1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:01,320 Speaker 1: Music Saved Me. 2 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 2: There are times a song will come to me so 3 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 2: fast I can't write, and that's when we know. We 4 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 2: call it the song ads. And you write and like 5 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 2: when somebody says talk to you like. 6 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: No no, no, no no, because if I forget that note, 7 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: I'll never get it back. 8 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 2: It's like, if it's given to you, you have to 9 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 2: stop and serve it or you forget it. 10 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 3: I'm Lynn Hoffman and welcome to the Music Saved Me Podcast, 11 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 3: the podcast that delves deep into the power of music. Now, 12 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 3: if you love this podcast, please spread the word. Thank 13 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 3: you so much and share this episode with others if 14 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 3: you don't mind. We also work with a very proud 15 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 3: supporters of an organization called Musicians on Call and all 16 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 3: the wonderful great work they do that showcases the power 17 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 3: of music. Our guest today is Danelia Cotton, an award 18 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 3: winning musician, singer songwriter known for her trademark gritty, rich 19 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 3: and soulful blues and rock and Americana. And she also 20 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 3: has some new music out that we're going to talk about. 21 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 3: But she's also an artist who deeply knows firsthand about 22 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 3: the power of music. Danelia, Welcome to Music saved me. 23 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for having me. 24 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 3: It's so great to have you. I want to start 25 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 3: off with a quote from Guitar World about you, because 26 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 3: I just think that it really gets to the heart 27 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 3: of why we're together today. Danelia Cotton, this is let's 28 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 3: start with a quote. Danelia Cotton has not had it easy, 29 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: but lucky for us, she channels her pain and suffering 30 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 3: into kick ass musical creations that we can all enjoy. 31 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 3: I can't agree more with that quote. And my first question. 32 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 3: We have so much to talk about in so little time, 33 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 3: but my first question is how did your journey as 34 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 3: a cancer survivor shape you as an artist and as 35 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 3: a person. 36 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 2: I think the fact that I had it late in 37 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 2: life and that I first didn't understand the severity of it. 38 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: Like the doctor even said, this is the good cancer, 39 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: what cancer is good? But he's like, I can remove 40 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: your thyroid and then it's gone. And the chances of 41 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: most people who have thyroid cancer is that it never 42 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 2: comes back. So I still have two appointments a year 43 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 2: where they check my blood and we monitor that kind 44 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: of thing. 45 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: But it's been good for me. 46 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: That operation gave me another octave, which was not that, 47 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: which was very unexpected. 48 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: But I've always worked with a throat coach. 49 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: The first time I went on tour, I believe it 50 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 2: was an Italy tour, and it was like six days 51 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: in this Mercedes band driving around, which seems like, oh, 52 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: that's so awesome. 53 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: It was deep and I just sang, sang, sang, and 54 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: then drank red. 55 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 2: Wine and sang and talked and came back with like 56 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 2: a scab scabs on my vocal cords, which weren't nodes. 57 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: But I was like, whoa, it had never happened. 58 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 2: So when I went to a odorologist here in New York, 59 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: Rosemary Delouch, who I love, who's done like Adele and 60 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: what have you, she recommended a vocal coach who I 61 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 2: have seen ever since and been with for over two decades. 62 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 2: And I, you know, my advice to everybody there is 63 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 2: that just like an athlete and you have coaches and 64 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: you have spring training, your your voice is a muscle, 65 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 2: and so having somebody teach you how to use it 66 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: in the correct manner. 67 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: Like we can all have natural ability. 68 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 2: But I was an actress, but I went to school, 69 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 2: and you take that natural ability and you apply it 70 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: to whatever method Stanislawski, You know, like it's we can 71 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: all have natural ability of anything, sports, vocal, whatever, but 72 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 2: you need that person to help you sort of develop 73 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: it and help it and shape it, you know. So 74 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 2: that changed the way that I sang just her, and 75 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: when I got done with the procedure, I went back 76 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 2: to her, and then we discovered that I had some 77 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: more range in there that might have been walked by 78 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: whatever wherever the cancer was. 79 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: Which was a bonus. 