Ep.327 – Unveiling the Melody: A Conversation with Danny Stefanetti

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Welcome back to the when words fail music speaks podcast. I'm Amanda Dolan and I'm here with my co host, James Cox, and today we are joined by Danny Stefanetti. Danny is a Palm Springs based american and australian award winning singer, songwriter and guitarist with influences ranging from Sheryl Crow and Stevie Vaughn to Brian Adams and the Rolling Stones. At the age of eight, Danny was given the option to either continue ballet or pick up the guitar. Her choice was a guitar and she hasn't put it down since. Her guitar playing ability has gone viral on social media, reaching millions of views. Danny has performed to sold out crowds all over the world, touring venues across Australia, including the Sydney Opera House, Perth Arena, Tamworth Country Music Festival, and australian and UK festivals. Danny has won multiple awards, including Vocalist of the year at the 2023 Josie Music Awards, and a singer songwriter and a World Songwriting award for her song I only have eyes for you in 2022. Her newest release is a less stripped down or less stripped back. Sorry, way more stuff going on. It's awesome. It's a huge production like Danny has never released before. It breaks all the rules musically and is completely the Danny Stefan Eddie sound. It falls into a genre all its own. So thank you so much, Danny, for joining us all the way from Palm Springs, California.

Thank you for having me, James and Amanda. It's great to be on your show today.

We are so excited to have you. I listened to some of your songs and videos today. One, like, songs I loved. The timing was on, right? Because I think we always talk about that missed connection. Yeah, right. And this was that, like, no, everything worked out just the way it was supposed to.

Exactly. I'm glad you liked that song because I loved making that and like Jeffrey Panzer and I loved making that in the studio and doing the video for it with Evan B. Stone as well, editing and it was just a really great single to make that one. It's really special to all of us.

Yeah. I really, really enjoyed that. And then I also always love songs about the moon because I am. I'm an eighties kid, and so, like, fievel and, you know, the american story. Yeah, that was, you know, songs about the moon always hit for me, so.

That was really a fun video to make back in Australia.

Do you miss I'm here tonight? Yes. I think the moon looks pretty every night, but that's just my personal opinion. So thank you so much for being here. James. You have questions now that I've just.

Yeah. Hey, daddy. Okay, so, first of all, I wanted to thank you so much for coming over. Thanks to Jeffrey Panzer. And special shout out to angel wings to get me in contact with Jeffrey Panzer, to get in contact with you. So it's all. It's all one big family here, you know?

Um, yes. Thank you, Lisa. Thank you, Jeffrey.

Yes. Thank you, everybody that we mentioned. Um, but. But before we start asking you about your career, I want to find out more about your music. Uh, music likes and dislikes. So I'm going to give me two bands, and it's up to you whether you can tell me which band you prefer or not prefer or, you know, which one is better. I don't know. However you want to put it. So. Okay, so I'm getting this all three bio because these are bad that you like. Okay, so we're gonna start with jewel or Cheryl Crow. Would you rather listen to first before the other one?

You know, it depends on the day, because they're both two of my favorites. So I'd say if I'm feeling in a really happy mood, I would listen to Cheryl Crow. And I'm feeling in a more somber mood. I listen to jewelry.

Yeah. Because she is very, like a. Like a mellow, like music.

Like, if I'm going for a heartbreak, I'll listen to jewel, but if I'm going to a festival, I'll listen to Cheryl.

Okay, we have. Let's go with the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. The age old question. Beatles or the Stones?

They're both. When it comes to rock and roll, I mean, they're both. The Beatles are one of the greatest bands of all time, so. And. But then the Rolling Stones are one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time as well. I mean, I ain't gonna. I ain't gonna say which one, but the catalogue of the Beatles is unbelievable, and Rolling Stones is such an arena act.

Right? Yeah. So we got two more for you, and we're getting in on a really good one. So this is hard for me, too. So if you don't want to say, you don't have to. Steve Ray Ray Vaughan or Hendrix. Oh, yeah. Because I know. I know you're a big fan of Steve Raven Vaughn, so.

Yeah, so Stevie Ray Vaughan was influenced by Jimi Hendrix. So what he plays came from Hendrix, but I actually listened to more Stevie Ray Vaughan than Hendrix in my playing. But I know everything comes from a source, and Jimi Hendrix is one of the greatest. But I definitely studied more of Stevie.

Right. Yeah.

That's just his personal preference, isn't it?

