Monarch Artist Feature: Dani Markham
- Information VOICE_TRIBUNE
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Kelsey Knott • Photos By Matt Johnson • Styled By Miranda McDonald • Location- Jane
Whether captivating audiences with her drum performances or guiding students to grow their percussionist abilities, Dani Markham consistently makes a major impact on Louisville’s music scene onstage, in the recording studio, and in the classroom.
When she was seven, Markham’s second-grade teacher, Diane Downs, had a closet full of instruments meant for the end of the day when math and science were finished.“She could have been serving anything and I would have been eating it up–drums was the vehicle, but she had a way of motivating us and grabbing our attention. She allowed us to really be ourselves as kids and be weird. She would always say, ‘Hit like a girl.’ It was very empowering, and I absolutely fell in love with the drums as soon as I had sticks in my hand.” Downs started the Louisville Leopards from her classroom, one of the most prolific non-profit kid organizations around, fostering Markham’s love of music before attending the Youth Performing Arts school and taking private lessons with Todd Parker, the director of her high school percussion ensemble.
Those early positive experiences with the Louisville Leopards led her back there to teach, where she currently serves as Ensemble Director. “I love to see that I’m inspiring other percussionists and drummers, especially young women.” The joy she’s found in teaching has been paramount to her philosophy that hooking kids with joy captivates them, clearing the path to teach them anything, including teaching themselves and one another. “It’s a true blessing in life to even be placed in that role. What an honor to be considered for a position like that!” As someone from an athletically-driven family, Markham links her competitive drive as a percussionist to that of an athlete’s, fueling her fire to be great and bring her best effort for the team, or band. But she describes her inspiration and motivation behind it as constantly changing. “Now it’s my daughters, who’ve ignited a new fire inside of me and keep me excited about music and creative projects. They’ve put a microlens on my work ethic and discipline as my windows of time for myself have changed, so I’m motivated to get
more accomplished. It grows my dream of being creative and making music because I want to share that experience with them.” In motherhood, Markham finds herself busier than ever musically and creatively, which she attributes to “the magic of babies.”
While living in New York, Markham took a road trip out west that led to her two-year touring start with Tune-Yards on the Nikki Nack album. Later, she hit the road with Childish Gambino for Awaken My Love! and Bando Stone & The New World albums, giving her a chance to record on two of his albums and even perform on Saturday Night Live.
Her vocals, drums, and percussion are recorded in the song “No Excuses.” She credits these opportunities to her preparedness and respect for the music as well as her ability to be sensitive and listen to her surroundings. “The most important thing is supporting someone’s artistry without overthinking and overdoing it. Then when the opportunity to be creative opens up, being excited and willing to take some risks. Practicing and showing up prepared earns respect because people see that you’ve listened to and sat with their music, and given it time.” Markham holds drum endorsements for Latin Percussion, Ludwig, Musser, and Vater.
As a born and raised Louisvillian, Markham fully grasps how special the Monarch is to music and arts in the city. “It’s the greatest thing musically that’s happened for the community since I’ve been here.” A place for musicians to rehearse and network, the Monarch facilitates creative visions and connects artists in a tangible way. With Roadie, Markham recorded drums and percussion for the entirety of his album, Between Everything, and with Scott T. Smith and the Hurricanes, who is currently opening for Tyler Childers on tour, recorded on an album that is soon-to-be-released. “I facilitate support in artists’ visions. I always hope to reach as many people as possible. Scott T. Smith is one of my best friends, and I think one of the greatest songwriters of our time. His music is powerful, like medicine, and supporting somebody like him in reaching the masses, where I think he can really have a positive impact on our society is a dream for sure.”
This summer, find Dani Markham facilitating the Louisville Leopards Summer Drum Camp, or onstage producing and performing a quarterly “Undercover” event at Galaxie. Stream “No Excuses,” Between Everything, and new music coming soon.