80 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 2: And I think more and more even after that, I 81 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: really adhere to the correct way of singing because I 82 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 2: believe it's just my Buddha kind of way. We're here 83 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 2: to serve others, and so a lot of times when 84 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: you sing, it isn't about you getting off. A lot 85 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: of times you sing technically to get them off, and 86 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 2: it's me taking my story and giving it to them 87 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: and then finding their way in it and figuring out 88 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 2: whatever it is that they want to do. And sometimes 89 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: that has to be very technical. I tend to like 90 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: to be able to go back into it, but doesn't 91 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 2: always happen that way. And it's when it's for the audience, 92 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 2: you technically sing so that they get it and they 93 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: go where they go, and you don't always. 94 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: Get that side. You get the thrill and knowing that 95 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: you moved them. 96 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, so wow, experiencing that hard enough. I mean, let 97 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 3: alone the fact that nobody ever talks about cancer. You know, 98 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 3: it's it's like this, it's like mental health. Cancer. You 99 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 3: don't discuss it. But how do we learn and how 100 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 3: can we you know, get past? And speaking of that, 101 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 3: having faced a similar situation, racism, I mean, cancer is 102 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 3: hard enough, but at a young age, it can be 103 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 3: very painful and terribly confusing, especially when you're growing up, 104 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 3: and it can also kind of bring you to a 105 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 3: crossroads in your life. You know, do I go one 106 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 3: way or the other? You know, am I going to 107 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 3: be stronger or weaker? How did that experience lead you 108 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 3: to music to help process what you were dealing with? 109 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: Well, I mean cancer came later, but when I first 110 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 2: started to run marathons, which I did to raise money 111 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: for cancer awareness because my husband's father's brother was one 112 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 2: of the four guys that did Woodstock and we called 113 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 2: him Jock, but his name was John Roberts. And I 114 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: ran the first marathon because he died of leukemia, and 115 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: then I kept running for cancer, and now my other 116 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 2: half is living with mantle cell lymphoma, which is incurable, 117 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 2: so it is in our house. Like this year, I 118 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 2: will tackle At fifty five, I tackled two marathons. Now 119 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 2: I'm about to do three in Chicago. 120 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: I'll be I mean, I know they don't like you 121 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: and say it, but I'll be fifty seven, but they are. 122 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 2: I'm doing Chicago, Savannah and then Texas. And I run 123 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 2: because it helps me not think about everything, because we 124 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: had such a journey to get to this place with 125 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 2: this little girl that we had at fifty and I 126 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 2: just felt like the world everything was great and then bam, 127 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 2: really Karma, what did I do? And here's cancer re 128 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 2: entering my life again and the love of my life. 129 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 2: But like running and raising money and awareness has saved me. 130 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 2: It's I found Neil Young running. I found a lot 131 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 2: of artists running just listening because I put my little 132 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 2: doctor beats in and I run and I work through 133 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: whatever it is from that day. I just get through 134 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: it all because I don't really I live incredibly healthy, 135 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 2: even you know, since the cancer. I don't drink, I 136 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: don't smoke, so it's very I just the running really 137 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 2: helps and I don't know. I find somewhere on that 138 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: rhythm and the music and everything when I go walk 139 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 2: back into my house and greet my six year old 140 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: or my other half, who's usually in a good mood, 141 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: but he is a legal aid defender for and he 142 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: deals only in the murders, so that can be heavy 143 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: in our house. And then he has his things, so 144 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 2: if I don't come in in a good place, I 145 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,239 Speaker 2: can tend to set the tone for the entire house. 