Every now and then, from the foggy depths of the sameness that hangs, like a pall, over today’s murky music scene, an artist emerges from the pack who wows me. An artist who has that special and indefinable something that is so unique that it reaches out from that fog commanding my full attention. Sometimes that oh-so rare artist is right here in our own back yard; a homegrown talent. A case in point is veteran singer-songwriter, Danielle Miraglia, born in Revere, Massachusetts. She is indeed that very special local talent who, in her area shows, has always resonated with New Hampshire audiences.

If you’ve had the good fortune to have taken in one of her pre-pandemic live performances, you know that they’re always a treat. If you’ve viewed her live streams, attended one of her house concerts, or simply slipped on one of her CDs at home, letting her music wash away the rigors of the day in the comfort of your easy chair, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

The petite Miraglia is a road-tested blues-rock dynamo with a gigantic talent in the tradition of Janis Joplin. She projects a rich, robust and gritty voice that lights up the darkness in a fiery and spirited way. Her sultry vocal delivery conjures up the spirits of blues legends from another era like the immortal Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Mamie Smith. In her earthy roadhouse blues style, they all come alive again. Her musical chops allow her to also dial it down at times, slipping seamlessly into a softer vocal tone that’s like the caress of a whispering evening breeze brushing your cheek. Add to this her gifted guitar playing, and you have a potent and intoxicating musical cocktail.

For me, her latest release, ‘Bright Shining Stars,’ a blues-rock folk collection scheduled for release on October 16th on the Vizztone label, showcases her multiple artistic talents. The breadth of the album’s 11 stellar offerings clearly shows that she has more to offer than just a great voice and accomplished guitar playing. There is a depth of feeling that comes through in a palpable way. Simply put, Mirgalia was built to be a blues rock singer.

She gets some help on ‘Bright Stars Shining’ from Laurence Scudder, a Viola player extraordinaire, local blues guitar virtuoso, Peter Parcek, and some sweet harmonica playing from Richard “Rosy” Rosenblatt. She also gets support from her husband, popular Boston-based rocker, Tom Bianchi, who wrote the album’s title song.

The song’s poignancy and human touch make it the albums’ standout track for sure. In a way that is both thoughtful and quite personal, Miraglia says, “The title track is a song written by my husband, Tom Bianchi. My favorite line in it is ‘Tragedy and dark times. They’ll chase us around. Sometimes the world is beautiful. Sometimes it lets you down.'” She adds, “I think that sums up the world we’re living in right now pretty well. But it’s also a reflection of the year we had as a family last year. In March of last year, my husband had a bad health scare that put us through the hardest thing we’ve ever had to go through, so life hasn’t been normal for us since 2019.” There is a creative maturity that bleeds through in her musical output. She draws upon her inner feelings and the personal life experiences that she has had along on her journey.

For those devotees of the roots rocking blues musical genre, listening to Danielle Mirgalia’s smoky voice is a bit like stretching out on a blanket on a soft summer evening, and gazing up at the stars as they dance across the night sky with each other. She’s that good.

Very much her own artist, she never attempts to emulate famous singers. However, as a huge Bonnie Raitt fan, across the years, I have sometimes heard a pleasing hint of Raitt come through in her musical stylings. Then, at other times, the ghost of Janis Joplin morphs its way into her voice. I hear the faint echo of both of these famous artists on this album. Her new album, and her musical influences, Miraglia says, “The covers are by some artists who’ve influenced me over the years. Janis Joplin was my biggest obsession as a teenager. While grunge was becoming a big thing, I was trying to make a pact with some musical force that I could be born again and be a teen in the 60’s just for the music.” I’ve always loved the title of one of her early songs, “All my Heroes are Ghosts.” It seems to capture her perfectly.

A powerhouse voice ignites from within this woman who was voted 2019 Female Performer of the Year at the New England Music Awards, and a nominee for the 2018/2019 Blues Artist of the Year by the Boston Music Awards. From a stylistic aspect, I’m left with the impression that she often seems to exist between multiple musical genres. At times, it feels like she’s just a tad too bluesy for rock, and on other tracks, perhaps she might be a bit too rock for blues. In the end, both styles work well for her. Regarding the finished product, she says, “I love the cut of Bob Dylan’s “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go.” Overall, she characterizes the album saying, “It’s not easy listening, but it’s easy to listen to. It’s pretty bare bone, but you can still groove to it.”

The 11 songs on her new CD incorporate some of her own original compositions sitting alongside a mix of standard songs from the storied Dylan, Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Janis Joplin, and Keb Mo. Her cover versions breathe new life into each one of those classic songs. As I say, her vocal stylings are an intoxicating musical mix that is made up of a shot of blues, a dash of roots, and a measure of rock. Bright Stars Shining is a must-purchase CD for those in need of a blues-rock fix.

Paul Collins is a freelance writer from Southborough, Massachusetts.

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