# Dan Nigro

Daniel Leonard Nigro (/ˈnaɪɡroʊ/ NY-groh) is an American record producer and songwriter. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band As Tall as Lions. 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.
Nigro has been nominated for 16 Grammy Awards, from which he won Best Pop Vocal Album for his work on Rodrigo's Sour (2021) as well as Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 2025. In 2024, He was named "Producer of the Year" by Variety Hitmaker's and Songwriter of the Year at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards.

## Early life

Daniel Leonard Nigro was raised in Massapequa Park, New York, on Long Island, to Louis, a second-generation business owner and Claire, an artist specializing in oil painting. In his youth he took piano, guitar, and voice lessons. His sister, Alexa, co-founded the Scough fashion company and his brother, Leonard, is an international chef.
Nigro attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school. He once said that he "never felt the need to go to college", but went to Fordham University.

## Personal life

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

## Career
### As Tall as Lions

With high school friends Saen Fitzgerald and Cliff Sarcona, Nigro formed the indie rock band As Tall as Lions in 2001, self-producing a four-song demo that included "King of the World", which became a local fan favorite. During the next few years, the band endured lineup changes. In 2002, they released their first EP, Blood Aphorisms. In 2003, they signed a record deal with Island and Triple Crown Records and left college with the full support of their parents to pursue music full-time.
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!. 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 what would be billed as their reunion, which was performed in 2015 without new music to supplement it.

### Songwriting career

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

### Amusement Records

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 independent label Amusement Records.
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.” This is a common theme in Nigro's artistic career, helped along with the full support of his parents.