Yeah, yeah. It's all personal here. So, yeah.

Can we talk here about, like, whatever you like is what you like. It doesn't, you know, like, we shouldn't judge someone for what their favorites are.

Right. But for me, Hendrix, I did have purses of him on my wall.

Right. Okay.

That's a great question. What other. What other artists, musicians did you have posters of on your wall?

Don't laugh at me, but I had a poster of Hanson on my wall.

They're my favorites.

I had a poster of the back straight boys.

Yeah.

Yes.

About instinct.

And I think I had a Marilyn Manson one or something up there. A kiss or something as well.

I love the variety. I love the. And I think it speaks to, like, who you are as an artist, too. Like, I've seen. I mean, you can rock out on the guitar. Yeah, I've seen that. Yeah. It's amazing to watch you perform, but also, you have these really, you know, beautiful, slower, the great kind of ballads that are almost just you and a guitar. Right. Like, it's. And so I love that there's that dichotomy. You get a little bit of everything with you.

Thank you. I hope. I am a multi genre artist, and I think that's because of all my travels and all the people I've met and all the artists I listened to as a child, I studied all those different styles, which later it was great because I can. I try to sing a lot of different styles because that's what I love, like, to listen to.

I think that you're very influential by Steve Revlon because I hear it so much in your music. It's. It's unbelievable. Yeah. So you're. Okay. Great, great. Okay, so I got one more. This or this or that, right? Because. Okay, so we got the Eagles and. Or any other band, because I know your favorite song in the world is hotel California. Is that correct?

Mm hmm.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's one of my favorites. Aha. You got it.

Eagles all the way. Right, yeah, the Eagles. Um, because that was the first song you. You heard and really, really liked. Right?

I mean, single little star, and then.

Yeah, yeah.

Um. Yeah, you got it. Um, what I love about the Eagles, um, above all other bands, I listened to more eagles than the Beatles because I saw something about their catalogue of songs struck me. It had a little bit of country in there, a little bit of rock, bit of pop, and then I, later in life, found out about the Beatles and the Stones and things like that. But the Eagles hit me because I think that's what my guitar teacher was showing me at the start. And peaceful, easy feeling. Take it easy. All those eagle songs, I was like, who is this band? And I got to know more. So I watched Hell Freeze is over dvd, and they had all the guitarists on stage and Joe Walsh and Don Henley on the drums, and all their parts were layered and gorgeous, and they could play any style. And I'd say, yeah, that band heavily influenced me probably the most.

Think someone. I think someone told me one time that Eagles was a becky band for Toni Mitchell or Linda Ron Stan. Oh, I don't know.

Oh, really?

Yeah, I don't know.

And those harmonies.

Yeah, yeah.

Their voices together, just amazing.

And I'm curious, when did you. When did you first listen to the Eagles?

Yeah, I would have been around eight years old.

Okay. About the time you started picking up the guitar.

Yeah. But music was always kind of playing on around the house. My dad had a record player. My dad was into Peter Fransen. My dad was into bread, bee gees and a lot of. Oh, I can hear a little koala at my door. Can you hear that koala bear?

I can, yeah.

Yeah. These Koalas out here in Palm Springs, they like to talk, anyway. Yeah. Dad had a lot of that rock influence, and so. And my mum was, like, into seventies music, and so, you know, I definitely heard it, but it wasn't until I started actually playing music and the guitar where I think I first heard hotel.

California and Linda Ronstadt. That is who they were, the original.

Okay, first.

Yes. That's how they got their start. And your grandfather loved american country music, right?

Yeah, he did.

So how did that influence? Because you definitely have a bit of a country. You've played at the grand old Opry, right?

Oh, yeah, I was backstage at the Opry for the. I won an award at the Opry. The Josie award. Yeah. And I got to actually sing. And I was backstage at the Opry singing to some of the people that are part of the Opry. And William Lee golden was from the Oak Ridge boys, was introducing me to a couple of people. But the. My granddad. Yeah, he was into the old school country music and. Cause his brother was actually a country music singer in Australia. Yeah. I guess that between his old american country influences and my nana covering the house and Elvis Presley, that worked its way into my collection.

Yeah. I mean, you can't deny Elvis because that's my mom's favorite human.

Right. He's amazing.

What a great, like, variety that you were exposed to.

Yes.

I'm very cool with that. And you can definitely hear all of that, like you said, that multi genre, all of that in your music, which is.

