Dan Snaith

Daniel Victor Snaith, born on March 29, 1978, in Dundas, Ontario, Canada, is a prolific musician and producer who has released 11 studio albums since 2000 under the monikers Caribou, Manitoba, and Daphni. Snaith initially recorded music under the name Manitoba. In 2004, he changed his stage name to Caribou following a legal dispute with Richard “Handsome Dick” Manitoba. His music, characterized by genres such as indietronica, house, folktronica, neo-psychedelia, and dream pop, often incorporates a blend of electronic and live instrumentation. A key turning point in Snaith’s early career was a chance meeting with British producer Kieran Hebden (Four Tet), which led to his first album release with The Leaf Label.

Snaith’s career advanced significantly with the Caribou project. The album “Andorra” (2007) won the 2008 Polaris Music Prize, and “Swim” (2010), “Our Love” (2014), and “Suddenly” (2020) were all shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize. “Our Love” (2014) was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. His work as Daphni, launched in 2011, provided an outlet for more dance-floor-oriented electronic music, featuring albums like “Jiaolong” (2012) and “Joli Mai” (2017). Beyond his musical endeavors, Snaith holds a PhD in mathematics from Imperial College London, received in 2005 for his work on “Overconvergent Siegel Modular Symbols.” This academic background highlights a unique combination of artistic and scientific pursuits.

His live performances as Caribou involve a full band, including Ryan Smith (guitar, keyboards), John Schmersal (bass, keyboards), and Brad Weber (drums), transforming his studio material for a dynamic live setting. As Daphni, Snaith performs as a DJ, showcasing a different facet of his musicality. Caribou has toured extensively worldwide, performing at major festivals such as Coachella, Glastonbury, and Primavera Sound, and has also supported Radiohead on their ‘King of Limbs’ tour in 2012. Snaith’s commitment to creating engaging and exploratory music, whether in the studio or live, has cemented his reputation as an influential artist in the electronic music landscape.