Country singer-songwriter Jacquie Daniels is "on Cloud 9" after returning from the North America Country Music Association International (NACMAI) competition with two trophies in her luggage.
Performing under her given name, Jacqueline Muzichuk, Daniels won Adult Horizon Female Entertainer in the traditional country category, and Adult Horizon Vocalist in the traditional country vocalist category during the March 13-19 competitions.
“Honestly, I was sitting with my group, and they kept saying, ‘Don’t worry, you’re going to win.’ I said, ‘I never win.’ I was in utter and complete disbelief when they called my name. It was so surreal. I’m used to competing and I usually get second place or no place. And to take home two awards has been a wild ride,” said Daniels. She was competing as part of a Global Country delegation from Alberta.
The self-described outlaw country vocalist, a rebel with attitude, loves nothing better than to go big and dress up in bright colours and full-bodied rhinestones. “I love being sparkly and standing out.” Even her stage name, Daniels, is a bad-ass play on Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey.
What is remarkable about Daniels’ win is that up until three years ago when COVID-19 hit, her music of choice was hard rock and grunge.
“COVID threw a wrench into things, and I decided to pivot. I couldn’t give up music. It keeps me sane. It de-stresses me. It keeps me grounded and gives me goals to achieve,” said the 2010 St. Albert Catholic High School graduate.
When Daniels transitioned genres, so did her performance style. While studying jazz and hip hop at DanceCo and taking part in high school musicals, she embraced theatricality. A naturally energetic individual, Daniels organically injected it into rock performances, running across the stage and putting on an electric show.
“I always knew who I was in rock. I had confidence, but in country I was the new kid on the block. These awards solidified who I am and who I can become. It gave me confidence at a time I didn’t think I belonged.”
Daniels’ current writing style is a roots-country blend with a dash of spice. When searching for inspiration, she turns to traditional luminaries such as Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams Jr.
“I like their writing structure. I think it’s been lost. A lot of people find depth in their songs. A lot of songs today are so commercial artists have to keep putting out new music.”
While the songwriter’s music brings together the upbeat and melancholy, there is also a degree of sentiment, nostalgia and compassion in her work. For instance, Memory Lane, a co-write with Sharon Purdy that Daniels sung at NACMAI details an elderly man’s grief.
The song’s heartbeat came after Purdy’s grandmother died and her grandfather was completely lost.
“There’s a line in there, ‘I still wear your shirt to bring your arms around me.” After I sang that song once, a woman told me her husband was having his sixth heart surgery. While she waited for him, she put on his clothes so she could feel him nearby. Sometimes you feel so alone, but in reality, everyone else is in some sort of trouble. We just feel trapped in our own mind.”
In looking back at NACMAI, Daniels said, “All those things I did in life, were in preparation for this moment. In every aspect of life I was taught to be humble, to be a team player and persevere. I don’t think anything would have happened if I didn’t continue to push myself and to be uncomfortable in front of crowds. I wouldn’t be in this place. To be in my comfort zone is not an option for me.”
