milwaukee, WI (co-produced by Steve Hamilton) and features many of the co-writers and musicians Danielle has collaborated with at the songwriting intensives, as well as Victor DeLorenzo (of the Violent Femmes) on drums. In preparation for recording her vocal tracks, Danielle spent a month in Nashville working intensively with vocal coach Julie Christensen (Julie sang with Leonard Cohen for 10 years). Vocal overdubs were recorded at The Madison Media Institute by instructor Dan Stoffels and student engineers.
Two additional songs were added to Miss Scarlett & the Madmen- Dark Love Songs as they fit thematically with the rest of the material including, “Splinters” (a Pat mAcdonald cover that appeared on a 2015 compilation tribute CD, Begging His Graces- The Songs and Sins of Pat mAcdonald, featuring various Holiday Music Motel artists) and “Black Sunday”, which was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios rehearsal hall when Danielle and co-producer Tom Gordon traveled to England to see Kate Bush live at the Apollo in 2014. In November 2017 Danielle self-shot, produced, directed and edited a music video to BLACK SUNDAY.
In 2016 Miss Scarlett & the Madmen- Dark Love Songs received extensive airplay on campus and public radio across North America and received rave reviews in various media outlets. It was listed among CBC Radio's The Key of A Top 10 of 2016 and Vents Magazine said it “easily rates among the year’s best albums from anyone.” As of 2017 Danielle, is thrilled to announce she has signed a non-exclusive publishing deal with LA based publisher, Reel Muzik Werks to represent her entire five album catalogue for film and TV placements.
Danielle is also an established, award-winning filmmaker, having produced/directed three previous short films to her songs that have screened on Bravo! and at film festivals around the world. Thanks to a film grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Danielle is in the process of producing/directing a short film to an instrumental version of “Last Goodbye”, the opening track on Miss Scarlett & the Madmen- Dark Love Songs. This film is currently in post-production.
DISCOGRAPHY:
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Miss Scarlett & the Madmen Dark Love Songs (2016) | Drive (2012) | Shadows (2007) | Piece (2003) | me, myself & i (1995) |
HOLIDAY MUSIC MOTEL CO-WRITES & CONTRIBUTIONS:
Since 2012 Danielle has been taking part in regular co-writing sessions at the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Invited writers are housed at the motel for a week at a time to co-write, record and perform together. Songwriters are paired through a random “spin-the-bottle” process, and this is where the magic happens…
Danielle has contributed to the following recordings that have been released and are available for purchase at www.holidaymusicmotel.com
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Love on Holiday Volume 1  | Songs written and recorded LIVE at The Holiday Music Motelevision Theater during Love on Holiday, February 10-14, 2012 |
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Steel Bridge Songs Volume 8  | Songs written and recorded at the Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI, during Steel Bridge Songfest, June 3-10, 2012 |
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Dark Songs Volume 4  | Songs written and recorded at the Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI, during Dark Songs, October 21- 28, 2012 |
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Love on Holiday Volume 2  | Songs written and recorded at the Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI, during Love on Holiday, February 10-17, 2013 |
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Steel Bridge Songs Volume 9  | Songs written and recorded at the Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI, during Steel Bridge Songfest, June 9-16, 2013 |
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Dark Songs Volume 5  | Songs written and recorded at the Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI, during Dark Songs, October 27 - November 2, 2013 |
Love on Holiday Volume 3 | Songs written and recorded at the Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI, during Love on Holiday, February 9-15, 2014 Funk-a-Billy Performed background vocal. Arcana Co-written with Walter Parks and Nick Hoover. Performed lead vocal. |
Steel Bridge Songs Volume 10 | Songs written and recorded at the Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI, during Steel Bridge Songfest, June 8-15, 2014 Bridget Performed background vocal. |
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Dark Songs Volume 6  | Songs written and recorded at the Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI, during Dark Songs, October 26 - November 1, 2014 The Unkindness of Ravens Co-written with Carley Baer. Performed lead vocal. Never Coming Home Co-written with Vincent Gates and Stephen Cooper. Performed background vocal. |
GUEST APPEARANCES:
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Kory Murphy Quiet Cities (2012) Co-Writer on "Here to Mexico" |
Lovebullies When I Get Through With You (2008) Background Vocals on Several Songs |
Agriculture Club The Horse Always Gets It First (2005) Background Vocals on Intro Song |
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The Fates Til We Have Faces (2004) Co-wrote "Matthews Birds" with Jenny Allen |
Grrrls With Guitars Volume I (1999) Contributed the song "Worthy" |
Annette Ducharme Troubled (1997) Background Vocals on "Normal" |
Tom Waits Tribute
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Ship and Anchor, 534 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
Danielle French, Shona Rae and the Bonafides and Guests will be performing and afternoon of Tom Waits tribute songs in celebration of Tom's 70th birthday ON his birthday December 7, 2019. Special guests to be announced.
