Danielle Doyle

She’s been gigging around town a lot lately, but there was always something essential missing from the merch table: an official debut album that captures Doyle’s penchant for little songs with big heart. The local singer-songwriter remedies that with the release of “The Cartographer’s Wife,’’ which she’ll celebrate with a cast of special guests who also appeared on the album. - The Boston Globe

Sommervile, MA-based Danielle Doyle has been garnering much attention among audiences and fellow musicians, since she first emerged on the scene at the beginning of 2009. Danielle has been named a 2009 Mountain Stage NewSong Youth Winner, a winner of the weekly Lizard Lounge Open Mic challenge and has earned some incredible supporting slots including opening for Loudon Wainwright III, Dawn Landes, and Heather Masse (of The Wailin’ Jennys). A true performer, Danielle’s songs are best heard when she’s singing them live, when beautiful melodies, “sultry alt-country” vocals, and rich lyrics are interspersed with relaxed and comic banter that makes you feel like you’ve known the young songwriter forever.


While the stories took years of crafting, The Cartographer’s Wife seemed to come together rather quickly. When it came time to hit the studio, Danielle enlisted friends and fellow Boston area up n’ comers to play on the album, including singer-songwriters Beth Colegrove and Meg Smallidge, members of Garlic & Moonshine, and John Nolan (of Flightless Buttress) who produced the album. The ten tracks were recorded live over three days at the Hi n’ Dry Recording Studio in Somerville, MA. Doyle's vocal's are warm, dark, yet very smooth.

There is no mistaking her signature sound. Not far from Natalie Merchant's sound and style, Danielle Doyle has a special, utterly unique voice that I could listen to at length. I stumbled across The Cartographer's Wife on Amazon and I knew at once this was somethng special, another good find that we bloggers live for. These ten original songs are intelligent and well-crafted (listen no further than the cover title), yet it's the overall soundscape that one is drawn to. The lyrics come around on repeated listenings. There is something about Doyles vocals, blending with the teriffic acoustic arrangements; the listener is drawn to the mood set by the music. There isn't a bad track on this recording. Highly recommended. - Call it Folk

I just stumbled upon Danielle Doyle, and she’s really good – smooth, sultry vocals in the alt-country style, with soulful and mysterious acoustic guitar and drums accompaniment. As with what I’m most liking these days, the music supports and enhances the vocals; never overshadows or obscures. Lovely. She’s supported such artists as Loudon Wainwright III, Dawn Landes, and Heather Masse (of The Wailin’ Jennys). I’m racing (as usual) to get this up, but her songwriting seems to come from a deep, personal place, and definitely deserves more attention than I can give right now. Check out her MySpace for some more backround and to have a listen. Along with her are two great bands. There’s Flightless Buttress, a marvelous duo of John Nolan (guitar) and Callie Peters (cello), performing a minimalist kind of acoustic/ambient music with I guess a touch of Americana in places. Nice. Garlic & Moonshine are a trio of Matthew Rowen (acoustic guitar, vocals), Avi David (electric guitar, vocals), and Kirsten Lamb (upright bass, banjo, vocals) are excellent as well, with a warm alt-country sound and lovely vocals. If you’re looking to kick back and unwind with some comforting, pretty music in a low-key venue, this is most definitely it. - Boston Survival Guide

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Muzikanten die zich een jaar of langer opsluiten in een studio om ongestoord te werken aan hun nieuwe 'project' zijn allang geen uitzondering meer. Musicians who are one year or longer locked up in a studio for private work on their new "project" are already no longer an exception. Hier nog even een vlekje wegpoetsen, daar nog een streepje gitaar invoegen, een extra laagje zang inlassen en maar blijven politoeren. Here are just a speck rub, there is a dash insert guitar, vocals insert an extra layer of polish and just continue. Net zolang totdat ook de laatste flenter spontaneïteit is verdwenen, er geen weerhaakje meer te bespeuren valt en er een professioneel afgewerkt product verschijnt. Just as long until the last flenter spontaneity is gone, no more noticeable hook again, and a professionally finished product appears.

