Interview: Sug Daniels
If you haven’t heard of singer, songwriter, and producer Sug Daniels, you are sure to know her name in the very near future. With soothing, tender tunes inspired from folk, R&B, and low-fi alternative sounds, Daniels makes music that is simply good for the soul. Today, Daniels is back with her brand new single release “Kintsugi”. Intertwined with breathtaking, ukulele-driven melodies and a beautiful message, Daniels continues to prove she is a force to be reckoned with in the world of music. I got to chat with the up-and-coming singer/songwriter about her new song “Kintsugi”, her drive for creative freedom during quarantine, and her determination to be a strong, empowering leader to those around her.
Cover Art for “Kintsugi”
Inspired by artists like Lauryn Hill, Arlo Parx, Orien Sun, and Willow Smith, Sug Daniels stands out as a breath of fresh air in the music world. Her songs bring elegance and raw vulnerability to topics of crushing heartbreak, self-reflection, and renewal. Daniels’ charismatic, bubbly personality aligns perfectly with her feel-good, soulful tunes that easily bring out the best in listeners around the world.
The masterpieces created by Sug Daniels come to her in crashing waves. For her first solo song release “Heavy”, Daniels says she could visualize a lot of the song as she was creating it. The color palette and music video concept came fairly easily as the song was built from the ground up. During quarantine, the artist tried her hand at video directing and editing for the touching, homemade “Heavy” music video.
At a time where she was very much alone with her thoughts, Daniels’ new single “Kintsugi” comes from a place of understanding the brokenness between America and a black woman coming into her own. Daniels took the time this past year to embrace her sense of vulnerability and open up in her songwriting process. She says that sometimes, you are chosen to proudly stand in a leadership role, whether you choose to be there or not. As a queer, black woman in today’s world, Daniels enjoys digging deep into that role and discovering more about herself along the way. She is always fighting to be the best version of herself, give to others who believe in her and stand by her through the trials and tribulations of life. Her new single “Kintsugi” is a sonic pillar of hope that change and reparations are possible and not too far in the distance.
With live performances sprinkled throughout the next few months and more music projects being released soon, Sug Daniels is off to a fantastic start as a new solo artist.
Be sure to check out Sug Daniels’ new single release “Kintsugi” out now on Spotify here. You can follow Sug’s music journey on her Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube channel.
Interview by Kelly Carrazzone
