Dan Lancaster
Dan Lancaster is a British record producer, mixer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in London, best known for his genre-bending production style that fuses rock, pop, and electronic elements to create dynamic, emotionally resonant records. With over a decade of professional experience, he began his career as the lead singer and guitarist of the post-hardcore band Proceed before transitioning to production work from a home studio. Lancaster has earned acclaim for collaborating with major artists such as Bring Me the Horizon (including mixing and co-producing their albums That's the Spirit and the UK number-one amo), Blink-182 (mixing their UK number-one album California), Muse, 5 Seconds of Summer, One OK Rock, Nothing But Thieves, Good Charlotte, Don Broco, and Lower Than Atlantis.[1][2] His contributions have resulted in multiple platinum and gold-certified albums that topped charts in the UK, US, Japan, Canada, and Australia, as well as records amassing over 1.3 billion Spotify streams as of 2020 and numerous BBC Radio 1 A-list placements in recent years.[2] A three-time Grammy nominee, Lancaster has also received two nominations for Producer of the Year at the Heavy Music Awards in 2017 and 2018.[2] He continues to work with major artists into 2025, including renewed collaborations with Bring Me the Horizon, production on Pendulum and Muse releases, and contributions to One OK Rock's DETOX.[3][4][5] In addition to his behind-the-scenes work, he has pursued a solo artist career since 2018, releasing singles like "Move a Mountain" and "Wild Life" and performing a sold-out debut show at London's Oslo venue, while occasionally joining artists like Bring Me the Horizon for live performances.[2][1]Early life and career beginnings
Early influences and self-training
Dan Lancaster was born in London, England, with the exact date not publicly detailed.[2] Growing up in the UK, he initially aspired to perform as a musician in a band rather than pursue production.[6] Lancaster developed his production skills through self-directed learning, beginning around age 22 when he set up a basic home studio in a room at his brother's factory. Equipped with Pro Tools and an audio interface, he immersed himself in the software overnight, marking the start of an intense, trial-and-error process that defined his early training. Without access to modern resources like YouTube tutorials, he relied on publications such as Sound on Sound magazine and online forums to troubleshoot techniques, particularly focusing on challenging elements like drum recording.[6] His early experiments were influenced by post-hardcore and rock genres, stemming from his involvement in the local music scene as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. This led to hands-on work with recording equipment, creating initial home demos for personal projects and local acts. By 2009, these efforts culminated in his first paid production gig for a local rock band, charging £200 to record five songs, which helped solidify his technical foundation through informal collaborations and iterative practice.[6][1][7]Involvement with Proceed
Dan Lancaster began his music career as the lead singer and guitarist of the British post-hardcore band Proceed, which formed in the late 2000s in Hertfordshire, UK.[8] The lineup also featured Tom Doyle on bass, Ash Hughes on guitar, Brad Jackson on drums, and Adam Faires on electronics and backing vocals.[9] Proceed drew from post-hardcore influences, blending aggressive riffs with electronic elements, and quickly established a presence in the underground scene through consistent live activity.[9] In June 2010, Proceed self-released their debut EP Curious Electric independently via their own label (Not On Label – PRO002).[9] The EP consisted of seven tracks, showcasing Lancaster's songwriting and vocal delivery alongside the band's dynamic instrumentation:| Track Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Fight / Flight | 1:01 |
| Melancholy Monday | 5:02 |
| Visual Field | 3:18 |
| Strange Meeting | 4:02 |
| Nightshift | 3:13 |
| A Tricycle Journey | 3:14 |
| A Pointless Voyage | 6:00 |
Production and songwriting career
Breakthrough productions
Following the dissolution of his band Proceed, Lancaster transitioned to professional production in 2012, leveraging his self-taught engineering skills to work with emerging local UK acts in the rock and alternative genres.[12][1] Lancaster's first major production credit came with Don Broco's debut album Priorities, released in August 2012, where he served as producer, engineer, and mixer across the record.[13] His involvement helped craft the album's energetic pop-punk sound, blending catchy hooks with dynamic arrangements on tracks like the title song "Priorities" and "Hold On," which he fully produced.[14] The album debuted and peaked at number 25 on the UK Albums Chart, marking an early commercial breakthrough for both the band and Lancaster.[15] In 2014, Lancaster made his initial foray into pop-rock songwriting by co-writing "Heartache on the Big Screen" for 5 Seconds of Summer's self-titled debut album, collaborating with band members Ashton Irwin, Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, and Mike Duce.[16] He also co-produced the track alongside Duce, contributing to its anthemic structure and emotional buildup that fit the album's youthful, high-energy vibe.[17] Lancaster deepened his partnership with Don Broco on their sophomore album Automatic, released in August 2015, providing additional production, programming on several tracks (including the title song "Automatic"), and co-writing contributions to songs like "What Can We Pretend?" and "Stay."[18][19] His arrangement work emphasized the band's evolving mix of alternative rock and electronic elements, supporting primary producer Jason Perry.[20] The album achieved greater success, peaking at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart and solidifying Lancaster's reputation in the UK rock scene.[21]Major artist collaborations