Maar gelukkig zijn er ook nog heel wat artiesten die het veel eenvoudiger aanpakken. Fortunately, there are many artists that much easier to address. Zoals de verrukkelijke Amerikaanse songstress Danielle Doyle uit Somerville, Massachusetts. As the delightful American songstress Danielle Doyle from Somerville, Massachusetts. Die toverde met haar debuutalbum The Cartographer's Wife in amper drie dagen tijd een groeidiamantje te voorschijn. Who conjured her debut album The Cartographer's Wife in just three days time a diamond growth emerges. Zo kan het dus ook. So it can also.

Producer John Nolan en Danielle Doyle kozen ervoor om, al of niet gedreven door tijdsdruk, de tien songs op dit album live op te nemen, zonder overbodige overdubs of technische hoogstandjes. Producer John Doyle and Danielle Nolan chose to, whether or not driven by time constraints, the ten songs on this album live, to incorporate, without unnecessary overdubs or technical sophistication. En die directe aanpak is niet alleen glansrijk gelukt, het voorziet dit toch al goudeerlijke plaatje ook nog eens van een fikse dosis extra eerlijkheid. And the direct approach is not only gloriously succeeded, it provides this already honest picture even further by a fair amount of additional honesty.

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Doyle's songs steunen op sobere maar doordachte semiakoestische arrangementen, maar worden vooral gedragen door haar heerlijk zachte, ietwat hese en verleidelijke stem. Doyle's songs rely on simple but thoughtful semi-acoustic arrangements, but are primarily driven by her lovely soft, slightly husky and seductive voice. Haar wel heel eigen timbre lijkt te zijn samengesteld uit kleine dosissen Natalie Merchant, Beth Orton, Patty Griffin en Gabriella Cilmi, maar klinkt noot voor noot als Danielle Doyle. Her very own timbre seems to be composed of small doses of Natalie Merchant, Beth Orton, Patty Griffin and Gabriella Cilmi, but sounds note for note like Danielle Doyle.

Hoewel The Cartographer's Wife voor een debuutplaat opmerkelijk homogeen en uitgebalanceerd is, zijn er vijf nummers die boven de toch al hoge kwaliteit uitspringen. Although The Cartographer's Wife for a debut album remarkably homogeneous and balanced, there are five numbers above the already high jump. Opener My Bird (met de realistische en optimistische zinsnede 'My bird, my bird is a broken thing / My bird, my bird's got broken wings / But it still flies'), titeltrack The Cartographer's Wife , het fantastisch mooie en jazzy klinkende Sky , het kippenvel oproepende Roots/Wings en het beeldschone Lake Erie behoren tot het mooiste dat ik de voorbije maanden heb gehoord. Opener My Bird (with the realistic and optimistic phrase "My bird, my bird has a broken thing / My bird, my bird's got broken wings / But it still flies'), title track The Cartographer's Wife, the fabulous and jazzy sounding Sky, The goose calling Roots / Wings and the beautiful Lake Erie are among the most beautiful thing I've heard in recent months. En gezien de vele goede cd's die er de laatste tijd verschijnen, is dat alleen al een prestatie op zich. And given the many good CDs lately published, that alone is an achievement in itself.

Een naam om te onthouden: Danielle Doyle. A name to remember: Danielle Doyle. Een plaatje om van te houden: The Cartographer's Wife . A picture to love: The Cartographer's Wife. - Alt-Country Forum

Singer/Songwriter Danielle Doyle will be celebrating the release of her first album, The Cartographer's Wife, this Saturday the 13th at the Lizard Lounge. She will be playing with members for Garlic & Moonshine and The Flightless Buttress and many other local musicians.

Deli: What is one of your first memories of hearing music that really moved you?

Danielle Doyle: Josh Ritter has been my absolute favorite singer-songwriter for a very, very long time. For me, there's just no one out there doing it better right now. He's so incredibly talented. Seeing him live is life changing - I've never seen someone so happy, so passionate, so humble and appreciative of what he gets to do for a living. You see him live and you're like damn, I want that. So - I'm trying to.

Deli: When did you decide to go public with your art?

