Dan Nigro
Born
Daniel Leonard Nigro

(1982-05-14) May 14, 1982 (age 41)
Long Island, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2001–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
  • keyboards
Formerly ofAs Tall as Lions

Daniel Leonard Nigro (/ˈnaɪɡroʊ/ NIGH-gro[1]) is an American musician, songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer.[2] He was the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band As Tall as Lions.[3] Nigro has produced, written and co-written songs for Kylie Minogue, Caroline Polachek, Olivia Rodrigo, and Conan Gray. He won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album for producing Rodrigo’s 2021 album Sour.[4]

Early life

Daniel Leonard Nigro[5] was raised in Massapequa Park, New York, a village on Long Island.[6] In his youth he took piano, guitar and voice lessons.[7]

Career

As Tall as Lions

With high school friends Saen Fitzgerald and Cliff Sarcona, Nigro formed the indie rock band As Tall as Lions around 1998, self-producing a 4-song demo that included a song called "King of the World," which became a local fan favorite.[8][9] During the next few years, the band endured lineup changes.[10] In 2002, they released their first EP Blood Aphorisms. In 2003, they signed a record deal with Island and Triple Crown Records.[11] They left college with the full support of their parents to pursue music full-time.[12]

In 2004, the band released their debut album Lafcadio and began touring. In 2006, they released As Tall as Lions and began a headlining tour. In July 2007, they appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[13] In 2009, You Can't Take It with You was released, peaking at number 88 in the Billboard 200 chart. By September, 2010, the band split up. Upon announcing the news, their last shows sold out, and more were added to the schedule. They immediately planned their "reunion," which was performed in 2015 without new music to supplement it.[14]

Songwriting career

Nigro moved to Los Angeles, California to become a songwriter, collaborating with childhood friend, Justin Raisen.[15] He found initial success with a jingle for a McDonald's advertisement,[16] then with Sky Ferreira.[17]

Discography

As Tall as Lions

Album Release Date Label Billboard 200 peak
Lafcadio May 8, 2004 Triple Crown Records –
As Tall as Lions August 8, 2006 Triple Crown Records –
You Can't Take It With You August 18, 2009 Triple Crown Records 88

Songwriter and record producer

Key
‡ Indicates songs solely written or produced by Dan Nigro
Year Artist Song Album Written with Produced with
2011 Kimbra "Cameo Lover" Vows[18] Kimbra –
2012 Sky Ferreira "Lost in My Bedroom” Ghost EP Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen –
2013 "You're Not the One" Night Time, My Time[19] –
"I Blame Myself" Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen, Jordan Benik –
"I Will" Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen –
"Love in Stereo" Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen, Jeremiah Raisen –
2014 Kylie Minogue "If Only" Kiss Me Once Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen –
"Golden Boy" –
Billy Idol "Can't Break Me Down" Kings & Queens of the Underground Billy Idol, Greg Kurstin –
Dillon Francis "Hurricane" (featuring Lily Elise) Money Sucks, Friends Rule Dillon Hart Francis, Leah Hayes, Oliver Goldstein Dillon Francis, Oligee
2015 Twin Shadow "When the Lights Turn Out" Eclipse George Lewis, Wynne Bennett –
Little Boots "Help Too" Working Girl Little Boots Solee
Carly Rae Jepsen "When I Needed You" E•MO•TION Carly Rae Jepsen, Ariel Rechtshaid, Nate Campany, Tavish Crowe Ariel Rechtshaid
JR JR "Gone" JR JR Joshua Epstein, Mike Higgins, Daniel Zott –
2016 A-Trak "Parallel Lines" (featuring Phantogram) Non-album single A-Trak, Joshua Carter, Sarah Barthel, Dave 1, Cory Enemy, Mereki –
Zella Day "Man on the Moon" Man on the Moon / Hunnie Pie Zella Day Kerr Sole production ‡
"Hunnie Pie"
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness "Walking in My Sleep" Zombies on Broadway Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Morgan Kibby –
2017 Lo Moon "This Is It" Lo Moon Matt Lowell –
"Thorns" –
Lewis Capaldi "Mercy" Bloom Lewis Capaldi Sole production ‡
2018 Rae Morris "Physical Form" Someone Out There Rae Morris –
Finneas "Heaven" Non-album single Finneas O'Connell Finneas O'Connell
Lo Moon "Tried to Make You My Own" Lo Moon Matt Lowell, Christian Baker –
"My Money" Matt Lowell –
"Real Love" –
"The Right Thing" Matt Lowell, Samuel Stewart –
Empress Of "When I'm with Him" US Jim-E Stac, Empress Of Jim-E Stac, Empress Of
Conan Gray "Generation Why" Sunset Season – Sole production ‡
"Crush Culture" – Conan Gray
"Greek God" – Sole production ‡
"Lookalike" –
Lo Moon "For Me, It's You" Non-album single Matt Lowell Matt Lowell
2019 Grace VanderWaal "The City" LETTERS: VOL I Grace VanderWaal Ido Zmishlany
Riverdale Cast "These Are the Moments I Remember" Riverdale: Season 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) Christopher Gabriel –
Conan Gray "The King" Non-album single Conan Gray Solee
Hey Violet "Better by Myself" To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (Music from the Netflix Film) Casey Moreta, Gabe Simon, Rena Lovelis, Nia Lovelis
Freya Ridings "Castles" Freya Ridings Freya Ridings Mark Crew, Dan Priddy, Yves Rothman
Caroline Polachek "I Give Up" Pang Caroline Polachek, James Stack Caroline Polachek, Jim-E Stack, Dan Carey
"Look at Me Now" Caroline Polachek, Daniel Eisner Harle Caroline Polachek, Danny L Harle
"So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings" Caroline Polachek, Teddy Geiger Caroline Polachek
"Door" Caroline Polachek, James Stack, Daniel Eisner Harle Caroline Polachek, Jim-E Stack, Daniel Eisner Harle (co.)
Conan Gray "Checkmate" Kid Krow – Sole production ‡
"Comfort Crowd" Conan Gray
"Maniac"
2020 "Wish You Were Sober"
"The Cut That Always Bleeds" –
"Fight or Flight" –
"Affluenza" Conan Gray
"(Can We Be Friends?)" –
"Heather" – Jam City
"The Story" – Sole production ‡
Lyn Lapid "Producer Man" Non-album single Lyn Lapid
Chappell Roan "California" The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Kayleigh Rose Amstutz
"Love Me Anyway" Non-album single
"Pink Pony Club" The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
2021 half•alive "TIME 2" Non-album single Josh Taylor, J. Tyler Johnson, Brett Kramer & Ariel Rechtshaid –
Cautious Clay "Roots" Deadpan Love – Johan Lenox, Jim-E Stack, Cautious Clay
ROSIE "100 Headaches" Non-album single Rosaileen Scher –
Olivia Rodrigo "Brutal" Sour Olivia Rodrigo Sole production ‡
"Traitor"
"Drivers License"
"1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, St. Vincent Sole production ‡ Olivia Rodrigo(co.)
"Deja Vu"
"Good 4 U" Olivia Rodrigo Alexander 23(co.)
"Enough for You" – Olivia Rodrigo(co.)
"Happier" – Sole production ‡
"Jealousy, Jealousy" Olivia Rodrigo, Casey Smith Jam City(co.)
"Favorite Crime" Olivia Rodrigo Sole production ‡
"Hope Ur Ok"
Conan Gray "People Watching" Superache Conan Gray, Julia Michaels
"Astronomy" Conan Gray
2022 "Movies"
"Best Friend"
"Yours"
"Jigsaw"
"Family Line"
"Footnote"
"Memories"
"The Exit" Conan Gray, Julia Michaels Ryan Linvill
Hatchie "Quicksand" Giving the World Away Harriette Pilbeam, Joe Agius Sole production ‡
Maisie Peters "Good Enough" Non-album single Maisie Peters
2023 Caroline Polachek "Welcome To My Island" Desire, I Want To Turn Into You Caroline Polachek, James Stack Caroline Polachek, Danny L Harle, Jim-E Stack, A. G. Cook (add.)
Olivia Rodrigo "Vampire" Guts Olivia Rodrigo Sole production ‡
"Bad Idea Right?"
"All-American Bitch"
"Lacy"
"Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl"
"Logical" Olivia Rodrigo, Julia Michaels Ryan Linvill
"Get Him Back!" Olivia Rodrigo Alexander 23, Ian Kirkpatrick
"Love is Embarassing" Sole production ‡
"The Grudge" Ryan Linvill
"Pretty Isn't Pretty" Olivia Rodrigo, Amy Allen Sole production ‡
"Teenage Dream" Olivia Rodrigo