Oh, amazing.

Spectacular. I am here. You're sitting there with your guitar, and I know that you are an artist for, like, prs. I don't know if that's Prs.

Yeah.

Yes.

Right. And so I was looking around and they have some, like, really big names that are their, you know, official partners musicians. Right? Like Carlos Santana, who I could argue was one of the best. Greatest guitarists ever. Ever. I think. I think we could all. He's one of the best. But then also, like, I mean, Dave Navarro, Jody Messina, John Mayer, who I think, like, he was. Did he. Why do I feel like I read something about him and you, maybe I didn't. That might be my imagination because I.

Actually play his signature.

Okay.

Yeah. The John Mayer se. Silver sky and the blue one that I play. And James was. He was telling me earlier to the interview that he actually plays Prs guitars as well, and he just got one.

I'm playing. It is right here.

Oh, beautiful.

Oh, wait till you'll see the. There it is.

Oh, wow.

I wasn't expecting that. Green. Wow.

Yeah, it's my podcast. It's green and orange, so I figured why not, right? Yeah.

So that's a beautiful.

That's a beautiful prs. And I bet it sounds amazing.

Well, I don't know yet, because I don't have a. I don't have f for it yet, but prs custom se. Thank you. If I didn't.

Then I just have my.

Acoustic.

Yeah, I'm more of an acoustic kind of girl. Yeah, we definitely. We definitely love music around here.

All the different.

All the different kinds. And I loved that. I guess one of the videos I saw was you cordless playing, you know, an electric guitar, which I love that, like, you get to move around the stage, you have a whole lot more, you know, freedom to do your thing. And like you said, you. You play the, you know, a John Mayer guitar. Do you feel like guitars are well made for women? Because we're a little, you know, our arms are smaller, our bodies are built a little differently.

The wireless system you're talking about was the cable free guitar. And I love what they're creating. They've even got new straps that just came out. Love to try some of their straps. Yeah, they got a whole range of different things they sell. But I find guitars this. I don't have my electric on me. I just have my Gibson J 45 that I've been playing for many, many years. I got this at the Nashville, the old Gibson place before the flood. I actually got this. Pick this one up, and it's been kind of my ride or die, this guitar, when it comes to acoustics. But I love my prs. But what I love about ever since I, you know, had a lot of Fender strats, and then I had a Gretsch guitar white falcon that was kind of bigger than me, and I found. I do like the shape of the strat. And I was so used to the Fender strap for so long, when I saw the prs had a similar shape with the body of it, I thought, why not give it a try? And when I heard the sound through their amps as well, the PRS amps were amazing. I thought, wow, this feels really good. And it actually. It felt kind of different to my Fender stratum, but the guitar was so light on me, it doesn't hurt my back or anything like that, because I'm quite little. I'm probably, like five four or shorter. And, yeah, I find the guitar. I like the strap body because it's not as big on a woman when you're standing for 3 hours. I like to have something that's a little, you know, I found the Gibson, I think SGs or the Les poles a little bit too heavy for me. Do you find that?

I mean, I just have my acoustic. My problem is that, like, with a chest, it can be harder. Like, I'm five'two and, you know, so being, like, short and having it harder to bring it close to my body sometimes can make it harder to play. And I just. Sometimes I'm like, why don't we have, like, women's, you know, shaped guitars? Because I noticed, too, that even, like, I'm sure that there's something out there. I just haven't researched it enough. Yeah.

Oh, I haven't thought about that area. That doesn't really get in the way for me.

Well, I mean, yeah, it's fine.

It's just it is what it is.

So I do have a question for you. Okay. So, although I do, I would love to visit Australia one day, but I happen to have this defiant insect, so that's why I'm. Because I have go over there, because spiders and stuff. Um, but, uh, when you write your songs, do you get inspiration from home?

From.

From Australia? Do you incorporate things there? I mean. Yeah. Do you get inspiration from. From Australia home?

Um, yeah. When I was living in Australia, I found a lot of my songs. I was watching, like, soap operas and movies, and I guess a lot of them were Americans. So I don't know, I'm just in general, I love people watching, whether it's my family, my auntie, my everybody, I'm watching at family gatherings and friend gatherings. And it's kind of the same in America and Australia. Just, like, people's relationships and all different things, there's always something to write about. So that comes into my song. So it could kind of be at any location, and a song might come out of anywhere, especially. And I write a lot of love songs, so.

