Hawkes Bay born, now Wellington based singer-songwriter Danica Bryant returns with her latest offering - Heart Eyes. A bold, catchy track about young girls being obsessed with male celebrities, Heart Eyes is sugar coated and sweet, but with an underlying darkness oozing through its cynical lyrics and distorted melodies.
It’s clear Danica has been working hard behind the scenes. In 2018, she won the National APRA Lyric writing award for her song Dizzy. The following year her song Sugarbones was featured on Play It Strange’s annual songwriting compilation. Since then, she has gone on to open for Elton John on his farewell tour, and has participated in the first ever Hawkes Bay Songhubs. Her debut EP Cider was released in July last year to critical acclaim.
With Heart Eyes, Danica really comes into her own. A powerful and memorable song, the track is mature in its songwriting and infectious in its melodies. Produced by Jonny Avery, Heart Eyes is a notable shift to a more polished pop sound for Danica. Her twangy yet compelling vocals are accompanied by gritty, distorted guitars. Combined with her tongue-in-cheek lyrics, these elements make for an exciting piece of pop perfection.
With another track set for release this year, the future is looking bright for this up and coming songwriter. Danica Bryant is certainly one of the most exciting pop artists emerging into the New Zealand music scene.
“Deliciously sweet yet shockingly bitter” (Under The Radar), Danica Bryant is no ordinary songwriter. A pop-folk musician with a gritty rock edge, her songs sink their teeth into intense topics from celebrity culture and mental health, to gender dynamics and body possession. “All hard guitar and pain-filled howl” (The Hook NZ), this woman bites back.
Bryant’s career boasts national accolades from Smokefree Rockquest and Play It Strange, mentorship with Kiwi legend Bic Runga, and a support slot for Elton John on his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour. Her 2020 debut EP Cider landed her a placement in APRA’s prestigious Songhubs course, whilst follow-up singles Heart Eyes and Ready to Bite saw her introduction to the NZ Hot Singles Chart.
With her 2022 sophomore EP Ego Death, Danica Bryant delivers bombastic pop production with lyrical force and an attitude like no other. “Venomous” yet “passionate” (Ambient Light), “cynical but emotional” (NZ Musician), it is clear Danica Bryant’s inventive sound, personal lyrics, and rich vocals make her a treat for every season.