Awards and nominations

Award Year[a] Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
Grammy Awards 2022 Sour Best Pop Vocal Album (Producer and Engineer) Won [20][21]
Album of the Year Nominated
"Drivers License" Record of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
ASCAP Pop Music Awards 2022 "Drivers License" (with Rodrigo) Winning Songwriters and Publishers Won [22]
"Good 4 U" (with Rodrigo, Williams and Farro) Won
"Deja Vu" (with Rodrigo, Clark) Won
Grammy Awards 2024 Guts Best Pop Vocal Album (Producer and Engineer) Nominated [23]
Album of the Year Nominated
"Vampire" Record of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
"Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl" Best Rock Song Nominated

Notes

  1. ^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

  1. ^ "Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro Break Down Her New Single 'Deja Vu' – YouTube" – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "Daniel Nigro Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  3. ^ "Heavy Duty Music – Roster". Heavy Duty Music. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  4. ^ "Daniel Nigro". The Recording Academy. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Nigro, Daniel Leonard. "ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  6. ^ "As Tall as Lions coming back from near-extinction". Chicago Tribune. August 24, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  7. ^ Schenker, Joanne (February 20, 2008). "As Tall as Lions - Sonic Cocktails". GlideMagazine. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Gruber, Dorise (May 12, 2010). "Dan Nigro of As Tall As Lions". They Will Rock You. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "LAist Interview: Dan Nigro from As Tall as Lions". LAist. October 7, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "As Tall as Lions discography – RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "Triple Crown Records – Artists". triplecrownrecords.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "Roaring Back: As Tall as Lions, You Can't Take It With You". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "As Tall As Lions Performance Blitz". IGN. July 17, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  14. ^ NYC, Rachael Ciccone Going On in (June 2, 2023). "As Tall As Lions: Reunited And It Feels So Good". The Aquarian. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "How Daniel Nigro Went From Indie Rocker to 'Drivers License' Co-Writer". www.vice.com. March 3, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  16. ^ Noke-Edwards, Lewis (September 18, 2023). "5 pop star and producer collaborations that changed the game". Mixdown Magazine. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "How Daniel Nigro Went From Indie Rocker to 'Drivers License' Co-Writer". www.vice.com. March 3, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  18. ^ Vows (Media notes). Kimbra. Warner Bros. Records. 2011.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Night Time, My Time (Media notes). Sky Ferreira. Capitol Records. 2013.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ "Here's the complete list of 2022 Grammy Award winners". Los Angeles Times. April 3, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  21. ^ Watts March 4, 2022, Cindy. "64th Grammy Awards Winners List: Chris Stapleton Is An Early Winner". CMT News. Retrieved August 8, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "2022 ASCAP Pop Music Awards". ASCAP.com. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  23. ^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". November 10, 2023.
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