Dani’s big melodic dreams
Newcomer Dani Mohan tells Dennis Chua about her journey to become a versatile singer
SHE expresses herself in a soulful jazzy manner through song. Those who frequent places like No Black Tie, Alexis, Ril’s and Bobo KL would have probably heard her mellifluous voice.
It’s a far cry from her first exposure to singing at religious festivals, where a precocious 8-year-old Danisa Komari Mohan sang hymns as a member of a youth Hindu choir.
Dani, as she is known to family and friends, is a promising talent today in Kuala Lumpur’s bubbling nightspot scene.
“I’ve been singing at popular venues for more than a year now. I’m especially fond of No Black Tie, which has an excellent sound system and is very homely,” she says at an interview in Sunway Pyramid, Bandar Sunway in Petaling Jaya.
Initially singing on her own, Dani, 26, now performs with her band — drummer Jerry, bassist Cheryl, guitarist Kim, keyboardist Haris, trumpeter Ako and saxophonists Apit and Faris.
“I simply call my band Dani and we share a great love of bluesy, jazzy and soulful music by dazzling women such as Etta James, Nina Simone, Billie Holliday and Amy Winehouse,” she says.
FINDING HER GROOVE
The second of three siblings is a self-taught musician. She learnt the keyboard when she was 10 and the guitar when she was 16. “A career in music wasn’t my childhood dream. I initially wanted to become an interior designer because of my love for art. Music was merely a hobby, I grew up listening to R&B, jazz and soul from artistes whom my parents and siblings also admire.”
Growing up in Puchong, Selangor, Dani pursued a diploma in psychology at Segi College in Subang Jaya. After graduating, she worked as a content writer in an advertising company for three months, and underwent internship at online radio station BFM 89.9 for another three, before deciding on a singing career in 2015.
“I gave this move much thought, and I’m happy that my parents are okay with it. It’s always best to do what you love, rather than stick to a job that doesn’t give you 100 per cent satisfaction.”
PLEASURE IN CREATING TUNES Once Dani found her true calling, she did not rest on her laurels. “I also began writing my own songs, and, to date, I’ve come up with six. However, only three have been put to music by my band members: If You
Stay, My Time and Goodbye Moon,” she explains.
What are her main inspirations for songwriting?
“Everything, from growing up, meeting friends, learning new things, travelling, to pleasant dreams. While I write from the heart, I always make my lyrics rather vague, and open to multiple interpretations. I like it that music lovers come to different conclusions on the meanings behind my songs,” she says.
Dani sees songs as art pieces that can be admired from different angles by different people.
She plans to launch her debut single by year end, but has not decided which of the three songs will be the one.
Despite being fluent in English, Malay, Tamil and Punjabi, Dani has only performed live in English. She hopes to record a couple of songs in Malay, preferably duets with popular singers.
“I don’t have much duet experience, having only sung about friendship with Maha Jeffrey of the band TMJB recently. This single doesn’t have a name yet, but it’s a catchy tune that will be released soon.”
Dani’s long-term goal is to penetrate the markets of Singapore and Indonesia and to perform in popular music festivals such as the Penang Island Jazz Festival and the Rainforest World Music Festival.
“Southeast Asia is a gold mine of blues and jazz talents, and joining regional music festivals gives me the opportunity to meet and learn from many talented people,” she says.