Daniel Tavis Romano (born 1985) is a Canadian musician, poet and visual artist based out of his hometown of Welland, Ontario. He is primarily known as a solo artist, though he is also a member of Attack in Black and has collaborated with Julie Doiron, Tamara Lindeman and Frederick Squire. He has also produced and performed with City and Colour, the recording project of Dallas Green.
Romano is a partner in his own independent record label, You've Changed Records, along with Steve Lambke, of the Constantines.
Some of his notable visual work includes designs for M. Ward, Ben Kweller, Ladyhawk and City and Colour.
The Canadian music magazine Exclaim! has identified five distinct styles in Romano's work: a gentle, rustic folk sound personified by projects such as Daniel, Fred & Julie and Workin' for the Music Man, a retro country style on albums like Sleep Beneath the Willow and If I've Only One Time Askin, straight-ahead rock on Nerveless and How Ill Thy World Is Ordered, psychedelic rock on works like Modern Pressure and Visions of the Higher Dream, and punk rock in his works released under the band name Ancient Shapes.Laura Stanley, "The Five Faces of Daniel Romano". Exclaim!, September 29, 2020.
Romano's 2011 album Sleep Beneath the Willow was a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize, and his 2013 album Come Cry With Me was longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.
If I've Only One Time Askin''' was nominated for a 2016 Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
On January 4, 2018, Romano released two simultaneous surprise albums, Human Touch and Nerveless.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Romano released several new albums of both newly recorded and archival material in quick succession.Brad Wheeler, "Shape-shifting songster Daniel Romano can’t stop releasing albums". The Globe and Mail, May 29, 2020. This began with the surprise album Visions of the Higher Dream, which was made available on his Bandcamp page for just $3.Matt Bobkin, "Daniel Romano Enters Self-Quarantine, Surprise-Releases New Album". Exclaim!, March 17, 2020. He followed up with the live album Okay WowVish Khanna, "Daniel Romano's Outfit, 'OKAY WOW'". Exclaim!, March 27, 2020. and the studio album Content to Point the Way,Allie Gregory, "Daniel Romano's Outfit Drop 'Content to Point the Way'". Exclaim!, April 29, 2020. both recorded with his backing band The Outfit; and Super Pollen, a collaborative EP recorded with his brother Ian and Mike Haliechuk and Jonah Falco of Fucked Up.Scott Roos, "Daniel Romano's 'Super Pollen' EP Is a Low-Stakes Romp with High-Profile Collaborators". Exclaim!, April 28, 2020. In May, he followed up with Forever Love's Fool, a 22-minute progressive rock track recorded with Danny Carey of the band Tool.Calum Slingerland, "Daniel Romano's Outfit Share New Song with Tool's Danny Carey". Exclaim!, May 6, 2020.
On June 18, 2021, Romano released a live album titled Fully Plugged In. Romano also announced another new album, Cobra Poems, set to release on September 10, 2021. He is also featured on Doiron's 2021 album I Thought of You.Matt Bobkin, "Julie Doiron Announces 'I Thought of You,' First Solo Album in Nine Years". Exclaim!, September 21, 2021.
In 2022 and 2023, Romano has appeared at some shows on the Sadies' concert tour to support Colder Streams as a guest guitarist.Stephan Boissonneault, "The Sadies Carried On in Montreal". Exclaim!, February 16, 2023. In 2025, he was announced as playing guitar in Pig Pen, a new band formed with celebrity chef Matty Matheson and Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire.Alex Hudson, "Matty Matheson Forms Hardcore Band with Daniel Romano, AOF's Wade MacNeil". Exclaim!, March 18, 2025.
Discography
Daniel Romano's Outfit Daniel Romano's Outfit has had considerable turnover. Past and present members include David Nardi (guitar, past member), Roddy Rosetti (electric bass, past member), Ian Romano (drums, present member), Julianna Riolino (vocals, past member), Carson McHone (vocals and auxiliary percussion, current member) and Tommy Major (bass, vocals, current member. How Ill Thy World Is Ordered (2020) Cobra Poems (2021) La Luna (2022) Too Hot to Sleep (2024) Preservers of the Pearl (2026)
Solo albums Workin' for the Music Man (2010) Sleep Beneath the Willow (2011) Come Cry With Me (2013) If I've Only One Time Askin' (2015) Mosey (2016) Modern Pressure (2017) Finally Free (2018)
Live Albums Okay Wow (2020) Fully Plugged In (2021) Live in Oslo (2025)
The Archive Series Human Touch (2018) Nerveless (2018) Visions of the Higher Dream (2020) Content to Point the Way (2020) Dandelion (2020) Forever Love's Fool, feat. Danny Carey (2020) White Flag (2020) Daniel Romano's Outfit Do (What Could Have Been) Infidels By Bob Dylan & the Plugz (2020) Kissing the Foe (2021)
with Ancient Shapes Ancient Shapes (2016) Silent Rave (2018) A Flower That Wouldn't Bloom (2019)
With Steve Lambke as Spider Bite Spider Bite (2020) The Rainbow and the Dove (2023)
With Kelly Sloan and David Nardi as Alias Ensemble A Splendour of Heart (2020)
With Frederick Squire and Julie Doiron Daniel, Fred & Julie (2009)
EPs Songs for Misha (2009) Super Pollen'' (2020)
References
External links Official website