Lancaster's collaboration with Bring Me the Horizon began in 2015 with their fifth studio album That's the Spirit, where he served as co-producer and mixer, contributing to the band's shift from metalcore roots toward a more accessible alternative rock sound incorporating electronic elements and pop sensibilities.[1] This partnership marked a pivotal moment in Lancaster's career, with his involvement on tracks like the introspective opener "Doomed" helping to refine the album's polished production.[22] That's the Spirit debuted at number 2 on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, selling over 68,000 copies in its first week in the US alone.[23][24] The working relationship extended to Bring Me the Horizon's 2019 album amo, where Lancaster handled mixing duties and contributed to the creative process on select tracks, including the lead single "Mantra," an anthemic track blending nu-metal riffs with trap influences.[25] His efforts helped shape the album's diverse sonic palette, which included a cover of Oasis's "Wonderwall" reimagined as "WONDERWaLL" for a 2025 Spotify Singles release, produced by Lancaster to emphasize the band's evolving pop-rock edge.[26] Amo achieved commercial success, topping the UK Albums Chart and the Australian ARIA Albums Chart upon release.[27][28] In the mid-2010s, Lancaster expanded his international reach through production work with Japanese rock band One OK Rock on their 2017 EP Ambitions, co-writing and producing tracks like "Taking Off," which showcased his ability to blend high-energy rock with electronic production for global appeal.[29] Similarly, he produced Lower Than Atlantis's 2017 album Safe in Sound, guiding the UK band's transition to a more mature alt-rock sound across its 11 tracks, recorded at Miloco Studios in London. These projects built on Lancaster's earlier UK successes, such as his breakthrough co-writing and production with Don Broco on their 2012 debut Priorities.[22] More recently, Lancaster co-produced Three Days Grace's 2024 single "Mayday," featuring reuniting vocalists Adam Gontier and Matt Walst, delivering a hard-hitting alternative rock track that reached number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.[30] In 2025, he contributed production and songwriting to Pendulum's long-awaited fourth album Inertia, including co-writing on tracks like "Save The Cat,"[31] which fused drum and bass with rock elements for the Australian electronic band's return after a 15-year hiatus.[32]Mixing and engineering work
Signature techniques
Dan Lancaster's mixing and engineering philosophy centers on a hybrid analog-digital workflow, leveraging the warmth of analog hardware for recording and the precision of digital tools for processing and final mixes. This approach allows him to capture the organic feel of live instrumentation while integrating electronic elements seamlessly, particularly in rock productions where he emphasizes clarity and sustained energy. For instance, he frequently employs analog microphones like the Telefunken ELA M251 paired with Brent Averill X73 preamps during tracking, transitioning to Pro Tools for digital manipulation to refine balances without losing instrumental punch.[33][1] A key tool in his digital arsenal is the Elastique Pitch V2 plugin from zplane, which he favors for its clean pitch correction and time-stretching capabilities on both vocals and polyphonic elements like guitar stacks. Lancaster uses it to adjust timbre and formants dynamically—for example, shifting the pitch of entire guitar groups to create a "hyper pot" effect—avoiding the artifacts common in other processors like Auto-Tune when dealing with complex, reverberant sources. This technique enables subtle enhancements that maintain the natural energy of performances while adapting to creative needs, such as speeding up or slowing down sections to fit evolving song vibes.[34] Lancaster's genre-bending style in rock records involves blending electronic textures with live instrumentation to achieve heightened clarity and drive, ensuring that synthetic elements enhance rather than overshadow the organic core. He prioritizes this integration to produce mixes that feel both massive and intimate, drawing from his experience in post-hardcore to push boundaries in modern rock without compromising instrumental definition. This method has been applied effectively in collaborations like those with Bring Me the Horizon, where electronic chaos is humanized for balanced impact.[1] To accommodate his frequent studio relocations, Lancaster has adopted mobile adaptations centered on the Trinnov NOVA system for rapid room correction, addressing acoustic inconsistencies that arise from varying environments. The NOVA optimizes phase and EQ—such as filling 100Hz dips or smoothing 2-3kHz curves—providing a flat response that boosts his mixing confidence and efficiency, regardless of the space. Initially skeptical of automated corrections, he now relies on its sit-stand profiles and quick setup to eliminate time lost recalibrating, allowing focus on creative decisions amid his nomadic workflow.[35] His Grammy-nominated mixing on Blink-182's California (2016) exemplifies a vocal-forward approach in pop-punk, where he balanced prominent, compressed vocals against tight instrumentation to recapture the band's energetic essence. Using tools like the Slate Dragon compressor (4:1 ratio, 3-5 dB gain reduction) on vocals, Lancaster ensured they cut through the mix with polish and immediacy, contributing to the album's cohesive, radio-ready sound. This technique underscores his philosophy of prioritizing song-driving elements for maximum listener engagement.[33]Notable mixing projects