## Discography
### As Tall as Lions

| 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

Key :
| ‡ | Indicates songs solely written or produced by Dan Nigro |
| Year | Artist | Song | Album | Written with | Produced with |
| 2011 | Kimbra | "Cameo Lover" | Vows | Kimbra | – |
| 2012 | Sky Ferreira | "Lost in My Bedroom" | Ghost | Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen | – |
| 2013 | Sky Ferreira | "You're Not the One" | Night Time, My Time | Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen | – |
| 2013 | Sky Ferreira | "I Blame Myself" | Night Time, My Time | Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen, Jordan Benik | – |
| 2013 | Sky Ferreira | "I Will" | Night Time, My Time | Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen | – |
| 2013 | Sky Ferreira | "Love in Stereo" | Night Time, My Time | Sky Ferreira, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen, Jeremiah Raisen | – |
| 2014 | Kylie Minogue | "If Only" | Kiss Me Once | Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen | – |
| 2014 | Kylie Minogue | "Golden Boy" | Kiss Me Once | Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Raisen | – |
| 2014 | Billy Idol | "Can't Break Me Down" | Kings & Queens of the Underground | Billy Idol, Greg Kurstin | – |
| 2014 | 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 | – |
| 2015 | Little Boots | "Help Too" | Working Girl | Little Boots | Solee |
| 2015 | Carly Rae Jepsen | "When I Needed You" | Emotion | Carly Rae Jepsen, Ariel Rechtshaid, Nate Campany, Tavish Crowe | Ariel Rechtshaid |
| 2015 | 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 | – |
| 2016 | Zella Day | "Man on the Moon" | Man on the Moon / Hunnie Pie | Zella Day Kerr | Sole production ‡ |
| 2016 | Zella Day | "Hunnie Pie" | Man on the Moon / Hunnie Pie | Zella Day Kerr | Sole production ‡ |
| 2016 | 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 | – |
| 2017 | Lo Moon | "Thorns" | Lo Moon | Matt Lowell | – |
| 2017 | Lewis Capaldi | "Mercy" | Bloom | Lewis Capaldi | Sole production ‡ |
| 2018 | Rae Morris | "Physical Form" | Someone Out There | Rae Morris | – |
| 2018 | Finneas | "Heaven" | Non-album single | Finneas O'Connell | Finneas O'Connell |
| 2018 | Lo Moon | "Tried to Make You My Own" | Lo Moon | Matt Lowell, Christian Baker | – |
| 2018 | Lo Moon | "My Money" | Lo Moon | Matt Lowell | – |
| 2018 | Lo Moon | "Real Love" | Lo Moon | Matt Lowell | – |
| 2018 | Lo Moon | "The Right Thing" | Lo Moon | Matt Lowell, Samuel Stewart | – |
| 2018 | Empress Of | "When I'm with Him" | Us | Jim-E Stack, Empress Of | Jim-E Stack, Empress Of |
| 2018 | Conan Gray | "Generation Why" | Sunset Season | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2018 | Conan Gray | "Crush Culture" | Sunset Season | – | Conan Gray |
| 2018 | Conan Gray | "Greek God" | Sunset Season | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2018 | Conan Gray | "Lookalike" | Sunset Season | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2018 | 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 |
| 2019 | Riverdale cast | "These Are the Moments I Remember" | Riverdale: Season 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) | Christopher Gabriel | – |
| 2019 | Conan Gray | "The King" | Non-album single | Conan Gray | Solee |
| 2019 | 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 | Solee |
| 2019 | Freya Ridings | "Castles" | Freya Ridings | Freya Ridings | Mark Crew, Dan Priddy, Yves Rothman |
| 2019 | Caroline Polachek | "I Give Up" | Pang | Caroline Polachek, James Stack | Caroline Polachek, Jim-E Stack, Dan Carey |
| 2019 | Caroline Polachek | "Look at Me Now" | Pang | Caroline Polachek, Daniel Eisner Harle | Caroline Polachek, Danny L Harle |
| 2019 | Caroline Polachek | "So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings" | Pang | Caroline Polachek, Teddy Geiger | Caroline Polachek |
| 2019 | Caroline Polachek | "Door" | Pang | Caroline Polachek, James Stack, Daniel Eisner Harle | Caroline Polachek, Jim-E Stack, Daniel Eisner Harle (co.) |
| 2019 | Conan Gray | "Checkmate" | Kid Krow | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2019 | Conan Gray | "Comfort Crowd" | Kid Krow | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2019 | Conan Gray | "Maniac" | Kid Krow | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Conan Gray | "Wish You Were Sober" | Kid Krow | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Conan Gray | "The Cut That Always Bleeds" | Kid Krow | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Conan Gray | "Fight or Flight" | Kid Krow | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Conan Gray | "Affluenza" | Kid Krow | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Conan Gray | "(Can We Be Friends?)" | Kid Krow | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Conan Gray | "Heather" | Kid Krow | – | Jam City |
| 2020 | Conan Gray | "The Story" | Kid Krow | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Lyn Lapid | "Producer Man" | Non-album single | Lyn Lapid | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Chappell Roan | "California" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Chappell Roan | "Love Me Anyway" | Non-album single | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz | Sole production ‡ |
| 2020 | Chappell Roan | "Pink Pony Club" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz | Sole production ‡ |
| 2021 | Half Alive | "Time 2" | Non-album single | Josh Taylor, J. Tyler Johnson, Brett Kramer & Ariel Rechtshaid | – |
| 2021 | Cautious Clay | "Roots" | Deadpan Love | – | Johan Lenox, Jim-E Stack, Cautious Clay |
| 2021 | Rosie | "100 Headaches" | Non-album single | Rosaileen Scher | – |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Brutal" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Traitor" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Drivers License" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, St. Vincent | Sole production ‡ Olivia Rodrigo (co.) |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Deja Vu" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, St. Vincent |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Good 4 U" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | Alexander 23 (co.) |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Enough for You" | Sour | – | Olivia Rodrigo (co.) |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Happier" | Sour | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Jealousy, Jealousy" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo, Casey Smith | Jam City (co.) |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Favorite Crime" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Hope Ur Ok" | Sour | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2021 | Conan Gray | "People Watching" | Superache | Conan Gray, Julia Michaels | Sole production ‡ |
| 2021 | Conan Gray | "Astronomy" | Superache | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Conan Gray | "Movies" | Superache | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Conan Gray | "Best Friend" | Superache | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Conan Gray | "Yours" | Superache | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Conan Gray | "Jigsaw" | Superache | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Conan Gray | "Family Line" | Superache | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Conan Gray | "Footnote" | Superache | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Conan Gray | "Memories" | Superache | Conan Gray | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Conan Gray | "The Exit" | Superache | Conan Gray, Julia Michaels | Ryan Linvill |
| 2022 | Hatchie | "Quicksand" | Giving the World Away | Harriette Pilbeam, Joe Agius | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Maisie Peters | "Good Enough" | Non-album single | Maisie Peters | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Chappell Roan | "Naked in Manhattan" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Skyler Stonestreet | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Chappell Roan | "My Kink is Karma" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Justin Tranter | Sole production ‡ |
| 2022 | Chappell Roan | "Femininomenon" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz | Mike Wise |
| 2022 | Chappell Roan | "Casual" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Morgan St. Jean | Ryan Linvill |
| 2023 | Chappell Roan | "Kaleidoscope" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Chappell Roan | "Picture You" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Chappell Roan | "Red Wine Supernova" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Lisa hickox, Amy Kuney, Annie Schindel | Noah Condrad, Lixa |
| 2023 | Chappell Roan | "Hot to Go!" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Chappell Roan | "After Midnight" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Casey Smith | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Chappell Roan | "Coffee" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Maya Kurchner, Eric Leva | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Chappell Roan | "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Annika Bennett, Jonah Shy | Mike Wise, Jonah Shy |
| 2023 | Chappell Roan | "Guilty Pleasure" | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Marcus Andersson, Nate Campany | Sole production ‡ |
| 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.) |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Vampire" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Bad Idea Right?" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "All-American Bitch" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Lacy" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Logical" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo, Julia Michaels | Ryan Linvill |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Get Him Back!" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Alexander 23, Ian Kirkpatrick |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Love is Embarrassing" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "The Grudge" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Ryan Linvill |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Pretty Isn't Pretty" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo, Amy Allen | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Teenage Dream" | Guts | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2023 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Can't Catch Me Now" | The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Music From & Inspired By) | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2024 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Obsessed" | Guts (Spilled) | Olivia Rodrigo, St. Vincent | Sole production ‡ |
| 2024 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Girl I've Always Been" | Guts (Spilled) | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2024 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Scared of My Guitar" | Guts (Spilled) | Olivia Rodrigo, Amy Allen | Sole production ‡ |
| 2024 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Stranger" | Guts (Spilled) | – | Sole production ‡ |
| 2024 | Olivia Rodrigo | "So American" | Guts (Spilled) | Olivia Rodrigo | Sole production ‡ |
| 2024 | Chappell Roan | "Good Luck, Babe!" | Non-album singles | Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Justin Tranter | Sole production ‡ |
| 2024 | Conan Gray | "Holidays" | Non-album singles | Conan Gray | Ethan Gruska, Conan Gray |

