Packing up and moving to Nashville to chase your musical dreams doesn’t just happen in movies. Meet Iowa’s own, Danika Portz.
Danika Portz grew up in Remsen, a small town in Northwestern Iowa. She attended Drake University in Des Moines where she graduated with a degree in marketing and accounting, and a minor in musical theater. Throughout her college years, she struggled trying to figure out the path ahead. Would she pursue a career in business or would she follow her passion around music?
Based on numerous conversations with friends and family and some key advice she gleaned from listening to Gary Vaynerchuk - American entrepreneur, author, and speaker, she ultimately decided to make the move. Soon after graduating, she packed up her things and headed to Nashville, Tennessee.
I recently had the opportunity to talk to this very talented up and coming singer-songwriter.
Q: When did you start singing?
A: I have been singing for as long as I can remember. I give full credit to my mom; she would sing all the time around the house. My mom gave me the confidence to sing and was always so encouraging. My siblings and I would sometimes get annoyed and ask “Why are you singing all the time, stop!” and she would respond with, “I only sing when I’m happy, so don’t ever ask me not to sing.” I think there is a lot of truth in that little exchange. Music allows us to express things that we might not even consciously realize–which is one of the many reasons it’s so magical.
Q: When did you start writing your own music?
A: My senior spring break I visited Nashville to talk to anyone and everyone who would meet with me to discuss the music industry. They told me that if I didn’t write my own songs, I wouldn’t make it in this town. I moved to Nashville without any experience in songwriting, so I started going to writer’s night--where four artists get on stage at once and play three original songs down the line. After their performances, I would talk to the artists and ask if they would consider writing music with me. I started to build my network. With each writer, I would have to adapt to their process of writing; I learned what processes worked for me and what did not. I started learning as fast as I possibly could.
Q: Where do you find inspiration for your music?
A: Inspiration can come from anywhere. Typically, it comes from real life; something that I have experienced or something that has happened to a friend close to me. If something bothers me or I can’t stop thinking about it, I’ll go into a writing session and start telling a story. Sometimes it’s a melody, which will usually will hit me out of nowhere. I will record it on my phone in voice memos and bring the idea into my next writing session. Sometimes that short melody will turn into a song. What’s nice about working with other people is if you hit a creative wall, you have other people to contribute and bounce off of.
Q: What is the inspiration/story behind your song “Superhero”?
A: I toured twice to SW Asia with Armed Forces Entertainment the last 2 years. We went to 5 different countries and it was such an incredible experience. I knew the trip would be life-changing, I just didn’t know how. We were in Kuwait walking around when the military personnel, who was showing us around, received a call that his wife was going into labor with their first child. To experience a moment like that was overwhelming and humbling. When I came back to the U.S., I was driving through Nashville and a billboard stuck out to me, it said, “Some superheroes can actually fly” with a photo of some airmen jumping out of an airplane. The very next day I was in a writing session and luckily my co-writer, Steve, loved the idea so we started crafting the story.
Q: What was your biggest challenge while moving to Tennessee and trying to enter the music business?
A: I had never written a song and was clueless. The hardest thing when it comes to music is there is no blueprint. Some people go to college, some people don’t, but in the end it’s about talent, luck, and timing. Every day is challenging in a unique way. My parents taught me the importance of hard work and patience. I knew that it wasn’t going to happen overnight. If a “new” artist pops up, chances are the band/artist has been at it professionally for eight-ten years, grinding it out and hustling.
Q: What is a moment that has stuck with you since your move to Nashville?
A: Going to writers’ nights was always an awesome experience. The first person that I met in Nashville was a writer and epic guitar guru named Mark Case, who really took me under his wing and we became really great friends. Once Mark and I had three songs completed, I played my first writers night. After that performance, I knew I was here for the long-haul; I had never created and then performed like that in my musical career. I didn’t need validation that I could do it, but from the reaction of the crowd that night, it was there. I was so excited; I couldn’t help but think I can’t stop doing this! I’m hooked.
Q: Are you close with your family? How did they react to your big move to Tennessee?
A: Yes, I am very close with my family, however, I am also super independent and always have been. I actually forgot to tell my parents that I decided to move to Nashville. I was playing show in my hometown, and at the end, announced that I was moving to Nashville. I didn’t get much pushback. My mom tried to convince me to get an office job for a few years, make some money and then move after—she only said this once—but I was dead set on going. My family supported me through my journey from Iowa to Tennessee and I moved 5 days after I graduated from Drake. I haven’t looked back since.
Q: What advice do you have for individuals who are trying to pursue and follow their own passions?
A: You have to love what you’re doing; love not just the glorious moments, but find happiness in the lows too. Enjoy the process—if you don’t find joy in the process, you won’t make it. If that happens, honestly, that’s okay, maybe you weren’t as passionate about it as you thought you were. But don’t be afraid to try because you can always come home (as my Grandmother always reminded me). Be prepared to work like you never have in your life and don’t be afraid to be poor. Haha!
Q: What can we expect in the future from you and your music?
A: I am hoping to release a song or EP this year. My first album was awesome; it showed exactly who I was at the time that I wrote it. The one question I had about my style was how to categorize it- pop or country? I was exposed to many different genres of music as a child, however, I grew up listening to mainly top 40 pop radio—these artists were my biggest influences. Nashville, Tennessee is huge in country music. So, when I moved to Nashville, I pitched the album country; when it came to the labels, they were intrigued but confused. With my next project, I will be releasing a pop record. I’m really excited about it, I’m not holding back anymore. Country music is so specific—we’d always finish a song and think- we love this!! It’s so different!! But would radio play it? Pop is a broader genre with more freedom. If I want to do something unique, I can. I am very hopeful for this year.
Danika will be performing at the University of Iowa, Sunday, April 30th, 2017 at 8:0PM at the IMU. Tickets are $5 and the show is open to the public. Check it out!
