Check Out Dan Snyder’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Snyder.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2006, my wife and I decided to quit our jobs and pursue things we were more passionate about.

I was driving armored cars at the time, a dangerous occupation that felt like it had no future. I quickly found myself in the world of recording and touring music. I was mostly playing keyboards for other artists. Over several years, I slowly began to give myself permission to share things that I was writing. The vulnerability of it was difficult but it led to starting of an alternative indie band called Paper Lights that toured nationally and recorded an album between 13 different National Parks.

As of recent, I have been given a lot of opportunities to work with more artists. I’ve always preferred touring as a sideman for someone else as opposed to my own music. It feels natural to support the creative vision of another artist and I definitely feel more equipped to support them have been in their shoes.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been one of the hardest things I have ever done. There are only a handful of ways to monetize your career as an artist so it’s very competitive.

I don’t think of myself as a very competitive person so I’m sure that has worked against me. Art feels like something always better with collaboration. I have always felt conflicted by the idea that I should compete with the same people I create with in order to get myself into a better position career-wise.

For me, musicians in Nashville have been far more supportive and less competitive than I would have expected. It’s amazing to feel like you’re part of a community who are all rooting for each other’s success.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I feel really lucky to be in a position to utilize different parts of the industry to fulfill different creative needs.

Touring is still a huge part of my life. I have never grown tired of the travel or playing keys and singing harmonies with a band. I’m also really grateful for the wide variety of genres that I have been privileged to tour with. In recent years I’ve gotten to play a lot of country music but before then it was more pop, gospel, and songwriter stuff.

On the other hand, I still get to write and produce songs for a variety of licensing projects and occasionally produce artist albums. Getting to switch gears so frequently has certainly left me with no boring days!

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My mom was a mural painter who always encouraged my sister and me to create. Even when we thought our work was bad, she would always find something in it to compliment and encourage.

I think it’s because of her that I have placed such a high value on art and the processes around creating it. So the ability to help another artist achieve their goals makes me the happiest. That has to be one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever felt.

Contact Info:

• Website:www.DanSnyderMusic.com
• Instagram: @DanimalSnyder
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danimalsnyder
• Twitter: @ThePaperLights
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaperLightsMusic 

Image Credits
Jeremy Cowart, Cory Michael, and Katlyn Bretting