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result |
| ASCAP Pop Music Awards | 2022 | "Drivers License" (with Rodrigo) | Winning Songwriters and Publishers | Won |
| ASCAP Pop Music Awards | 2022 | "Good 4 U" (with Rodrigo, Williams and Farro) | Winning Songwriters and Publishers | Won |
| ASCAP Pop Music Awards | 2022 | "Deja Vu" (with Rodrigo, Clark) | Winning Songwriters and Publishers | Won |
| ASCAP Pop Music Awards | 2024 | "Vampire (with Rodrigo) | Songwriter of the Year | Won |
| ASCAP Pop Music Awards | 2024 | Bad Idea Right? (with Rodrigo) | Songwriter of the Year | Won |
| Billboard Music Awards | 2024 | Himself | Top Hot 100 Producer | Nominated |
| Gold Derby Film Awards | 2024 | "Can't Catch Me Now" (with Rodrigo) | Best Original Song | Nominated |
| Gold List | 2024 | "Can't Catch Me Now" (with Rodrigo) | Best Original Song | Won |
| Guild of Music Supervisors Awards | 2024 | "Can't Catch Me Now" (with Rodrigo) | Best Song Written and/or Recording Created for a Film | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2022 | Sour | Best Pop Vocal Album (Producer and Engineer) | Won |
| Grammy Awards | 2022 | Sour | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2022 | "Drivers License" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2022 | "Drivers License" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2024 | Guts | Best Pop Vocal Album (Producer and Engineer) | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2024 | Guts | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2024 | "Vampire" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2024 | "Vampire" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2024 | "Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl" | Best Rock Song | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2024 | Himself | Producer of the Year, Non-Classical | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Best Pop Vocal Album (Producer and Engineer) | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | "Good Luck, Babe!" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | "Good Luck, Babe!" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | "Can't Catch Me Now" | Best Song Written for Visual Media | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | Himself | Producer of the Year, Non-Classical | Won |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | 2023 | "Can't Catch Me Now" | Best Original Song in a Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Horror Film | Won |
| North Carolina Film Critics Association | 2023 | "Can't Catch Me Now" | Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production | Nominated |
| Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards | 2024 | "Can't Catch Me Now" | Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production | Won |
| Variety Hitmakers | 2024 | Himself | Producer of the Year | Won |