In the sprawling, sun-soaked city of Los Angeles, where dreams are as common as the palm trees lining the streets, Danielle Lande is quietly orchestrating a revolution. This LA-born singer-songwriter, with a voice that echoes the soulful crooners of yesteryear and a vision that’s firmly set on the future, isn’t just making music – they’re creating a haven for queer artists through Queersound, their brainchild that’s become a vital platform for the LGBTQ+ music scene.
Lande’s soulful blend of pop and jazz is captivating audiences up and down the West Coast and beyond. Their intimate songwriting and distinctive sound have earned them recognition, including airplay on KCRW and an opening spot for the Grammy-nominated band The Marías. However, it’s Lande’s latest offering, the EP Love Never Dies, that’s poised to be their breakout moment.
“Sharing my music is very personal,” Lande explains. “It’s like I’m singing journal entries onstage.” It’s this unflinching honesty that’s becoming Lande’s calling card, each song a confessional booth where listeners can find solace in shared experiences. “The art is its own entity,” they explain, “and listeners experience it in their own way. A song becomes a shared idea that’s sort of outside of us, but connects us.”
Love Never Dies came out on July 16th, a date that holds special significance for them. “The release date is my grandma’s birthday,” Lande shares. “I’m looking forward to honoring her. I wrote the title track, Love Never Dies, about her passing and grieving that loss. She promised to always be with me, and I feel her often.”
The EP is a heartfelt exploration of different kinds of love—familial, platonic, and romantic. “It ties together the other songs I’ve released over the last year or so and celebrates the value and power of relationships,” Lande explains. The EP includes songs like You Don’t Know, Gone, Whatever You Say, and Natalia’s House, each showcasing Lande’s ability to blend pop, R&B, and jazz influences into a cohesive and emotionally resonant sound.
The title track, Love Never Dies, is especially meaningful to Danielle. “At almost every show, at least one person comes to talk to me after and tell me that song made them think of their own grandma or someone else important in their life who passed away. People get emotional and feel compelled to express their own feelings. l’ve been able to have these intimate moments with fans and it’s all because I dared myself to express the feelings that were hard for me to cope with. It’s an interesting and beautiful way to meet new people.”
To celebrate the release, Lande is hosting an event on July 27th at Scribble in Los Angeles, presented by Queersound. “We’ll be honoring our loved ones in spirit,” they say. “I felt called to create space to celebrate both her life and the lives of those we’ve all loved and lost. This song is for them too.” There will also be a screening of the new music video to accompany the EP.
Lande’s not only sharing their songs. Queersound, their monthly concert series featuring LGBTQ+ artists and bands, has become a beacon for queer artists looking for a place to showcase their talent or just a place to belong.
The idea for Queersound stemmed from Lande’s desire to connect with other queer artists. “When I first started performing as an artist in LA, I had trouble finding other queer artists,” Lande explains. “I wished there was a show I could get booked on or attend where I knew other queer artists would be on the lineup.”
So, in true DIY fashion, Lande created what they couldn’t find. Queersound was born in 2018, a labor of love that’s grown into a full-fledged movement. “It’s a huge undertaking to produce a recurring show,” Lande says with a laugh that’s equal parts exhaustion and exhilaration, “but I just love discovering and uplifting queer artists. I’m so proud of the work I’m doing with Queersound.”
From its humble beginnings at a DIY venue in Echo Park to its recent residency at the Silverlake Lounge, Queersound has grown into a pivotal space for queer voices in music. Lande has expanded the platform, coordinating additional shows at popular LA venues like Gold Diggers, Moroccan Lounge, and Resident. With the Silverlake Lounge now sold, Queersound is poised to enter another new chapter and Lande is committed to not only keeping it running, but building it into something even better.
In an era where being queer can sometimes feel bittersweet, Queersound is both a sanctuary and a soapbox. “It’s a scary time to be queer with all the legislation and the turning tides of society, but it’s also a time where it’s easier to connect with people outside of your immediate bubble through social media,” Lande muses. “I think it’s more necessary now than ever to build an intentional community.”
This sense of urgency and excitement fuels Lande’s work with Queersound. “It feels exciting to be doing work that involves discovering new queer artists because we can’t ever have too many. There are so many different ways to be queer,” they continue, “and we don’t see the nuances of queer lives depicted often. Even with increased queer representation in film and TV, a lot of the time, it’s still oversimplified. The minutiae of what you can express in a song is unique.”
Looking to the future, Lande’s vision for Queersound is as ambitious as their artistic journey. “I think we can expand a lot, not only doing bigger shows with bigger artists but also having more shows in more cities,” they say. “I think there’s an appetite for queer entertainment in plenty of places outside of LA. A lot of cities have their own unique queer music scenes, and I want Queersound to be a part of amplifying those voices.”
The event encapsulates Lande’s approach to their artistry – creating meaningful experiences that connect people through music. This same spirit drives their optimism about the evolving landscape of the music industry. Their vision extends beyond personal success to creating lasting change and opportunities for other queer artists. As Lande puts it, “I’m really happy with where I am. We’re in a different world now. When I was in high school, you couldn’t self-distribute music on Spotify, so even the way that I’ve been able to start my career on my own terms wasn’t an option when I first had the idea that I wanted to be a singer-songwriter. I don’t know what it will look like for the next generation, but that’s really cool. I think it’s exciting that so many small businesses are forming in the industry, and I hope to be part of building a new infrastructure for this version of the music industry.”
Danielle Lande stands out – not just for the dreams they’re chasing but for the doors they’re opening along the way. As Lande continues to push boundaries and champion queer voices, their impact on the music industry and the LGBTQ+ community is undeniable. Danielle is at the forefront of a new era in music – one where queer artists don’t just have a seat at the table; they’re building the whole damn restaurant.
Get your tickets for the EP release
Featured photo by Rachel Lewis
Connect with Danielle:
- Instagram: @daniellelande
- Spotify: Danielle Lande
- Website: Danielle Lande
- Website: Queersound