146 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 2: So it is kind of good that I'm pretty balanced 147 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: at this point, because I think he's got so much 148 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: on his shoulders, and she's just a little girl, and 149 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 2: so she's just going to be whatever she's going to be, 150 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: and so I'm sort of I have to come in 151 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 2: and always balance it out, which probably was not my 152 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 2: strength early in my life, but now I've learned how 153 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: to do it. And music, you know, that's another place 154 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 2: I can go to just siphon whatever it is, or 155 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: recycle whatever pain I'm having into something that somebody inevitably 156 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 2: comes up to me and says something. Even the last 157 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 2: perfour months, a painter I was going to quit, and 158 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: I realize I have some of her art and my 159 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 2: walls that she was, you know, inspired by me. I'm 160 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 2: inspired by her and somehow I touched her. She touched me, 161 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: and that's kind of what you live for those moments. 162 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 2: So yeah, so it's I mean, there's just so much, 163 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 2: but everything is shaped me. 164 00:08:59,040 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: You know. 165 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 2: Answer remains a huge part of my life because until 166 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 2: they find a cure for what he has. 167 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: It is what it is. 168 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 2: But I don't think about it every day, and you know, 169 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 2: I just wake up because the fact is all of 170 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 2: us could walk out the door. And I have one 171 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: hundred and three year old grandmother who is alive, and 172 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 2: all five generations of my family are alive, and so she'll. 173 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 1: Tell you some story. 174 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,239 Speaker 3: It's funny you mentioned your grandmother. There was a conversation 175 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 3: that you had with her and it led to I 176 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 3: believe your newest project, good Day, is. 177 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 2: That I mean, it led to the newest project, which 178 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 2: is a tribute to Charlie Pride, which is another genre 179 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 2: I never thought i'd go into. But my grandfather where 180 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 2: I was raised, like my first album was called small 181 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: White Town. 182 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: It was a surreal town, yeah, and it. 183 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: Was primarily occupied but not my color. But that's how 184 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 2: I found music. I mean, people are like, how did 185 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 2: a girl that looks like you? They expect me to 186 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 2: stay R and B or something. And I walked out 187 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,959 Speaker 2: with rock and I said I wanted to have blood 188 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 2: hair and blue eyes and I didn't. And I heard 189 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 2: rock and it sounded how sounded exactly how I felt. 190 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 1: Boom. 191 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 2: It was love at first or first listen in first bar, 192 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 2: and I was like, oh, that's how I feel. And 193 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 2: there I was. So it was, you know, it wasn't 194 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 2: that I wasn't, you know, exposed to Stevie Wonder songs 195 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 2: in the Key of Life, but not a lot of 196 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 2: the music that most kids who were raised in a 197 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: more black neighborhood. I was, you know, exposed to Jonathan 198 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: Winters and Bonnie Raid and you know early Choka Khan 199 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 2: and my brother was listening to Todd run Grant and 200 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 2: you know Foreigner and Zeppelin. I mean, it was just 201 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 2: there was And then my aunts were backup singers and 202 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 2: she had like a Dan Fogelbolga album. 203 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: Everything around me was intense. 204 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: And then college I studied with a jazz trumpet player 205 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 2: who made me like his like Holy Grail is the 206 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 2: Johnny Hartman John Coltrane album. So I was luckily around 207 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: a lot, and I didn't feel that I had to 208 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 2: define myself by one particular thing, So it doesn't it's 209 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,719 Speaker 2: not odd to me that I would do this next project. 210 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 1: You know, a song is a song. 211 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 2: You know it's going to be what it's going to be, 212 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: and all music is sort of in some way inevitably 213 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 2: influenced by another genre. 214 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: So I don't know. 215 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 2: It's kind of a long answer to that. 216 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 3: You covered a lot of stuff there, and what was 217 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 3: my next question would be? Do you believe that there 218 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 3: is a healing power in music? And if you do, 219 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 3: can you help me pinpoint it? Because it's words, it's melody, 220 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 3: it's vibration. I mean, there there are so many things 221 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 3: that happen because of it. Have you been able to 222 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 3: figure out what it exactly. 223 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: Knows that you know? 224 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 2: It's just like being in a black church and the 225 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 2: choir starts and there's one person standing up and everybody 226 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 2: gets like oh and they feel the spirit. 