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Dan Nigro

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For the former commissioner of the New York City Fire Department, see Daniel A. Nigro.
Dan Nigro
Nigro in 2023
Born
Daniel Leonard Nigro

(1982-05-14) May 14, 1982 (age 42)
Long Island, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2001–present
Spouse
Emily
​
(m. 2020)​
Children1
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
  • keyboards
Formerly ofAs Tall as Lions

Daniel Leonard Nigro (/ˈnaɪɡroʊ/ NY-groh[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 Sky Ferreira, Joe Jonas, Kylie Minogue, Caroline Polachek, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Dermot Kennedy, Maisie Peters, and Conan Gray. He has received 16 Grammy nominations and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album for producing Sour in 2021.[4] He was named as the Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Awards.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

Daniel Leonard Nigro[6] was raised in Massapequa Park, New York, on Long Island,[7] to Louis, a second-generation business owner[8] and Claire, an artist specializing in oil painting.[9] In his youth he took piano, guitar, and voice lessons.[10] His sister, Alexa, co-founded the Scough fashion company[11] and his brother, Leonard, is an international chef.[12]

Nigro attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school. He said that he "never felt the need to go to college,"[13] but studied philosophy at Fordham University for three years.[citation needed]

Nigro married visual artist Emily Williams in September of 2020.[14] Together they have a daughter, Saoirse Raine,[15] who can be heard in the final seconds of Olivia Rodrigo's song "Teenage Dream".[16]

Career

[edit]

As Tall as Lions

[edit]

With high school friends Saen Fitzgerald and Cliff Sarcona, Nigro formed the indie rock band As Tall as Lions in December 2001, self-producing a four-song demo that included "King of the World", which became a local fan favorite.[17][18] During the next few years, the band endured lineup changes.[19][deprecated source] In 2002, they released their first EP Blood Aphorisms. In 2003, they signed a record deal with Island and Triple Crown Records[20] and left college with the full support of their parents to pursue music full-time.[21]

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!.[22] In 2009, You Can't Take It with You was released, peaking at number 88 on the Billboard 200 chart. By September 2010, the band split up. Upon the announcement of 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.[23]

Songwriting career

[edit]

Nigro moved to Los Angeles to become a songwriter, collaborating with childhood friend Justin Raisen.[24] He found initial success with a jingle for a McDonald's advertisement[25] and then with Sky Ferreira.[26]

Amusement Records

[edit]

After Nigro and singer-songwriter Chappell Roan had worked together for years, Roan was dropped by her former record label. To continue writing, producing and releasing songs together, Nigro formed Amusement Records, an independently funded imprint that has the freedom to partner any artist or label on any project.

As of September 2024, Roan is the only act signed to Amusement. Nigro also said that he “does see himself signing other acts to Amusement in the future. “But it’s about finding the person I want to invest 300 days of my time with,” he says. “It’s not simply finding an artist that I like and thinking that they’re great. It’s about, ‘Do we feel a connection that we can spend so much time making something and then promote it and find the right creative teams and annoy you about content?’ It’s everything.”[27]

Discography

[edit]

As Tall as Lions

[edit]
Album Release Date Label Billboard 200 peak
Lafcadio May 18, 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

[edit]
Key
‡ Indicates songs solely written or produced by Dan Nigro
Year Artist Song Album Written with Produced with
2011 Kimbra "Cameo Lover" Vows[28] Kimbra –
2012 Sky Ferreira "Lost in My Bedroom" Ghost Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen –
2013 "You're Not the One" Night Time, My Time[29] –
"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" Emotion 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 Stack, Empress Of Jim-E Stack, 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. 1 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" Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, St. Vincent
"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
Chappell Roan "Naked in Manhattan" The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Skyler Stonestreet Sole production ‡
"My Kink is Karma" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Justin Tranter
"Femininomenon" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz Mike Wise
"Casual" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Morgan St. Jean Ryan Linvill
2023 "Kaleidoscope" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz Sole production ‡
"Picture You"
"Red Wine Supernova" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Lisa hickox, Amy Kuney, Annie Schindel Noah Condrad, Lixa
"Hot to Go!" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz Sole production ‡
"After Midnight" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Casey Smith
"Coffee" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Maya Kurchner, Eric Leva
"Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Annika Bennett, Jonah Shy Mike Wise, Jonah Shy
"Guilty Pleasure" Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Marcus Andersson, Nate Campany Sole production ‡
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 Embarrassing" Sole production ‡
"The Grudge" Ryan Linvill
"Pretty Isn't Pretty" Olivia Rodrigo, Amy Allen Sole production ‡
"Teenage Dream" Olivia Rodrigo
"Can't Catch Me Now" The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Music From & Inspired By)
2024 "Obsessed" Guts (Spilled) Olivia Rodrigo, St. Vincent
"Girl I've Always Been" –
"Scared of My Guitar" Olivia Rodrigo, Amy Allen
"Stranger" –
"So American" Olivia Rodrigo
Chappell Roan "Good Luck, Babe!" Non-album single Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Justin Tranter
Conan Gray "Holidays"
TBA
 Conan Gray Ethan Gruska, Conan Gray

