The singer-songwriter was overwhelmed as she won last year’s Live Music Award after making the final cut for the second time in the space of three years.
She pipped The Dicksons and Domiciles to the gong, and as this year’s awards inch closer, she told Press:ON that the award win gave her a boost in confidence and got people talking.
She said: “It was a bit of a shock to win; I still don’t really understand it.
“I was used to smaller stages to a standing audience, so it was a really different vibe to what I was used to.
“It was one of the best gigs I’ve ever done and it was great to be recognised and give me that sense of validation not just in Dunfermline, but elsewhere.
“As a solo artist, it can sometimes be disheartening when you don’t have a bandmate beside to support you and give you a confidence boost when you need it.
“The award gave me that confidence.”
Her debut single, Bring Back the Sun, went down a storm and its launch night sold out in the space of three days.
She ended last year on a high, featuring on Moonlight Zoo’s festive number, Christmas Behind Bars.
For Deni, her music has taken a back seat as she focuses on attaining her primary education degree in Glasgow.
However, away from university, she has been doing her keyboard homework as she looks to add a new element to her music repertoire.
She continued: “I want to have a complete shake-up, using new inspirations and working on my writing style.
“I’m looking to step out of my own life and write as if I was an outsider, not just writing off my own personal experiences and tragedies!
“The award has given me a taste of success and I now feel I have the motivation to take three steps back to move 10 steps forward.”
Nominations are now open for the 2018 awards, which will culminate in a sparkling prizegiving ceremony at the Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline on Friday, June 8.
Our finalists will have the opportunity to perform live at the awards gala.
If you would like to nominate an act for the award, make sure you nominate by Wednesday, April 25.
To nominate, visit: www.newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/dunfcommchamp.