227 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: You can't you can't really pinpoint it. 228 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 2: But I mean, even biblically music singing that gift is 229 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 2: one of the highest that you can be blessed with. 230 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: And so for me, oh yeah, it's where you can go. 231 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 2: It is a place to go and live when reality 232 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 2: is either overwhelming or too intense. It's a place to hide, 233 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 2: it's a place to revel in. It's a place to dance, 234 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 2: and it's a place to sort of be whatever it 235 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: is you want to be. And it can take you 236 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: to a high place, it can take you to a 237 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: low place. But I mean, music is literally it transports 238 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: on many levels and in many ways. 239 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: It can make people. 240 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 2: I mean in religions, it's always inspirational in churches and 241 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 2: synagogues and what have you. 242 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 1: I mean, it is a serious tool. It is a 243 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: high it is it's a deep thing. 244 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 2: So I think I feel blessed to be blessed with 245 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 2: you know, whatever it is. And there are times a 246 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 2: song will come to me so fast I can't write, 247 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 2: and that that's when we know. We call it the 248 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 2: song ads. And you write and like when somebody says 249 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 2: talk to you like no no, no, no no no, 250 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 2: because if I. 251 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: Forget that note, I'll never get it back. 252 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: It's like if it's given to you, you have to 253 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 2: stop and serve it or you'd forget it. It's like 254 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 2: the phone. The best thing about the iPhone is that 255 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 2: I could be somewhere and you sing the melody. Keith 256 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 2: Regers the famous story about him having the tape recorder 257 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 2: next to his bed and he sang, hyah, you know, 258 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 2: get no satisfaction with somewhere in there on one of 259 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 2: the tapes, and then he hit it the next day 260 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 2: and it was there because it was right next to 261 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 2: his bed, so it could come to you at any time. 262 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 2: It definitely feels like a gift. And sometimes you were like, 263 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:49,679 Speaker 2: I wrote that, and you know, so it does feel 264 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 2: that way, but it's definitely I go there. I mean, 265 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 2: music was everything for me as a kid. It helped 266 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 2: me get out, It helped me not have to be 267 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 2: in my reality or anything dark. 268 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: It helped me fly when I couldn't. 269 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 2: So yeah, I have immense respects for it. 270 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 3: You come from a huge music state, New Jersey. There's 271 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 3: so much that that you were surrounded by pretty much everything, 272 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 3: and also a place that you had to work hard 273 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 3: and you know, things that influenced you when you were 274 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 3: younger came from probably what you grew up around, which 275 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 3: seems to me that you were able to really, you know, 276 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 3: work your way through it through music. I'm curious was 277 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 3: it led Zeppelin that you were the first huge family. 278 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 2: I mean I liked the one rock group where I 279 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: heard the song and I was like, and you think it. 280 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 2: Sometimes it would be like the most skilled singer was 281 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 2: I heard. I remember listening driving upstate and Ruby Tuesday 282 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 2: came on on a tape and I don't know, like 283 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 2: I was. 284 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: It was like I was in a trance and it's 285 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: Mick Jagger. 286 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 2: So it's you know, which is my sort of issue 287 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 2: today was singing. It isn't about runs and or as 288 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 2: my niece would say, don't say that, Okay, So I 289 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 2: take that back. A person with one octave can do 290 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 2: so much. It's what you do with it. It's telling 291 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 2: the story and so it isn't so much a technical thing. 292 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 2: It's a thing which I hope we don't lose that 293 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 2: some older artists have. That's just extraordinary. I was lucky 294 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 2: early in my career to go out with a lot 295 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 2: of people. But I remember going to see going to 296 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 2: a concert in Colorado and there was Camo and there 297 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 2: was all these people performing and Joe Cocker got up 298 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 2: and it was like, it's maybe he's got one octave. 299 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: He was. 300 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 2: I never sat down. I was he looked. First of all, 301 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 2: he was so intense. I thought he was going to 302 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 2: just combust and blow up. It was so much energy. 303 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 2: It was like nothing I have ever seen. And it 304 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 2: was I'll never forget it. And that is like, that's 305 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 2: what you do, that's what you do, and so he connected. 