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Award Year[a] Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
ASCAP Pop Music Awards 2022 "Drivers License" (with Rodrigo) Winning Songwriters and Publishers Won [30]
"Good 4 U" (with Rodrigo, Williams and Farro) Won
"Deja Vu" (with Rodrigo, Clark) Won
2024 "Vampire (with Rodrigo) Songwriter of the Year Won [31]
Bad Idea Right? (with Rodrigo) Won
Gold Derby Film Awards 2024 "Can't Catch Me Now" (with Rodrigo) Best Original Song Nominated [32]
Gold List 2024 Won [33]
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards 2024 Best Song Written and/or Recording Created for a Film Nominated [34]
Grammy Awards 2022 Sour Best Pop Vocal Album (Producer and Engineer) Won [35][36]
Album of the Year Nominated
"Drivers License" Record of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
2024 Guts Best Pop Vocal Album (Producer and Engineer) Nominated [37]
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
Himself Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
2025 The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Best Pop Vocal Album (Producer and Engineer) Pending [38]
Album of the Year Pending
'Good Luck, Babe!' Record of the Year Pending
Song of the Year Pending
Can't Catch Me Now Best Song Written for Visual Media Pending
Himself Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Pending
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2023 "Can't Catch Me Now" Best Original Song in a Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Horror Film Won [39]
North Carolina Film Critics Association 2023 Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production Nominated [40]
Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards 2024 Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production Won [41]

Notes

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

References

[edit]
  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. ^ Grein, Paul. "Olivia Rodrigo & Daniel Nigro Named ASCAP Pop Music Songwriters of the Year for 2024" (8 May 2024). Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Nigro, Daniel Leonard. "ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  7. ^ "As Tall as Lions coming back from near-extinction". Chicago Tribune. August 24, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "Kleer-Fax - About Us". www.kleer-fax.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "art by claire".
  10. ^ Schenker, Joanne (February 20, 2008). "As Tall as Lions - Sonic Cocktails". GlideMagazine. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Blog, Maker’s Row. "Launching an Innovative Product with an American Factory". Maker’s Row Blog. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Incredible Life in Hong Kong: American Chef Anthony Burd Tells All". HuffPost. August 31, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Where is Dan Nigro from? Where did Dan Nigro go to college?". abtc.ng. June 30, 2023.
  14. ^ @dan_nigro (September 30, 2020). "I married the love of my life yesterday" – via Instagram.
  15. ^ Ledonne, Rob (January 24, 2024). "The Genius Of Dan Nigro: The Producer Of The Year Nominee On Olivia Rodrigo's 'GUTS' & Why His Success "Doesn't Feel Real"". Grammy Awards.
  16. ^ Chan, Tim (October 10, 2023). "Tears, Writer's Block and Four Other Revelations from Olivia Rodrigo's Surprise Show in L.A." The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "LAist Interview: Dan Nigro from As Tall as Lions". LAist. October 7, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  19. ^ "As Tall as Lions discography – RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "Triple Crown Records – Artists". triplecrownrecords.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "Roaring Back: As Tall as Lions, You Can't Take It With You". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "As Tall As Lions Performance Blitz". IGN. July 17, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ "How Daniel Nigro Went From Indie Rocker to 'Drivers License' Co-Writer". www.vice.com. March 3, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  25. ^ Noke-Edwards, Lewis (September 18, 2023). "5 pop star and producer collaborations that changed the game". Mixdown Magazine. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  26. ^ "How Daniel Nigro Went From Indie Rocker to 'Drivers License' Co-Writer". www.vice.com. March 3, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  27. ^ Havens, Lyndsey (June 9, 2023). "Inside Daniel Nigro's New Imprint Amusement Records". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  28. ^ Vows (Media notes). Kimbra. Warner Bros. Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Night Time, My Time (Media notes). Sky Ferreira. Capitol Records. 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ "2022 ASCAP Pop Music Awards". ASCAP.com. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  31. ^ Grein, Paul. "Olivia Rodrigo & Daniel Nigro Named ASCAP Pop Music Songwriters of the Year for 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  32. ^ "2024 Gold Derby Film Awards nominations: 'Barbenheimer' dominates". Gold Derby. January 22, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  33. ^ "Gold List Gold House". Gold House. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024.
  34. ^ "'Barbie' Leads Music Supervisors Guild Awards Nominations". Variety. January 22, 2024. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024.
  35. ^ "Here's the complete list of 2022 Grammy Award winners". Los Angeles Times. April 3, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  36. ^ Watts March 4, 2022, Cindy. "64th Grammy Awards Winners List: Chris Stapleton Is An Early Winner". CMT News. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". November 10, 2023.
  38. ^ Atkinson, Katie (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  39. ^ "2023 HMMA WINNERS AND NOMINEES". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  40. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 21, 2023). "The 2023 North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA) Nominations". NextbestPicture. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  41. ^ "Billie Eilish & Finneas, Ludwig Göransson Among Winners at 2024 SCL Awards: Full List". Billboard. February 14, 2024. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024.
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