Yeah.

Yeah. It's just like, capturing that feeling. Yeah. But we do have a lot of spiders down there.

Yeah.

We are enjoying. Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

And, uh.

And all sorts.

Right. Yeah.

Because we don't want those drop bears too. Right.

Yeah.

One of my friends, oh, a friend of mine, like, he got. He was on tour in Australia and people were making fun of him and saying, like, oh, watch out for the drop bears. They'll just drop right out of the trees and get you. Oh, apparently they're not a thing. Apparently they're not a thing. They were just trying to give him a hard time, so he was.

Yeah, I think that.

Even more afraid.

Oh, no, I know.

I mean, yeah, Australia's got quite the critters.

Yeah.

I don't think Danny is afraid of bees, because when I saw her EPK video, she said, oh, there's a bee. And she didn't even flinch. I'm terrified of them.

Oh, it was like a big bug. Yeah.

Like a big, big. Okay.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That doesn't frighten me too much, any of those kind of things.

What does frighten you? Not big bugs.

I better not say on camera which animal I'm scared of, because then, you know, someone will try and scare.

Of course, it's koalas, right? Yeah, it's koalas. Right. That's.

I love koalas.

Bring them more koalas. Yeah.

And that's what you call your fans, right? Koalas.

I do, yeah. I call them my little koala bears.

Yeah, I love that one.

So I know that you started in ballet. That was not for you. I think you said you're not, you were not a dancer. That was not what you were made for. Clearly music is what you were made for, but, you know, you started at eight and I think that, you know, we often ignore that creative space for a lot of kids, especially now, like, we put them in sports as opposed to the arts. So I'm curious, like, how you feel like those arts, whether it was music or dancing, helped to, you know, create who you are and, you know, whether it was your math skills or how you interacted with people. Competence. I don't know, I'm just curious.

Oh, confidence for sure. Because I. I didn't feel, like, quite fitted at school. Mum kind of had to force me to go a little bit. It wasn't like I was teased a little bit, I had crooked teeth and this and that didn't quite fit. Or I would, like, find another girl that was more popular or something than me and then she'd like, boss me around and, like, I wasn't very. I didn't know where I fitted. But as soon as I got to, I think it was fourth or fifth grade and I think it was fourth grade, and I started getting guitar lessons and writing my own songs and then singing them at school for talent shows and things like that, people started treating me different. I kind of found my identity and I didn't. I didn't have that confidence at all at that age. I was kind of floating through life. I wasn't. I wouldn't say I wasn't getting doctor grades, you know, I didn't think like that. I thought out of the box. I didn't. I even didn't pass music in primary school because we had to do a theory test and I didn't know any theory. All I knew was songs and how to play chords and how to make up my songs. I knew how to write music but I didn't know how to read it, so I didn't quite fit in a school system. But luckily my parents were so, like, supportive and let me just do be unique and my mum always used to say, don't compare yourself with other girls. Just do your thing. Dress the way you want to dress. You know, she was really good about that. And I think as a. When I went into my teenage years having that music to fall back on, I would play in a church band as well. We'd have rehearsals during the week and just, like, having that music, it connected me with friends. It made me feel like I could get through those school years. Yeah.

Two things. I love that you said that you didn't pass music, because I think musicians. It's not about theory. Right. I mean, yes, there's a piece of that, but I think it's so much more. Yeah.

For piano, you might need theory and different.

Yes. But also, I think that I loved that. Like, I didn't get doctor grades. I don't think that. Dare I say that doctor grades are for everyone. Right. Like, we have different intelligences and, like, yours is clearly, like, music is what your brain is built for now somebody else it might be built for. And so I think that when we put anybody, kids or anyone in this, like, that box of. This is what you have to do to be successful. It creates a way to not have them be successful. Successful, almost. Right. And you.

Yeah.

I'm so grateful that you were given that opportunity to.

Yeah. Like, it took me time to kind of just go through. Like, my voice wasn't ready. A lot of people could have critiqued it, and I did throughout the way, whether it was facial features or the song at the time or how my voice sounded. But luckily, my mom saw past that and just let me, like, encouraged it, because otherwise, I probably wouldn't still be doing it today if it wasn't for that support.

I think we've got three more questions for you. One is the question that I always ask, which is, we talk about mental health and caring for your mental wellbeing. So what do you do for your vocal health to keep your vocals strong and prevent strain and keep you healthy?