306 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 2: It was just it was a power like nothing else. 307 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 2: So it isn't it's just it is what it is. 308 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 2: I mean, Taylor Swift doesn't do one run and she's 309 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 2: you know, she's captivating you know, billion people. So it's 310 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 2: some people have the thing, they tell, the story, they connect, 311 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 2: it's the thing, just like whatever it is. And I 312 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 2: think if you get far from that, then you've lost 313 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 2: the art of what it is to do what we 314 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 2: do and the beautiful thing that we can do with 315 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 2: what we do. And I think it's the calling of 316 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 2: those who do it, and that is it's far more 317 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 2: than skill, and it's much more than that. 318 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: It's telling a story. 319 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 2: It's like inspiring the human spirit, it's healing the human spirit. 320 00:16:58,520 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: It's a lot, it's a lot. 321 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 3: When did you first realize that your music affected people 322 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:07,360 Speaker 3: in a way that you probably didn't expect. 323 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 2: I mean, touring and you finally get in front of 324 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 2: big audiences and you're like whoa. 325 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: And they sing your song back. It's deep. 326 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 2: But I think the first time was an artist who 327 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,120 Speaker 2: came up to me early in my first tour and 328 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 2: said she couldn't paint, and she put on Shame, a 329 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 2: song on my first album, and then she painted, and 330 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 2: I didn't even. 331 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: Know what to say, like she was choked up. I 332 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: was choked up. 333 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 2: And I was just like wow, like you know, or 334 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 2: and then it just started along the way somebody pulls 335 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 2: you aside and tells you how something made them realize 336 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 2: something and they made the change, or it just yeah, 337 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 2: it had a profound effect in a moment in their 338 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,719 Speaker 2: life that enabled them to either break a cycle or something. 339 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,360 Speaker 2: And that's where you're like whoa. And then as an artist, 340 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 2: that pushes you to realize, take a look at what 341 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 2: you're writing and the stories that you're telling. And the 342 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 2: way I craft a song now is much different. I 343 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,160 Speaker 2: don't do it as like, not that I ever did 344 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 2: it carelessly, but I sort of just say, oh, that's good. 345 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 2: Now I think about the art of it and the 346 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 2: power of what it can do and what you want 347 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 2: to say, and what I want to say? And if 348 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 2: I only get one last song, what would I say? 349 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 2: Or how do I want the person listening to it 350 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 2: to feel? And that's it. That's kind of where I go. 351 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: Now. 352 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, well on keeping on that and I we'll wrap 353 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 3: it up with this last question. What allows you I 354 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 3: always compare it to birthing a child, But when you're 355 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 3: putting your music out there for people to judge, it's 356 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 3: not an easy thing, and anyone who thinks it is 357 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 3: doesn't understand. And so being as difficult as it is, 358 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 3: what allows you to be so transparent with your stories 359 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 3: and sharing with people and putting it out there each 360 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:01,880 Speaker 3: time you do it. 361 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: It's kind of a risk, it is. 362 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 2: But it's important to me to be able to tell 363 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 2: a story and for it to be moving. So I'm 364 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 2: careful about what I choose, which I said early in 365 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 2: an interview with MPR that which I learned actually from acting. 366 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 2: I don't go into moments that I can't safely get 367 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 2: in and out of, and so if I haven't made 368 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 2: peace with it, there's no way for me to put 369 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,199 Speaker 2: it out there. And when an artist makes a mistake 370 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 2: of writing something that is really not something that they've 371 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 2: dealt with. 372 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: You can see it. You don't know what it is, 373 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 1: but it makes you uncomfortable. It is, I think. 