Lancaster's mixing contributions to Bring Me the Horizon's Post Human: Survival Horror (2020) played a pivotal role in shaping the EP's intense, genre-blending sound during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Released digitally on October 30, 2020, the project debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart upon initial release and climbed to number one in January 2021 following its physical rollout, marking the band's second UK chart-topper.[36] Critics praised the EP's aggressive metalcore riffs fused with electronic and nu-metal elements, earning a 4/5 rating from Kerrang! for its creative evolution and lockdown-inspired resilience.[37] Lancaster handled mixing duties on several tracks, including "Parasite Eve" and "Ludens," enhancing the production's dynamic range to suit remote collaboration constraints.[38] His work on Blink-182's California (2016) included mixing key tracks such as "California," "Left Alone," and "Wildfire," contributing to the album's polished pop-punk revival. The record debuted at number one on both the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart, selling over 100,000 copies in its first week in the US alone. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, highlighting its commercial resurgence for the band. Reviews commended the album's energetic hooks and nostalgic edge, with Rolling Stone noting its "sun-soaked sheen" that Lancaster's mixes amplified through crisp vocal layering and rhythmic drive. Lancaster mixed Don Broco's Technology (2018), elevating its fusion of electronic textures and high-octane rock to secure a number five peak on the UK Albums Chart. The album's innovative blend of synth-driven anthems and guitar-heavy riffs was lauded for its arena-ready appeal, with Drowned in Sound calling it the band's strongest work yet for its "whole damn lot" of inventive energy.[39] Lancaster's mixing emphasized the electronic-rock hybrid, balancing pulsating synths with punchy drums to create a cohesive, futuristic soundscape that propelled tracks like "Technology" and "Everybody" into festival staples. Metacritic aggregated a score of 80/100 from critics, underscoring its status as an early 2018 standout.[40] In 2025, Lancaster produced Muse's single "Unravelling," released on June 20, which debuted live during the band's European festival tour and showcased his ability to integrate orchestral swells with raw guitar aggression. Produced in collaboration with the band, the track's mix highlighted its explosive dynamics, earning praise from NME for its "powerful" return to form post-Will of the People.[41] For The Warning's Keep Me Fed (2024), Lancaster co-produced select tracks like "Six Feet Deep" and "Automatic Sun," aiding the album's hard rock evolution. The record integrated seamlessly into the band's 2024 world tour, with live performances of tracks like "Hell You Call a Dream" drawing acclaim for their high-energy execution at venues including Download Festival.[42] Rock Sound highlighted how these contributions preserved the trio's raw intensity while adding polished depth for stage translation.[43]Solo artist career
Debut releases
Lancaster launched his solo career with the release of "Move a Mountain" on August 3, 2018, via Raw Kingdom/AWAL.[44] The track, self-produced by Lancaster, showcases an electro-pop style infused with synths and anthemic elements, marking his transition from behind-the-scenes production to front-facing artistry.[45] Described as his debut solo single, it explores themes of perseverance and self-belief, drawing from Lancaster's experiences in the music industry.[46] Following this, Lancaster issued "Wild Life" on September 21, 2018, also via Raw Kingdom/AWAL.[47] The song's lyrics delve into personal struggles, portraying a search for fleeting connections amid feelings of isolation and self-doubt, such as lines about seeking "a weak friend for the weekend" to avoid sinking alone.[48] Earlier that year, in May 2018, Lancaster featured on "Heartless" by Bad Company UK, released on RAM Records as part of the album Ice Station Zero.[49] As a co-writer and vocalist on the drum and bass track, his contribution aligns with themes of emotional detachment and inner turmoil, reflecting ongoing personal narratives in his early solo output.[50] In 2019, Lancaster continued building his solo catalog with a double single featuring "I Tried" and "Phases" on June 28, via Raw Kingdom/AWAL.[51] These tracks maintain introspective lyrics centered on regret and emotional cycles, further emphasizing personal vulnerability. He followed with "Stay Away" on July 7, 2019.[52] Additionally, a stripped-back version of "Move a Mountain" was released on February 22, 2019, offering a more acoustic rendition that highlights vocal intimacy and raw production.[53] In 2023, Lancaster released the single "We Come Together" via AWAL.[54] The track continues his blend of electronic and rock elements. Lancaster's early solo releases establish an aesthetic that blends his post-hardcore roots from prior band work with electronic production techniques honed through his engineering career, creating a hybrid sound that prioritizes emotional depth over genre conventions.[55]Live performances and tours