I try to get to sleep early. That's the biggest thing I think can really upset your voice, is having too many late nights. That's the worst for your voice. And then I drink a lot of green tea. I have a healthy diet, and I run a lot for my lungs, as well. And the worst thing to do for your voice is whispering. So I try to avoid whispering, and then, obviously, shouting is really bad for your voice, but whispering is really bad as well. So, yeah, whenever I do a show, I just try not to strain and try to be as relaxed as possible and look after your voice like that.

Two more questions, and then we'll let you go, because we know you're a very busy woman, and I love that about you. I want to be one time.

Well, I can still play a song if you want.

Great job. It's totally up to you.

It's up to you. Yeah.

Okay, so Mount Rushmore. Four bands. Four of your top four bands. Who are they?

I would say let's go with the Beatles, the Eagles, Rolling Stones. And I'm going to say the Oak Ridge boys.

Yes. I love the Oak Ridge warriors. Yeah, that's a great board. That's a great.

For. I love that. And the last question that we always end with is like, what is that? Like either song or album that you just go to? It's like your go to no matter what your mood is that you just. You love to listen to and you always come back to. So what's that, like, song or album for you that is always in your playlist?

Uh, which one? I would probably say like a fleetwood Mac record. Um, I got. I got just so I. I get so many singles. Like, you know, the albums. Yeah, I'm trying to think, um, probably Led Zeppelin. Three album or.

Oh, what a good one with Bronwy.

On stomp and all of that. Gallows Poland.

I don't know.

There's a couple of artists that have put out eps as well. Keith Urban golden road is a great one that stands the test of time. Shania Twain, you're still the one. There's just so many.

That's a great one. Oh, no, those are all fantastic. And a wide variety. Sounds like they're those classic. I was supposed to be like, I think that Shania Twain song is like 30 plus years old now. And that when I thought about that, that just. Cause I listened to that in high school, I just made myself feel old there. So I would. If you would love to play, if you wanna play something for us, I would love to hear just a little something before we end today.

I would actually love that you would be the first one to ever play a song on our show. So thank you very much for doing that.

Amazing. And thank you, James. And thank you both for having me on your show. Thank you, Amanda. It's been a pleasure to come on. And thank you for encouraging independent artists. Yeah.

So glad you're here.

So I may as well do. The timing was on since you mentioned it about the video.

I don't know what it's like to.

Tell you my heart and tell you.

My life I don't know what it's like to be with you now and hold you tonight I'll try to write this song and maybe I'll go another day maybe you'll hear my song playing on the radio one day but if the tommy was off by just 1 second, if the tummy was up. I would have never met you but at the time it was wrong. I'm so glad that it wasn't cause the reason that I wrote this song? If the timing was on now I know how to laugh when you're not far away? You're here with me, babe? Now I know who to call? If my world fell to pieces or you catch my fall? I'll try to write this song? Maybe I'll go another day? Maybe you'll hear my song? And all of these feelings will stay? But if that time it was out find just 1 second. If the time it was out, I would have never mentioned? But at that time it was wrong. I'm so glad that it wasn't cause the reason that I wrote this song is the timing was on. Fear was off by a second? I wouldn't know your name. Fear was off by a second. How my life would have changed. Now I know what it's like to tell you my heart and tell you my life now I know what it's like to be with you now? And hold you tonight? And hold you tonight. All right. And I'll try to write this song. Yeah, I'm trying to wrap this song. Cause the timing was all.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

Awesome.

Thank you very much. I love that's going on. It's already on a playlist, I just realized I put it on another one. I have all the playlists, all the things. So thank you so much for Danny, for joining us. All the way from California right now, right?

Yep.

You gotta come to Santorino. We gotta meet.

Yeah. In Texas. You gotta be like, you gotta do a us tour.

There you go.

Yes.

So thank you so much for joining us today on the Win Wars Fail music speaks podcast.

Also for anybody. Also for anybody listening, you can go. You can go to Danny's website at Danny Stephanie.com. you could order everything, including those koalas she has behind her there. I guess they're pit stoppers or something. Yeah, yeah. And she's on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, everywhere, right? Yeah. So just. Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much for coming on.

Appreciate it so much.

Thank you very much. Both of you. Have a fantastic rest of your day.

You too.

You too.

And with that said, everybody that's listening, always remember, when words fail, music speaks. Bye, guys.

Bye bye. I.