Bio

I don’t love reading bios written in the third person, so here’s mine:

My name is Dan Collins. I’m a 35-year-old musician living in Madison, WI, where I write and record songs in my basement whenever my twin daughters and wife spare me a little free time.

I started playing piano at six and made a lot of music with a lot of talented people through high school. In 2012, I earned a jazz degree from UW-La Crosse, then spent a few years in Chicago making music with Nonpronto and a rotating cast of inspiring musicians. In 2017, I moved back to Madison to embrace my role as “band dad” for my director wife and focus on songwriting.

My upcoming album, Softy, will be streaming everywhere, with new singles dropping every three weeks through April 2025. The full 11-song album arrives in May.

You can hear my songs wherever you stream music. If you're curious to dig through my entire discography—including the stuff I’ve taken down—you’ll find it here on Bandcamp.

Thanks for listening.

Press

“One of the best songs I’ve heard on this show in 11 seasons.”
—Jonathan Suttin, 105.5 Project M (2019)

"...Listen up, people, there’s an artist at work here."
—Randy Erickson, La Crosse Tribune (2018)

"...immediately impressed with his vocal and piano chops."
—Matt Olson, Creative Path Podcast (2016)

"...singer/songwriter pianist/producer Dan, is one gifted guy."
—Bridal Musings (2014)

"... amazing songwriter, and a crazy-talented piano player." 
—Tim, "Tim Pan Alley Productions - Austin, TX" (2014)

“I was saying earlier Dan, that I think that you will be one of those people that in like 10, 20 years, we’ll be like, 'we had that kid on our show.'”
—Connie, "Connie and Fish, Z104 Madison" (2008)

"...one of the hardest working and most talented musicians I have met...will find success as a musician, there is no doubt in my mind about that."
—Nick Shattuck, Singer/Songwriter (2012)

"Songsmith extraordinaire... an extremely versatile songwriter..." 
—Frank Sommers, Producer (2012)

"Professor Karyn Quinn says Collins is one of the most talented pianists to have studied at UW-La Crosse."
—Waunakee Tribune (2012)

"...A local pop-rock trio [Dan Collins Trio] that evokes the sophisticated side of Ben Folds Five or Coldplay."
—The Second Supper, La Crosse (2010)

"His songwriting is a smooth blend of Ben Folds, Elton John and Jamie Cullum, with all the piano jazz-pop you’d expect from the town’s preeminent 22yo keyboardist."
—Zak Kaszynski, The Racquet (2012)