Biog

“ Fantastic!… really, really gorgeous songs” – JANICE LONG, BBC

“Sensational” – TOM ROBINSON, BBC 6 MUSIC

“Magnificent…absolutely brilliant” – ALEX BAKER, KERRANG! RADIO

“… musical hooks plant themselves under your skin like jumping beans in the sun” – THE FLY

Dan has the sort of voice that could pop the cork of a champagne bottle, brutally honest lyrics that run sinuously close to the bone and melodies that plant themselves under your skin like jumping beans in the sun.

His debut release ‘The Balloon: The Bubble & The Box’ is a series of 3 EPs recorded with an eclectic ensemble that fuses ambient guitar, classical piano and strings with an explosive rhythm section.

Described as ’sensational’ by Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music) and as having ‘gorgeous songs’ by Janice Long (BBC), Dan has recently supported the likes of Lykke Li, Ida Maria, Kaki King, Joseph Arthur, Josh Ritter, and Maria McKee.

Dan was 1 of 6 artists selected by Tom Robinson and Notting Hill Music Publishing to take part in a songwriting retreat in a remote country house in Kent, all the acts will feature on Tom’s stage at Wychwood Festival.

History…

In the late 1970s, a young hippy couple in search of an adventure traded Wolverhampton (and their MG mgt) for California (and a VW Beetle). For two idyllic years they lapped up the atmosphere: sunshine, red wine, Bob Dylan, and Jackson Browne. When they landed back in Britain in ’79 it was with a bump; punk rock had arrived, Macdonalds restaurants had hit the high streets, little did they know that the biggest change was yet to come: Brenda was pregnant.

Dan was born 03.09.79 and promptly postponed any hopes of a swift return to the West Coast. They did eventually make it back across the Atlantic in ’82 (for a greyhound cross country trip), but couldn’t find permanent jobs and returned to Wolverhampton.

Encouraged to take piano lessons from the age of 6, Dan yearned for a guitar and wasted no time when he finally persuaded them to buy an £8 acoustic from the local junk shop.

A self-confessed ‘radio child’ (Dan’s Dad works in radio and is very passionate about the medium) Dan has inherited intense listening habits and a great respect for the importance of pop music in culture.

His musical career began as back up guitarist for fellow Wulfrunian Carina Round, followed by 3 years with Naomi (Liquid, Gut Records 1999), before fronting his own band ‘Sonara’ at the age of 21.

At the age of 21 he moved to London to pursue his musical ambitions and studied music at Westminster Uni, former alumni include Tom Baxter, The Feeling, and Infadels.