For indie artist Daniel Nunnelee, a mere 15-second clip on TikTok transformed his life. Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, and now based in Nashville, where his early influences were rooted in church music, Nunnelee took the platform by storm with his heartfelt love song “Pick and Choose.”
In 2022, Nunnelee burst onto the music scene with his breakout single “Pick and Choose,” captivating listeners with a raw, emotionally charged sound that seamlessly blends folk storytelling with the edge of indie rock. The track quickly became viral, amassing over a million streams within ten days. This unexpected success paved the way for his 2024 debut album, June, Baby, a collection of songs showcasing his old-soul sensibilities and a fresh, wide-eyed perspective on navigating life’s challenges.
As Nunnelee prepared for his Arts at the Armory performance during his June, Baby tour, he spoke with Front of House Boston. During the conversation, he reflected on his swift rise on social media, the excitement surrounding his new music, and the joy of performing these profoundly personal songs live with his band, which he emphasizes includes his friends.
What was the inspiration behind “Pick and Choose”?
DN: I was releasing “Pick and Choose,” and everyone was like, “Oh my God, I can’t wait for the album.” I was like, “There’s not an album, guys. I haven’t written any more songs beyond this.” I recorded “Pick and Choose” and then posted it on TikTok, and it just started taking off. I thought, I guess I’ll just release this. I released it out of the blue, but I didn’t have anything to follow up after that. Instead of just throwing stuff out there, I took my time and wrote an album. I went out to some cabins in Colorado and Mississippi and wrote songs. I only write about things that happened to me, so life had to happen to have stuff to write about. A lot of it is about how my life changed that year. I was in a pretty serious relationship, and we had conflicting attachment styles, so I wrote a lot about that.
Your songs often convey a personal story. Could you walk me through your songwriting process?
DN: A lot of times, I like to remove myself. Being in nature is super helpful, and going on hikes helps. A lot of times, turning my phone off is super helpful, or putting it on airplane mode and being present with my feelings to see what comes up. Much of my favorite stuff has come from intentionally going somewhere else to write. It doesn’t necessarily mean a cabin trip; I’ll sometimes go down to where I used to go to school, MTSU, which is south of Nashville. I only went there for a year and a half, but I wrote a lot there, and there are a lot of little echo spots. Sometimes, I’ll just drive down there to write.
How has growing up in Tennessee and being involved in the church shaped your music today?
DN: I grew up going to church and am pretty heavily influenced by that, whether I want to admit it or not. That’s how I got started playing in front of people. When I was around 12, I was asked to start playing guitar at my church and began singing there. That was my stage. It wasn’t much, but it was the only stage in my tiny town. I was always using the stage I had, and it was just church at the time. I was singing worship and all that. A lot of that music is super simple; the melodies and choruses just hit, and everyone can sing along even if they only know the song. That’s kind of the point—so everyone can participate. I feel like that subconsciously impacted me because trying to write singable songs has always been a priority for me. I grew up singing simple songs and don’t try to write super complicated stuff.
When you decided to release “Pick and Choose,” did you expect it to go viral?
DN: No, definitely not. The funniest thing about the recording of “Pick and Choose” is that I was meeting with a bunch of managers at the time. I met with this one manager who was super cool and said, “Oh yeah, send me what you’re working on.” I was like, “Oh yeah, I have this song I’m really excited about called ‘Pick and Choose.’” So, I thought I’d send her the demo. But I had not recorded it yet. I whipped up a demo really quick, set up everything, played a little guitar, added some piano and slide guitar, and then sent it to her after about four hours. I was like a crazy person! She never responded. Then I posted that demo on TikTok, and people latched onto it—the version I made that day. That’s what I ended up putting out. Everyone kept saying I should make a full band version, but I thought, “If people are responding to this, I’m not going to change it.” Now, we have a full-band version, but people wanted to hear the demo first, so I decided to go with that.
After the huge success of “Pick and Choose,” did you feel any pressure to create new music, or did it inspire you to explore more creatively?
DN: I felt some pressure to make an EP of songs that were similar to “Pick and Choose,” thinking that’s what people wanted from me. But then I had to ask myself what I truly wanted to create. Some songs just needed to be stripped down, while others didn’t fit that vibe at all. Initially, I was trying to cater to what I thought the audience wanted to hear, but once I really focused on the production, I realized I needed to channel artists I love—like Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and Big Thief—and create something that resonated with me. I didn’t want to just make an acoustic album stripped down to the core, so I took a different direction than “Pick and Choose.” Ultimately, I believe people are drawn to what you genuinely want to create rather than what you think they want to hear.
Each song on June, Baby, has a distinct sound. Was that a deliberate choice, or were you exploring different sounds and styles while creating the album?
DN: I wouldn’t say it was necessarily intentional. We recorded everything in just one month in LA, using the same instruments throughout, so it’s fascinating to hear that it sounds different to you. But I actually like that it turned out that way. As for the tour, I’m really excited about how our set keeps changing! The first leg featured a four-piece band with my friend Noah on drums, who opened some shows, and my friend Chris on guitar. It was just a group of friends jamming out together. But then Noah had to move on to another gig, and Chris did too, so now my tour manager is playing drums, and he’s an incredible drummer. Ian is still on bass, so now we’re a three-piece.
You emphasize the importance of making music with friends and keeping them close in your band. Who would be your dream collaboration?
DN: I have a few dream collaborators—first, Tim Bernardes, who’s a Brazilian artist. I’ve been really into Joni Mitchell lately, too—she’s just incredible, but that feels a bit out of reach. Tim Bernardes is my favorite artist of all time. I’ve never traveled to see any artist before, but I’ve flown to see him a couple of times. He’s from Brazil and doesn’t come to the States often, but he’s starting to make his way through Los Angeles, which is really exciting. So, those two are definitely my top picks, along with Springsteen.
You recently released June, Baby, and are already working on a new music catalog. What would you like to say to your fans who have supported you since 2022?
DN: I think the biggest thing is that I’m just really thankful they’re here for the ride. The people coming out to these shows—I’m like, “You guys really care.” It had been two years since I put out music before this album, and the fact that they’re still here means a lot. I’m just happy and thankful. I promise I won’t wait two years to release more music. I’ll get it out as soon as I can.
As Nunnelee wraps up his June, Baby tour, it’s clear that he’s more than just a viral sensation—he’s an artist deeply connected to his craft and audience. His grounded approach to songwriting and commitment to authenticity has resonated with fans, old and new. Whether it’s a stripped-down acoustic ballad or a full-band production, Nunnelee’s music continues to captivate, proving that his rise is no fleeting moment. With new projects already on the horizon, this is just the beginning of what promises to be an inspiring journey for him and his listeners.
Daniel Nunnelee Online: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music
