05/22/2026
Danielle Nicole releases fourth full length album “Fireflies” on August 28th
Danielle Nicole is excited to announce the release of her new album Fireflies, arriving August 28th via Forty Below Records. 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.
“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, induction into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, and the South Canada Blues Hall of Fame, as well as 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.
Bass/Vocals: Danielle Nicole
Guitar: Brandon Miller
Keys: Jim Pugh
Drums/Percussion: Tony Braunagel
Backing Vocals: Maxayne Lewis, Melodye Perry
Producer: Tony Braunagel
Engineer: Duane Trower
Recorded to 2” tape at Weights and Measures Soundlab in KCMO
Pre-Order “Fireflies” on iTunes
Fireflies by Danielle Nicole https://music.apple.com/us/album/fireflies/6770900414
