Papua New Guinean singer Danielle, the first female winner of the ABC Pacific Break competition, is calling on female artists in Samoa to submit their music for the upcoming contest.

The 32-year-old mother of two made history in 2022 with her winning track “Fight”, a song originally written about West Papua’s struggle for freedom. The track later evolved into a tribute to the tribal conflicts occurring in Papua New Guinea at the time.

“I was completely caught off guard, and you can see me ugly crying and in complete shock because I did not expect it,” Danielle said, recalling the moment she found out she had won.

She revealed that she had entered the competition while navigating a difficult period in her life.

“At the time, I had gone through a separation,” she said. 

“I was in a relationship for like 10 years, and then I was trying to find myself. I always loved music, so I was like, okay, why don't I just put it out there and see what happens.”

Danielle said the competition became a turning point in rebuilding her confidence.

“Then, when I won, I was like, wait, what? What just happened?” she added.

The win opened new doors for the artist, allowing her to travel and connect with a wider audience.

“I’ve gone to see places I dreamed of visiting, like New Zealand and Sydney, through music and this competition,” she said.

Before the competition, Danielle noted that her music had limited reach.

“Maybe I had like one song that some people across the Pacific knew, but after this, when I see my stats now,” she said,

“I have people in Fiji, New Zealand, all over just listening. That’s such a great feeling.”

Her passion for singing began at a young age, performing church hymns and singing in the shower — much to the dismay of her parents. She officially began recording music in 2018.

Following her separation, she returned to music as a way to reconnect with herself. “Music was the first on the list,” she said.

Her growing success even caught the attention of her son, who asked her, “Mom, are you famous?” — a moment she described as a proud reminder that she is living the dream she once imagined as a young girl.

Looking ahead to the next Pacific Break competition, Danielle hopes to see more women step into the spotlight.

“There are so many female musicians and artists out there, but they just don’t put their stuff out. It’d be great to see female artists from Samoa,” she said.

“I met a few and I’m like, wow, so talented.”

She also offered words of encouragement to women hesitant to pursue music.

“From my own experience, there’s a lot of noise. There are people constantly trying to tell you that you’re not good enough or you can’t do it,” she said.

“There’s so much noise, and sometimes you just have to listen to yourself. Take the chance when you can, because life is too short. Life is way too short to be thinking about what the next step is. Just do it."