Lancaster began his live performances as a solo artist in May 2019, supporting Lower Than Atlantis on their farewell UK tour across three dates. He performed at the O2 Academy in Manchester on May 9, Birmingham's O2 Academy on May 10, and London's O2 Academy Brixton on May 11, where his set showcased material from his early singles, drawing positive reception for his energetic delivery and production-infused sound.[56][57][58] Immediately following the UK shows, Lancaster joined One OK Rock as the opening act for their Eye of the Storm European tour in May 2019, covering cities including Munich, Prague, Budapest, Zurich, and Boulogne-Billancourt. His sets highlighted tracks from his debut releases, often accompanied by a drummer to emphasize his rock-oriented solo style. Notably, he joined One OK Rock onstage for collaborative performances of "Taking Off," a track he produced, enhancing the tour's cohesion and introducing his music to international audiences.[59][60][61] In 2022, Lancaster expanded his live presence by joining Muse as a touring multi-instrumentalist on their Will of the People World Tour, replacing longtime member Morgan Nicholls and contributing keyboards, programming, and backing vocals. His onstage role added electronic layers to Muse's performances, debuting at Eventim Apollo in London on May 9, 2022, and continuing through global dates including North America and Europe. This marked a shift toward collaborative high-profile appearances, with Lancaster's contributions praised for integrating seamlessly into Muse's expansive live production.[62] Lancaster continued as a key touring member for Muse into 2024 and 2025, featuring prominently in their European festival runs and arena shows. In 2025, he debuted a trance remix of Muse's "Isolated System" during live sets, performed duo-style with drummer Dominic Howard, and contributed to the premiere of the new single "Unravelling"—which he produced—at the tour opener in Helsinki on June 12, followed by performances at Rockfest in Turku on June 14. These appearances tied into his production work on Muse's material, blending his solo artistry with the band's theatrical spectacles and reaching sold-out crowds across festivals and venues.[63][64][4][65]Awards and nominations
Grammy recognitions
Lancaster received a Grammy nomination for his mixing work on Bring Me the Horizon's album amo, which was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020.[66][2] He mixed the entire album, emphasizing dynamic textures and genre fusion in the band's evolution toward mainstream rock accessibility.[1] This nomination has enhanced Lancaster's profile in the rock genre, positioning him as a key figure for innovative production and attracting collaborations with major artists seeking his expertise in blending heavy and melodic elements.[2][1]Heavy Music Awards
The Heavy Music Awards, a UK-based event launched in 2017 to honor excellence across heavy, alternative, and rock genres through industry voting and public ballots, provided early high-profile recognition for Dan Lancaster in the producer category.[67] Lancaster earned nominations for Best Producer in 2017 and 2018, reflecting his impactful work on key releases that bridged post-hardcore and alternative rock, including production and mixing on Don Broco's Automatic (2015) and Bring Me the Horizon's That's the Spirit (2015).[68][69][70] In 2025, Lancaster shared in the Best Album win for his co-production on Bring Me the Horizon's POST HUMAN: NeX GEn at the Heavy Music Awards.[71] These accolades have established Lancaster as a go-to producer within the UK's vibrant heavy music community, building on his breakthrough productions and attracting collaborations with major alternative rock artists.[2]Discography
With Proceed
During his tenure as the lead singer and guitarist of the post-hardcore band Proceed, Dan Lancaster contributed to the group's sole extended play release, Curious Electric, issued in June 2010 as a self-released indie project.[9] The EP, produced and engineered by Lancaster alongside bandmate Tom Doyle, marked a shift toward more melodic and polished songwriting compared to the band's earlier work, with no prior full-length albums or major-label backing.[72] As an independent release, it received limited distribution primarily through physical copies and digital platforms, achieving modest underground recognition within the UK post-hardcore scene without charting on official music lists. The EP comprises six tracks, blending intricate guitar work, dynamic rhythms, and Lancaster's versatile vocals. No official singles were extracted from it during the band's active period from 2010 to 2012, though tracks like "Visual Field" and "Strange Meeting" gained traction via fan-shared videos and streaming.[73] Demos from this era remain unreleased officially, with the band focusing on live performances to promote the EP rather than additional recordings.[74] Track listing:- "Fight / Flight" – 1:01
- "Melancholy Monday" – 5:02
- "Visual Field" – 3:18
- "Strange Meeting" – 4:02
- "Nightshift" – 3:13
- "A Tricycle Journey" – 3:14