Emotional honesty
Chicago musician Danielle Juhre’s central ethos is helping others feel good about themselves
There is no such thing as expressing too much vulnerability, said Danielle Juhre.
The local singer-songwriter has made a name for herself by embracing a raw and real creative ethos through her music. And it is this emotional honesty that has garnered the musician fans locally, nationally and even internationally.
Most recently, her track “You & I,” featured on the popular television show “Love Island” in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, has introduced a new wave of fans to her songs filled with longing. According to Juhre, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m kind of an open book, really,” said Juhre.
But that level of honesty, both within herself and with her fans, took a while to fully emerge.
Juhre grew up in a musical household. Her father did live sound for artists such as Charlie Daniels and Bonnie Raitt. Unlike most family households, Juhre’s childhood home contained a recording studio, something she thought was normal.
“Since the day I was born, my dad used to take my car seat and put it by the stage,” recalled Juhre.
Growing up she played in bands and enjoyed singing, but she didn’t begin to take music seriously until she was accepted to the
Berklee College of Music. Surrounded by worldclass musician peers, Juhre realized she was capable of making music herself.
“I really grew up in the industry but really didn’t want to admit that I wanted to be an artist until later in my life,” added Juhre.
Later, like many musicians, Juhre dropped out of Berklee and fully immersed herself in the industry, quietly building up a live-performance repertoire that continued to push her into the spotlight.
“Still, at times, I doubt myself today,” said Juhre. “But when I watch the reaction from people, that changes everything.”
Juhre said it took nearly 10 years for her to get to a place where she felt comfortable taking the stage, looking people in the eye and pouring her heart out to the audience.
“I think one of my favorite things to do now that I didn’t think of when I was younger is I want every single person in the room to feel like we’re having a conversation,” she said. “And I just want everyone to come to my show and forget anything that happened that’s negative and just be present and enjoy being in this moment and know that they’re in a safe space.”
Being an artist who helps other people feel good about themselves is central to her ethos as a musician. It’s not just music for personal reflection. Juhre makes other-centric music.
While her songs are based on things she’s already gone through or that she’s currently going through, she also writes from a space that keeps her audience in mind.
“Honestly, for me, I am trying to work on those boundary lines,” Juhre said. “But when something really needs to be written, or I feel like this can help someone else, I’m willing to sacrifice myself (by) sharing personal details, knowing that it kind of wipes a clean slate for me.”
Focusing on underutilized concepts written in a straightforward manner, Juhre’s songs hit deep because she is not afraid to get to the heart of the matter.
When it comes to topics like unrequited or lost love, the subject matter of her 2020 breakthrough track “You & I,” Juhre said she leaned into saying exactly how she felt rather than trying to focus on a poetic turn of phrase.
Written with few expectations, the song has catapulted her career. With shades of early Adele or Duffy, the emotional heft of the song has subsequently encouraged her fans to pour their hearts out to her.
“I didn’t write this for other people to relate to immediately,” she said. “I always want that to be the case afterward. But it’s really, really cool that people resonate with the song.”
Danielle Juhre will play at 8:45 p.m. on May 6 along with Ryan Argast and Manny Torres at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave.; tickets $19 at dice.fm