Concerts at the Commons event back in May wasn’t the first time that Sug Daniels brought her talent to Doylestown. Priding nonprofit Stage United, she says, “Joe Montone is an amazing human… he never disappoints.”

The folk rock and soul performance also included Erik Kramer (bass and backing vocals), Frankie DeRosa (flute, saxophone, violin, and backing vocals), Dylan Waterman (piano and backing vocals), and Keaton Thandi (drums). 

Daniels played the ArtWRKD Speakeasy several months ago and has also played at the Mercer Museum. She says it’s always a great time performing in Doylestown. 

Daniels can’t remember a time that she wasn’t singing. Growing up in Delaware, her background in performing began in the Sunday church choir and an annual Christmas tradition talent show with siblings and cousins. She says, “Performing and music have been a part of my upbringing, and I feel comfortable on stage. It feels like a gift that I get to give people.” 

From ages 14 to 22, she and two cousins were in a rap trio called “Flow City.” Laughing at the memory, she says, “We had horrible equipment, and our parents were trying to be as encouraging as they could.”

The trio took off quickly, landing opportunities to meet stars like Missy Elliot, and visiting music studios in Virginia and Miami.

Eventually, Daniels wanted to experiment with other music and express different ideas. She explains, “I felt like I was too young to be pigeon-holed.” 

She started a funk-soul group known as Hoochi Coochi. They played WXPN radio, and at events like The XPoNential Music Festival. It was during this time that Daniels began playing the ukulele.

She moved to Philadelphia four years ago. Her grandfather being a West Philly native, the city always felt like home for her.

When Daniels writes music, she feels like she is discovering something that has already been discovered. She explains, “A lot of my songs come from practicing other songs and messing up.” 

Once accidentally tuning her ukulele incorrectly and while practicing a song, the wrong tuning inspired an entirely new piece. She recalls, “I recorded it on my phone. The day was beautiful, so I played that recording over and over again while walking around Center City, and I ended up with a whole other song.”

Daniels says, “I can’t really decide I’m gonna write a song, it chooses me and I have to find the time and space for it.” 

Even as she’s been embarking on her solo journey, she works with more producers, engineers and musicians now than ever. 

Her current group is known as “The Chosen Family Band.” As a queer black woman, she is familiar with the phrase “chosen family” within the LGBTQA+ community. She says, “People get ostracized or rejected from their birth families, which is really sad, but the beautiful thing is that we find other people from all different walks of life, and we find a commonality.” 

Among other queer members, there are also allies in her chosen family. She emphasizes the bands' wide representation, remarking, “We have Indigenous people, and then we have white cis males, and the commonality is that we love bringing live performances to people, and making everyone feel seen and invited.”

The Chosen Family Band is always looking for new ways to spice up their shows. Daniels says, “We focus on making the performances as immersive as possible. Whether the concert is free or people bought tickets, they want an experience. It makes it more fun for us, too.”

Whether Daniels is performing with friends or solo, she loves connecting with people. She says, “No matter how big or small the audience, they're one entity and the goal is to make that entity feel seen.” 

Her folk Americana debut album “I Believe In You” was released last year. She is currently working on music within the realm of pop. Daniels reflects, “...And I started out my career with hip hop, it’s all relevant. The goal is to make something feel good and serve the song.”

Daniels believes that in spite of a musician's pressure to remain consistent, it is important to allow oneself to change. She elaborates,  “All of it is for the greater good of the alignment of your life, and when you’re walking in that alignment, that’s when doors open up for you.” 

While writing and creating, she tries not to think about others listening to her work, which allows her to make music for herself. Music helps Daniels work through things and gives her a point of reference for how far she has come. She says, “I’m creating these moments in time for myself to track how I'm growing on a personal and emotional level.”

Don’t miss an energetic performance by Sug Daniels and The Chosen Family Band at Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem, June 19th.