Danielle Nicole is excited to announce the release of her new album Fireflies, arriving August 28 via 40 Below Records. Pre-order here. Alongside the announcement, Nicole is sharing the album’s powerful new single, “Tug Of War,” a soulful anthem about reclaiming strength in the face of imbalance and emotional exhaustion. Pre-save here.
“I wrote ‘Tug Of War’ for anyone finding themself no longer willing to accept the terms of a one way relationship,” says Danielle.
Long celebrated for her commanding voice, masterful bass playing, and emotionally fearless songwriting, Danielle Nicole traces the beginning of her musical journey back to a transformative moment in her teenage years: seeing Etta James perform live in Kansas City.
“We had a great blues festival in Kansas City,” Nicole recalls, “and I was able to see Etta James perform. She was fearless. My parents were musicians who played in cover bands, so music was always part of my family — but I didn’t realize I wanted to sing and perform, too, until I heard Etta.”
That reverence for the great soul singers, storytellers, and trailblazers who came before her has fueled a career spanning nearly 25 years, including 10 Blues Music Awards, a Grammy nomination, and international acclaim as both a songwriter and performer. With Fireflies, Nicole delivers what may be her most personal and musically adventurous statement yet — a raw, deeply felt collection recorded live to analog tape that explores grief, resilience, empowerment, and transformation through a rich blend of blues, soul, R&B, and roots music.
“There’s a lot of soul-driven music here,” she says. “A lot of storytelling. It’s a major step forward in my songwriting.”
Produced by Tony Braunagel and recorded in Nicole’s hometown of Kansas City, Fireflies emerged during a profoundly emotional chapter in her life following the loss of her brother Kris — her lifelong friend, bandmate, and musical collaborator. Though grief initially made it difficult to complete the songs, Nicole found renewed inspiration through collaboration with guitarist Brandon Miller and legendary keyboardist Jim Pugh.
“Every album is an era of your life, where you write about whatever you’re going through,” Nicole explains. “When my brother passed away, I was still writing a lot, but my grief kept me from completing some of these songs. I had to push hard through the mental blocks.”
The resulting album balances vulnerability with strength. Songs like “Soulside” channel heartbreak into perseverance, while “Gaslight” and “Tug Of War” emerge as defiant, empowering declarations of self-worth. Elsewhere, “Take Me Back” reflects on Nicole’s Missouri upbringing and features Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars,
If previous albums like Cry No More and The Love You Bleed showcased the breadth of Nicole’s modern roots sound, Fireflies pushes even further into classic soul and R&B territory while remaining grounded in the blues tradition that launched her career. The album’s title track reflects on the quiet transition from innocence to adulthood — those fleeting moments when life changes before you even realize it.
Ultimately, Fireflies is both deeply personal and universally resonant: a record that honors loss while searching for light, connection, and what comes next.
Due August 28th via 40 Below Records. Pre-order here.
Shares empowering new single “Tug of War.” Pre-save here.
TOUR DATES
5.22 – Tampa, FL – Skipper’s Smokehouse
5.23 – Biloxi, MS – Ground Zero Blues Club
5.24 – Montgomery, AL – Capitol Oyster Bar
6.06 – Greeley, CO – Greeley Blues Jam
6.07 – Casper, WY – The Rialto
6.10 – Colorado Springs, CO – Lulu’s Downtown
6.12 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Utah Blues Fest
6.16 – Clarksdale, MS – Pinetop Perkins Workshop
6.20 – Kansas City, MO – Knucklehead’s
7.18 – Cadiz, SPAIN – XXVII Festival Isla del Blues
7.19 – Madrid, SPAIN – Sala Villanos
7.21 – Brezoi, ROMANIA – Open Air Blues Festival
7.23 – San Sebastián, SPAIN – Jazzaldia
8.22 – Sacramento, CA – The Sophia
8.23 – Livermore, CA – Almost Famous
8.25 – San Francisco, CA – Biscuits & Blues
8.26 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley
8.27 – Los Angeles, CA – Peppermint Club
8.28 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
8.29 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
8.30 – Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole
9.02 – The Woodlands, TX – Dosey Doe
9.03 – Fort Worth, TX – Billy Bob’s Texas
9.04 – Austin, TX – O4 Center
9.05 – Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard
9.12 – Escondido, CA – Center for the Arts
9.13 – Las Vegas, NV – Big Blues Bender
9.22 – Sellersville, PA – ST94
9.23 – NY NY – DROM
9.24 – Turners Falls, MA – Shea Theater TICKETS: https://events.leapevents.com/event/daniellenicole-shea
9.25 – Thomaston, ME – Watts Hall
9.26 – Old Saybrook, CT – The Kate
9.27 – Boston, MA – City Winery
9.30 – Buffalo, NY – Sportsmens Tavern
10.01 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box – Concert Hall
10.17 – Fairfield, IA – Fairfield Arts
11.03 – Leiden, Netherlands – Q-bus
11.04 – Verviers, Belgium – Spirit of 66
11.06 – Joldelund, Germany – Gerd’s Juke Joint
11.07 – Rheine, Germany – Stadthalle
11.08 – Weert, Netherlands – De Bosuil
11.09 – Kassel, Germany – Theaterstubchen
11.10 – Hamburg, Germany – Nica Jazz Club
11.12- Sumperk, Czechia – Blues Alive
11.13 – Wien, Austria – REIGEN Live
11.14 – Budapest, Hungary – Analog Music Hall
11.16 – Salzburg, Austria – Rockhouse
11.18.- Hembrechts, Germany – Textilmuseum
11.19 – Fulda, Germany – Kreuz
11.20 – Oss, Netherlands – Groene Engel
11.21. – Gaildorf, Germany – Haberlen
11.22. – Aalten, Netherlands – LSAmusic
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