Dark Songs 2019
Third Avenue Playhouse, 239 N 3rd Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI
From October 20 to 26, 2019 40+ songwriters will be gathering at the Holiday Music Motel for the 10th annual Dark Songs to co-write, record and perform live in the community of Sturgeon Bay, WI. Live performances of Dark Songs past and brand new songs written throughout the week will take place at Third Avenue Playhouse on Friday October 25th at 7:30pm and Saturday October 26th.
$5
Dark Songs 2019
Third Avenue Playhouse, 239 N 3rd Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI
From October 20 to 26, 2019 40+ songwriters will be gathering at the Holiday Music Motel for the 10th annual Dark Songs to co-write, record and perform live in the community of Sturgeon Bay, WI. Live performances of Dark Songs past and brand new songs written throughout the week will take place at Third Avenue Playhouse on Friday October 25th at 7:30pm and Saturday October 26th.
$5
Tom Waits Tribute
Ship and Anchor, 534 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
Danielle French, Shona Rae and the VooDoo Hand and Guests will be performing and afternoon of Tom Waits tribute songs in celebration of Tom's 69th birthday (technically December 7, 1949). Open Mic Guests are welcome if you have a Tom Waits cover to contribute!
FREE
Walter Parks and Danielle French
Ironwood Stage and Grill, 1229 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB
Danielle French and Walter Parks have spent some time co-writing at the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. After co-writing a song called ARCANA, Danielle asked Walter to co-produce an upcoming CD she is currently working towards and with Walter touring through Calgary they decided to share this date together. Walter Parks is the former sideman for Woodstock legend Ritchie Havens and is an incredible songwriter and performer in his own right. Danielle and Walter will share this evening together, performing their own sets and sharing a few songs they collaborated on together.
TBD $15-20 Range
RMP Songwriter's Open Mic
West Street Market, 148 West St, Reno, NV
FREE
Dark Songs 2018
Third Avenue Playhouse, 239 N 3rd Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI
From October 21 to 27, 2018 40+ songwriters will be gathering at the Holiday Music Motel for the 10th annual Dark Songs to co-write, record and perform live in the community of Sturgeon Bay, WI. Live performances of Dark Songs past and brand new songs written throughout the week will take place at Third Avenue Playhouse on Friday October 26th at 7:30pm and Saturday October 27th.
$5
Dark Songs 2018
Third Avenue Playhouse, 239 N 3rd Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI
From October 21 to 27, 2018 40+ songwriters will be gathering at the Holiday Music Motel for the 10th annual Dark Songs to co-write, record and perform live in the community of Sturgeon Bay, WI. Live performances of Dark Songs past and brand new songs written throughout the week will take place at Third Avenue Playhouse on Friday October 26th at 7:30pm and Saturday October 27th.
$5
Danielle French Presents Miss Scarlett & the Madmen LIVE
The Black Dog Freehouse, 10425 Whyte Ave., Edmonton, AB
Danielle will be showcasing her new project Miss Scarlett and the Madmen at the Black Dog this afternoon. Miss Scarlett and the Madmen is fronted by Danielle French and features a rotating cast of band members depending on the location and availability of the Madmen. This afternoon features Rodney Brent on bass.
FREE
Farmers & Makers Market at cSPACE
cSpace King Edward, 1721 - 29 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB
The cSpace Farmers' Market is a family friendly market in the Marda Loop area that runs every Saturday in the summer from 10am to 3pm. In promoting an arts and culture vibe, they bring musicians in to perform and Danielle French will be performing from 10am to 12:30pm on June 30.
FREE