By Susanne East-Brooke
Coming from a musical family, singer-songwriter Dani Hoy started playing guitar at age 12. Over the years she also sang with church and school choirs and did some community music theater. But it wasn’t until 2009 that she put singing and playing guitar together. She got her singer-songwriter start doing open mic nights and eventually made her way from Pennsylvania to Key West where she is now living the life she really wanted.
Dani is mainly known for her contributions to the “Trop Rock” genre. She was BeachFront radio’s Top Female Artist of the year and was nominated as Female Vocalist of the year by Trop Rock Music Association. But for her newly released third CD, “At the End of a Long Road,” she’s moving towards an Americana sound, influenced by musicians like John Hyatt, Lucinda Williams and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Recording “At the End of a Long Road” is a study in 21st century musical collaboration. Dani worked with her producer Kevin Johnston at Orca Sound Studios who recruited well-known Nashville studio artists Kenny Vaughan, Dave Roe and Jerry Roe. The backdrop for the album was planned via Skype and recorded in a studio, then Dani completed the vocals with local Key West producer Ian Shaw.
For Dani, songs are like short movies, and the five new songs on “At the End of a Long Road” are like five separate reels. From “Not Enough Rum” which is a country heartache tune with a Key West twist (with rum instead of whiskey) about a person traveling a lot and not being able to be with someone they love; to “Coffee Drinking Girl” which is a blues song about girl full of caffeine and confidence. Dani’s music is available on her website at DaniHoy.com, Amazon, iTunes, and pretty much wherever you’d download or stream music.
Dani can be heard at Grunts every Thursday and Sunday from 8-11 p.m. and at Ricks on Tuesdays from noon to 4 p.m. Dani and fellow musicians Chris Rehm (guitar) and Bob Tucker (bass) can also be heard around town with their combo called “The Shanty Hounds.” While playing the bar scene is fun, Dani also really likes bringing her music to house concert audiences. She’s traveled around Florida and enjoys the people who really want to hear the music and the stories behind the music.
Dani’s life in Key West is about following creative pursuits — when she isn’t making music, she is a freelance graphic designer and jewelry maker. She loves the Key West community and her only problem is trying to find ways to get the beach more often.
