A CINEMATIC ANTHEM OF AUTHENTICITY AND HEALING FROM THE ACCLAIMED MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST AND CARNEGIE HALL ALUMNA
Independent singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tricia Danieli announces the release of her most vulnerable and visionary work to date, the evocative new single “Mirage.” Crafted as a sonic sanctuary from the noise of a modern world, the track marks a profound moment of creative clarity for the Joliet, Illinois-born artist. Blending her foundation in classical piano with a contemporary, soul-infused perspective, Danieli delivers a message of hope that encourages listeners to disconnect from the distractions of the simulation and return to their original dreams.
The creation of “Mirage” was an act of profound spontaneity, written just hours before a recording session with Danieli’s preferred engineer, Mason Pace. Reflecting on the song’s origins, Danieli shares:
“I write my favorite songs when I’m home, relaxing at my piano and letting thoughts just come to my fingers… when I come up with something that I really feel, I instantly start singing melodies along and thinking of words that fit the mood until I have a story in my head”.
Originally booked as a form of creative therapy, the session became the birthplace of a song that explores the feeling of existing in a world full of division and glitches.
Danieli’s emotive vocals soar over a lush arrangement, grounding the song’s ethereal themes in raw human experience as she sings: “The world’s an illusion, conflict and confusion / Don’t know how to feel… Break the code and free your mind / Let’s be legends and just leave the games behind”. The track serves as a heartfelt call to action to shatter the grid and rediscover personal truth. As Danieli explains:
“Every time I touch an instrument and use it as a tool to heal myself, I end up with ideas that I can use for songs, and sometimes an entire song will come out of one session”.
Media outlets will find a powerful narrative hook in Danieli’s artistic resilience and her use of music as a primary tool for recovery. A former choir president who got to experience the stage of Carnegie Hall at seventeen, she has navigated a diverse career that includes performing solo and with bands in festivals, singing on records with other artists, singing in a San Francisco gospel choir, and independently releasing her first solo album, ‘Brand New Day,’ in 2016. After relocating to South Florida following a transformative period of healing from a major auto accident, she has become a staple of the local music scene, known for a range that spans from soul and blues to pop and reggae.
The production of “Mirage” highlights Danieli’s sophisticated approach to songwriting, and her creativity allowed her to develop “Mirage” into a song that encourages “disconnecting from the things that tempt us into unproductive feelings and plug back into our original dreams of love, hope, and just being the best we can be”.
As Tricia Danieli prepares to share “Mirage” with the world, the single stands as a beacon for those seeking connection in a disconnected age. It is a song that doesn’t just ask us to look away from the chaos, but to write our own script where love and dreams remain the ultimate standard.
Hi, Tricia! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers for those not familiar with your music?
Hey, there! I’m Tricia Danieli, originally from the suburbs of Chicago, and I am a singer/pianist/songwriter. Many have compared my vocal stylings to the likes of Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera, and I come with a musical background blending elements of blues, jazz, R&B, pop, and reggae. I’ve been a musician first and foremost all my life, also play other instruments, and had early training in classical, gospel, and opera as well. I am also inspired by “new age” and contemporary artists like Yanni and Enya, and also love to compose instrumental music and improvised piano solos as well. I’ve also had and experience in dance, have appeared in music videos, acted in short films, done comedic impressions on podcasts, written books of poetry, painted murals and acrylic paintings, and enjoyed a lengthy career traveling to many islands as an internationally published glamour model. In 2017, I survived a near-death experience, and attribute my recovery and survival to my faith and passion for music, art and life.
You describe “Mirage” as breaking out of the simulation, what does that “simulation” look like in your own day-to-day life?
To me, the simulation refers to the daily grind where we often can forget what’s important in life, somehow focusing too much on all the crazy or bad news that is constantly being presented to us, causing many to lose the plot or the “30,000-ft view” of this one, short life we have… It’s the trap of getting caught up in polarizing mindsets which seem to be encouraged and highlighted more and more these days, or anything that causes people to lose focus and passion for what matters and what we can actually control within our own lives and communities. Given current political climates and world news topics that we are constantly bombarded with, I hope to encourage more unifying, empowering, and positive ideas with my music, and particularly with this song.
You call music a tool for healing. Was there a specific moment where you realized songwriting could actually help you recover?
I have always used music as my main form of therapy, and eventually realized that no matter what I may originally have in mind when I’m creating a new song, there are so many layers to healing that come from working through a song. I may start with one idea and let it evolve into something else, write a song with the intention of healing someone else and end up healing something within myself, or even plan a recording session just as a way to escape the stressful realities of life. I am always surprised by the multiple levels of therapeutic “side effects” of the songwriting process, as well as the end result.
You’ve performed at Carnegie Hall and in gospel choirs. How do those very different experiences show up in your sound today?
I was very blessed to experience a lot of diverse musical variety in my upbringing through my school, church, and local communities that shaped who I am and how I evolve as an artist. The music teachers who encouraged me from the very beginning believed in me so much early on and continue to remain positive influences in my life, and I am very grateful for them and all of the experiences that gave me confidence, stage presence, and a true love for performing. I have always loved being able to have multiple roles in a musical group or project, starting back in high school when I was both taking and giving private lessons, competing in statewide competitions, and exploring leadership roles such as choir president, soprano section leader, piano accompanist for choirs or small ensembles, choir soloist, etc. These opportunities led to developing different skill sets and currently having my hands in many aspects of the stage and studio, from songwriting to producing to playing drums to stacking layers of vocal harmonies to create a “choir,” and the like.
If someone listens to “Mirage” at their lowest point, what do you hope they walk away feeling?
I really hope that “Mirage” can uplift, inspire, and motivate people who feel “stuck” in a systemic crisis or challenging life situation in general to remember their original dreams, unique greatness, and believe in the importance of honoring the playful, light, fun, and positive spirit inside of them that can sometimes get forgotten about or pushed down by life’s often-confusing, messy, or sometimes discouraging battles. I hope that “Mirage” hits the “reset” button for the mind, attitude, and soul and instantly becomes medicine for whoever needs it.