Who is Dan Nigro? All about Chappell Roan's record producer she shares with Olivia Rodrigo

Chappell Roan first tasted moderate success in 2015, when as a teenager she was signed by Atlantic Records following the discovery of the first song she'd uploaded on YouTube - Die Young.

However, Roan's first shot at success didn't last long as she was dropped by the record label five years later. In the Femininomenon singer's second attempt at making music work, it was Dan Nigro by her side when Chappell Roan found the mainstream success she had been working toward.

Dan Nigro, short for Daniel Leonard Nigro, is a 42-year-old musician, songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist from Long Island, New York.

Born to a second-generation business owner father and an oil painter mother, Nigro developed an interest in music early in life. Dan was a band member in As Tall As Lions as a teenager, after which he pursued songwriting, eventually leading to record production.

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Dan Nigro's past indie rock career, explored

Since his schooling days, Nigro was always inclined towards music. When Nigro was 16, he formed an indie rock band with his high school friends - Saen Fitzgerald and Cliff Sarcona. With Brian Fortune joining as the fourth member, the band self-produced a 4-song demo, which became a local fan favorite.

Four years later, the band released its debut EP Blood and Aphorisms, leading them to sign their first joint record deal with Island Records and Triple Crown Records in 2003. The following year, they released their debut studio album - Lafcadio - and began touring.

In 2004, As Tall As Lions' sophomore namesake album came out, which made way for their first headlining tour. The band's third and final album, You Can't Take It with You, was released five years later, setting the stage for their departure. The indie rock band split up the following year.

Talking to Fast Company about the band's break up in February 2024, Nigro pointed out that it was "just time to move on," further adding:

"Relationships get a little fraught and a little intense. It was hard for any one individual person’s ideas to fully get seen-through because we ran the band as a democracy. By 2008, 2009, there was a lot of tension in the band. I was feeling really unhappy and looking for a way to exit."

The split led to Daniel's move to Los Angeles, where he pursued a career as a songwriter. In the Fast Company interview, Nigro pointed out that it was with songwriting that he started to have fun with music again, saying:

"When you’re an artist you’re always thinking about, how does this reflect me? What do I wanna say? Who am I? There’s this deep-seated feeling of wanting to feel like you’re saying something that is important or special. When I was in a band I took myself a little too seriously in a way that is a little cringe now when I look back."

Dan Nigro's success in songwriting came swiftly as he worked with Sky Ferreira, Kylie Minogue, Conan Gray, Caroline Polacheck, and more recently, Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan.

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Nigro stuck with Chappell Roan after she was dropped by Atlantic Records

Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club was her first collaborative work with Dan Nigro, which he described as his "favorite" songwriting experience with another artist in the February 2024 Fast Company interview.

"I was so convinced of [her success] for so long. Pink Pony Club is one of my favorite little combos of songwriting with anybody I’ve ever had in my life. I was just so enthralled [with] what she was creating and what she had to say," Dan commented.

Despite Roan being dropped by Atlantic Records following the release of Pink Pony Club, Nigro stuck by her side, convinced of her talent and committed to bringing them both more creative freedom. This led to Dan opening his own label in 2023 - Amusement Records - and signing Chappell Roan as his first artist.

The Good Luck, Babe! singer, who was also part of the Fast Company interview, went on to say about Nigro:

“I’ve been working with Dan for six years and it’s grown to such a lovely creative relationship and friendship."

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Chappell Roan is currently on The Midwest Princess Tour, which will conclude on October 11, 2024. The European leg of her tour will begin on August 31, 2024, where the singer-songwriter has shows in six different countries.