374 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 2: So I choose moments that I have had and worked 375 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 2: and moved through, and then this is that story and 376 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 2: I can go in and out of there in a 377 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 2: way that is powerful and valuable for the listener at 378 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 2: least that's what I think that. 379 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: I mean, that's kind of a rule of thumb for me. 380 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 2: And you know that you have to be and if 381 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 2: I can't move safely in and out of it, then 382 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 2: it's going to have an effect that you can't explain 383 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 2: and you don't like it. 384 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: So I just try to. 385 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I have just I can only speak from 386 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 2: where I know a moment that I've moved through and 387 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 2: that has done something or changed me. 388 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 1: And that's all. 389 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 2: And I hope that you can get what it did 390 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 2: for me, or that I can show you this thing 391 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 2: that I figured out too. So yeah, but I think 392 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 2: clearly about songs, and you know, you put yourself out there. 393 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 2: It's you hope when people don't like it, you just 394 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 2: let it go. In the beginning, it was a little 395 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 2: bit different, but you know I did acting, so you 396 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 2: get how many times people tell you're not right for 397 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 2: the part, so I was kind of used to that 398 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 2: part and this just I don't know, I've been lucky 399 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 2: so far. Once or twice somebody said somewhere I was like, 400 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 2: ooh ouch. 401 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,880 Speaker 1: But you know, everybody's entitled to their opinion. 402 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 2: But yeah, I definitely try to choose things that I've 403 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 2: made peace with, whether it was big or small. 404 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: It's in your DNA. You're tough. 405 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 2: I mean Springsteen we're all talking about. 406 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. 407 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 2: It's like we're all trying to get out. I mean, 408 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 2: we love Jersey, but we want to get out. 409 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: Of Jersey, but we want to, you know, see the world. 410 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 2: But we're still but Jersey made us who we are, 411 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 2: O kaind of It's yeah, there's a lot. 412 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: It's a lot. 413 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 3: That exact quote you said came out of the mouth 414 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 3: one blondie also from New Jersey. So the World Company, Yes, 415 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,920 Speaker 3: where can people find you and tell us about your tour? 416 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 3: Your most current tour. 417 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: So you can find me. 418 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,920 Speaker 2: Danelia Cotton is such a rare name that at Danelia 419 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 2: Cotton at Instagram, at TikTok Dania Cotton website, it's all 420 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 2: Danielia Gutten. But I will be in Nashville next month 421 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,640 Speaker 2: during the Americana Fest and I'm going to be one 422 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 2: of the people headlining at Papa Palooza, which is kind 423 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 2: of awesome, during the America Conifest that Saturday, and I 424 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 2: will be at Stephen Talkhouse out here back in the 425 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 2: Hamptons on the twenty six Beautiful the Hampson's Beautiful like 426 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 2: in the Fall. 427 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 1: I'm trying to think. That's kind of what I know 428 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: so far. The EP is about to drop. 429 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 2: On the twenty ninth, and it is country, but it's 430 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 2: definitely Danelia. It's me sort of once again going into 431 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 2: another genre and I like country. They tell stories and 432 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 2: it's I don't know that I can get into. 433 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: So that's great. And the you know, the only thing 434 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 1: I say is that. 435 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,399 Speaker 2: This is a new age of we have you know, 436 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 2: in this country, an older group is what was considered 437 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 2: old is sort of now running the country. And so 438 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 2: I hope for women and for young girls. I took 439 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 2: the long route. I went to college. You know, I've 440 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 2: had a career, I had some time, I built a family, 441 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 2: and I'm just now sort of hitting a peek at 442 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 2: this age, which means that you know. 443 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: You take care of yourself. It's different. 444 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:06,639 Speaker 2: We have different tools and different ways to take care 445 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: of us now, so we go longer and you can 446 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 2: live your life and you can do some of those 447 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 2: things that you didn't have. There's no rush to the 448 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 2: finish line. Just take care of yourself and you can 449 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 2: do it. You can go there. 450 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: I'd like that. 451 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, Danelia Cotton, you are truly inspiring with your story, 452 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 3: your music, and everything going on with you. I wish 453 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 3: you nothing but the best in your future, and it 454 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 3: seems to me that you're on to great things and 455 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 3: continue on that path, and please come back and see 456 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 3: us again. Thank you for being on music save me. 457 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: No, thank you so much. Thank you