Name: Danielle Gibson
Age: 22 [2008]

BDH: Who is Danielle Gibson?
DG: Danielle is gonna be real, everyone lives the lives people want them to live i.e doctor, lawyer etc., people view music as a hobby. For me it was a gift from Jah I always knew was special and different. When I hear or sing music it gives me this all around peace and basically music is who I am. I'd rather be broke over music than to have riches from a job that makes me miserable. Its a tough job but I enjoy learning and the more I ask questions, read, watch, look, listen, and meditate on music, the more I'm crazy about sharing my dream with the world. My main genre I love to perform and passionate about is soca. I respect other genres but Soca is about Culture, that's realist not pretense. Danielle is young and upcoming and learning. Danielle is Soca Positive. Danielle is lead singer with Kartizan.

BDH: Who/What inspired you to push you into entertainment?
DG: I would have to say Jah/God...Kudos though to the Barbados Cadet & Defense Force because they were truly my starting grounds for my career and I thank them a million! My best friend Davian also kept inspiring. I have a lot of friends who were in cadets with me that really pushed me and kept asking for me to perform. It was crazy because I thought I wasn't all of that. Soca came through Kartizan the Band, so I would say BCC (Barbados Cadet Corp), BDF, and many other friends in cadets Robert, Azriel especially.

BDH: What was life like before becoming a singer?
DG: Life was hard, there wasn't really a big family support for what I always craved, but on the other hand I am a very smart girl so tried to make it simple. I went to school and did really well and was even Head Girl at DGS (Deighton Griffith Secondary). It wasn't really difficult because music was always there. Music is training me to be carefree.

BDH: Do you write your own music?
DG: Well this year [2008] I did 2 songs for Crop Over which did pretty ok for a first timer and I co-wrote 'We Need Love' with 'Linksee'. I also placed just behind the reserve for Party Monarch (that was thrilling). I am still writing mostly soca and I will continue to write. If others want to write for me I'm very open cause I'm learning but I love to write my own, it speaks for me...Lol.

BDH: What major events did you perform at so far?
DG: Crop Over Cavalcades for the last 3 years. Tims on the Highway, Holetown Festival, Kiddies Kadooment, NIFCA, Ship Inn alongside Strategy the Band, Reggae Lounge for Soca vs Reggae, Kartizan & Red Alarm (now Fully Loaded), Lion Castle Estate, all the others are minor, Hotels, Weddings, I also did a gig in the USVI for exchange B'dos & USVI & their Carnival as well as a small feature on a music truck.

BDH: How was it performing in the USVI?
DG: It was amazing on the truck. Their carnival is the same like Caribbean but the music is different yet I felt this real old time soca vibe going on. The heat was killing me but I enjoyed it at that time, Jam Band I think was the major band. It was a learning experience.

BDH: What year did you joined the band Kartizan?
DG: February 2006.

BDH: When Danielle isn't singing, what is Danielle Gibson doing? What does Danielle love doing outside of sining?
DG: I love to read a good book, Indra Rudder's 'Butterfly' was amazing, I love books on anything good and positive. Meditate and reflect on the goodness of God. Beach....... Beach.......Beach! I can dance (like salsa etc), I love to cook I'm amazing with sea foods and curries. I love to help people either very old or very young. I also love travelling, but when more cash flows lol, spending time with family, good friends and shopping for 'natural' things and most of all LEARNING.

BDH: Did you perform in a tent this year for Crop Over? If so which one?
DG: Yes I performed in House of Soca tent, judged with them for Party Monarch with 'We Need Love' written by 'Linskee' & myself.

BDH: We heard you performed outstanding at NIFCA, did you win anything?
DG: I won a silver when I was in 4th form and bronze when I was in fifth form. Another bronze medal came with the band I formed.
Well I wont say outstanding, it was ok, (being as humble as ever), but it was hard because I had to pool together the equipment and the right musicians I wanted for the band. Rehearsals weren't much because of timings and school and exams but when we got to the gala I was really really nervous, but when I got into the song and people gave a big applause I was humble. I almost cried because 1 of my key backups bailed out, but I'm thankful for the members, my twin sister also sang backups with me...lol she's shy for up front, but it was amazing I had a wonderful time. Just the other day a lady stopped me and said, "You sang "No Woman No Cry" about 4 years ago at NIFCA....u were great how is your career?" I felt like crying!

BDH: What is Danielle's ultimate dream?
DG: Danielle's dream is to first become the best female Soca Performer in Barbados, then Caribbean, then the world, touring with a band, having hits every year, doing interviews helpin sharing with people about her music n their music. I want to spread the reality of Soca and the artform. Just tour and perform some crazy and mesmerizing shows. To be on stage just performing, music videos etc the works, even a talk show some day. Collaborations with other soca artistes especially Machel HD Band and others That is truly my ultimate dream, to be a Soca Performing Artiste FULL TIME.

Danielle lastly must say thanks to all of her friends, family, the church, best friend Dave, the boys from Coast Guard, St. Anns Fort & Paragon. My neighbours, Kartizan the Band, many artistes, producers, djs and internet websites THANK YOU. Sing Vocal Arts Studio with Lisa Howell is my current vocal training team. Thanks a lot to Lisa, I don't know what else to say because she really helps me a lot with my journey as well as Wynelle, image consultant. Biggie Irie, John King, Mr.Dale, Mikey, Krosfyah family especially Rebel, Mikey Red Boyz and much more. Uprising Studios family, Steppa, Upright, Most Wanted, Jafar, Tito & Kevin X upcoming artiste & friend. So much friends to mention they know who they are.