DD: When I was at Oberlin I founded and ran an open mic night at the music venue I worked at. I remember the first time I played, my friend in the audience gasped - a really, positive encouraging gasp. So I started playing every week. Thanks for gasping, Sam Sax.

Deli: Is the upcoming tour your first big tour? Are you excited about the CD release? What are the steps that lead you to this wonderful accomplishment?

DD: A whole lot of firsts for me - first CD and a huge CD release party at the Lizard Lounge, first tour. It's really exciting and I couldn't be happier. It's a lot of work but I really love all of it. I've taken a lot of classes at the Passim School of Music and I've interned and worked for some of my favorite artists' managers - so I'd like to think I know what I'm doing - but I'm learning every step of the way. As for the CD - I'm really happy with it. So many of my friends donated their time and their talent to making it happen and I couldn't have done it without them. Everyone who played on the album will be playing with me for my songs and playing with their respective bands throughout the night - and they're all fantastic!

Deli: What did you want to be when you grew up when you were a little kid?

DD: When I was little I would dress up and hide in the other room and I'd make my grandfather announce me: "Live from Las Vegas, it's Ms. Mary Mustard!" then I'd run in and sing and dance around their living room. So, I guess I'm doing pretty much the same thing now, except I think the songs I write are a little better now.

Deli: What are some "outside" influences on your songwriting? (i.e. pottery, Kubrick Movies, maps)

DD: "Salome" is (loosely) based on a Lovis Corinth painting. (I was an art history major in college.) "Pompeii" is about the end of the world, but the visual I get when I sing it is Mary Louise Parker riding a Segway out of Agrestic in the third season finale of Weeds. I'm a TV junkie. "Sky" is about the Trail of Tears - inspired by a Comparative American Studies course I took at Oberlin. Only a couple songs on the album are actually based on my life... because my life isn't too terribly interesting.

Deli: Describe Tom Bianchi in 5 words or less.

DD: Most supportive human being EVER. Seriously, I don't know if I ever would have pursued playing music for real without all the support and encouragement I get from Tom.

Deli: What advice do you have for young female performers who are looking to pursue a career in music?

DD: Meet Tom Bianchi. If you're good - he'll take care of you. - The Deli New England

I imagine a simple song is one of the hardest to write. I imagine it must seem every combination of words has already been used up. I imagine there are lots of false starts and endless revisions. I imagine at the end of the day you hope you’d wind up with something like “My Bird” off the new record The Cartographer’s Wife by Danielle Doyle.

This is Danielle Doyle’s debut record and was put together with the help of a bunch of up and coming Boston based artists. She has already been rewarded by being named a 2009 Mountain Stage New Song Youth Winner, as well as opening up for a bunch of luminaries (Loudon Wainwright III, Dawn Landes, Heather Masse). She’ll be appearing this Saturday at the fabled Club Passim in Cambridge for a matinee show with friend Beth Colegrove.

Pick up the new record here via CD Baby. - songs:illinois

Last week I came upon this folk album by New England singer - songwriter Danielle Doyle. After hearing the first track, Ms. Doyle immediately replaced Mr. Sufjan Stevens as my go to driving music.

Winner of the 2009 Mountain Stage NewSong Youth prize, her songs speak with a lyrical wit and vocal sophistication that fools you intobelieving she's been around the scene forever.

She has a somewhat soft but infinitely complex voice (much like Cat Power or Laura Veirs) that is accompanied by a slew of interesting instrumentals, including a toy piano, ukulele and the glockenspiel.

Danielle Doyle is from the greater Boston area and has been captivating local crowds for years, and with her album The Cartographer's Wife, I'm sure she'll capture legions of fans.

Look her up and hear the album here on Danielle Doyle's official website. - Mind Your Mana

Tonight at Blue, catch Somerville, Mass., singer-songwriter Danielle Doyle, who's been popping in and out of Portland in support of her debut album, "The Cartographer's Wife."

I checked out the title track and several other tracks at www.myspace.com/danielledoylemusic, and discovered a woman with a celestial voice who writes about longing, loneliness, cowboys, coal mines and murder confessions, among other things.

With a fresh turn into the alt-country landscape, Danielle Doyle certainly caught my ear. - The Portland Press Herald