'Mending Hearts With a Song!'

Danielle Bollinger is a pop singer who currently calls Detroit, MI her home. Her voice, personality and whole being radiate genuine and positive energy. She is a person who is very comfortable with herself. Danielle’s vocal talent, great outlook and natural flair on camera were discovered by a talent agency while she was in her early teens.

When those around began taking note of her natural vocal ability, she began doing commercials, info-mercials and jingles for local businesses. Since then she has rocketed into the public consciousness. She has appeared on Star Search, A&Es reality show AIRLINE and many others. Stick around.

And now with her debut CD 'When the Broken Hearted Love Again' readied for release, Danielle is poised to break through in a major way.

Chatting recently with Danielle, and seeing that she calls Detroit, MI her home (and that are just down the road in Berkley, MI; I first wondered where exactly she was based here and where she got out and played locally? "Well hello Berkley!!! Detroit is actually not quite right, I am in Fenton, MI which is just south of Flint. So technically, I'm a Flint town girl! I have played all over the place for a while now, for benefits, in bands, and all over Detroit. I have been in a wedding band for some time and we play all over. I have been singing with a cover band at the bar "Ernies" in Sterling Heights on Friday nights until my tour takes off. It's a lot of fun!!"

Your album title 'When the Broken Hearted Love Again' is very to the point, but I'm wondering if it originates from a more personal standpoint? "Well, yes ... With this song, as well as the entire album, I wanted to sing songs that people could relate too. And I know lots of my friends, including myself, have had a broken heart. So, it does hit a little close to home. But it's positive, because basically it's stating that when one door shuts, another opens and it could be better then the one before."

If there was one track on this new album that truly encapsulated Danielle Bollinger at her musical and lyrical finest, which one would it be? "I would have to say all of them! Ha ... just kiddin'! But for me, 'You'll Always Have Me' would be the one. Through the years I have been through so many ups and downs, twists and turns and if my friends and family weren't there for me to get to this stage in my career, it would of been more difficult to handle. So, I sang this song with the intention that they know, that no matter where life takes them, they will always have me."

You've appeared on an episode of A&Es 'Airline,' but was that as a disgruntled passenger or a superstar musician caught up in a media frenzy at the airport?! "Actually, interesting story. I was online on Southwest booking my flight back home for Thanksgiving and I kept reading the website and there was this blurp saying to write in a unique Thankgsiving story. So, my intention was to get my little 10 and 12 year old sisters on TV. So I wrote that I was going home to sing the national anthem for the Pistons for Thanksgiving and I was going to surprise my sisters, because they thought I wasn't coming till Christmas. So, after writing what my unique Thanksgiving trip was going to be, A&E called me, then the story kinda turned. They wanted to hear about the label and recording my first single, and they turned it into an artist/going home to surprise family and sing the anthem kinda deal. It was pretty neat."

You were first 'discovered' by a talent agency, but what were some of your first media exposure gigs ...? "Oh my, it's so funny to go back and think of those times. Some of my first media gigs was singing the National Anthem for sporting events like the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Tigers, singing commercial jingles, hosting karaoke, then onto on-screen talent commercials for local businesses."

... and is there one funny, possibly embarrassingly funny story you can tell us that may have happened to you on this road to stardom?! "Oh yes ........ actually more than one but we'll just stick with one. I was getting ready to perform, and the place was filled, and I had decided to wear these high heels that I hadn't worn before. I mean, they were the cutest little strappy heels you'd ever seen. And, for those of you who don't know me, I'm a NIKE girl, so tennis shoes and flip flops are my favorite things to wear on my feet. So, they announce me to come up on stage, and as I was walking up on stage, the heel stuck in my pant leg and I came tumbling down on the stage in front of everyone. I laughed so hard that I couldn't sing for about 5 minutes. I am quite a clutz sometimes though, so my friends that were there weren't all that surprised. But since then, I've had a little more practice wearing heels, so hopefully that won't happen again, but I can't promise it won't!"

As a lot of dance acts have seemingly done, did it ever cross your mind to 'change' your name to some other one-name entity for your recordings? "It did cross my mind, only because if and when it ever does get to a level where everybody knows my name, then it's a little scary to think that you would be able to go into a phone book or the internet and find where I live, family and all that jazz. I did just want to be "Danielle", but my team and everyone around me agreed that Danielle Bollinger is good."

For fun, and taking the titles of a few of your album tracks, please let us know:

'Forget About Today' - OK, if you could truly forget about today, what recent day would you like to remember all about ... and why? "I would go back to when my baby sisters were born. It was the most beautiful experience of my life watching and experiencing the blessing of birth. But on the flipside, it taught me that I don't ever want to do that!!! Hahaha. Believe me, I had a new found respect for my mother after watching that! My sisters are 10 and 12 now, but it was a rejoiceful day, and I love them dearly."

'Feelin' Like A Fool' - When was the last time you felt like a fool ... and why?! "Well, if you must know ............... my philosphy is, hurt me once and your the fool, but hurt me twice than I'm the fool. I think everybody for the most part has and believes that, but sometimes you play the fool more than twice. I had an ongoing off and on relationship with someone who I thought would change and actually would, for about three weeks at a time, and then go back to his normal ways. So, I played the fool, but I was really young, and not so independent like I am now. I think being the fool, we can all relate too."

'You Want My Love' - Are you currently happily in love? "I'm always happily in love, look what I get to do everyday ............. my friends, my family, my fans, my stage and my voice is my love ......... and I'm always happy as long as I have those things!"

What '80s (and possibly cheesy!) song would you love to cover today if asked ... and why?! "I would have to say 'Meeting In The Ladies Room' by Klymaxx. Reason: Every girl has been there, done that!!!"

Lastly, I like Penguins ... do you?! "Well, gee ........ doesn't everybody? I mean, they wear those cute little tuxedo's!!!"

Interviewed by Russell A. Trunk

If you would like to win an AUTOGRAPHED copy of Danielle's brand new CD, just answer this easy question: Please finish off the title of this song from Danielle's upcoming debut CD: 'Tearstains On The ..........'?

Send me your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these great new and AUTOGRAPHED CDs! Just send us an e:mail here before May 15th with your answer and the subject title 'DANILLE BOLLINGER SIGNED CDs' to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net