Daniel Dart

Last updated
Daniel Dart
Daniel Dart in downtown Los Angeles loft.jpg
Daniel Dart in downtown Los Angeles loft.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, music producer, photographer

Daniel Dart is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, photographer, [1] and human rights advocate [2] who made his name as the founder and frontman for punk band Time Again. He has composed original music for such feature films as Get Him To The Greek, Stepbrothers, The Haunting in Connecticut as well as the TV show Dr. Phil. In early 2015, he founded the company that would evolve into DEC Projects, focused on working in the world's most difficult places. [3]

Contents

Daniel earned an Executive MBA from MIT in 2024, where he was the first formerly incarcerated student in the school's history and a recipient of the Dean's Fellowship, Sloan Leadership Fellowship, and Pechacek Fellowship. [4] He is currently the founder of and a general partner at Rock Yard Ventures: a venture capital firm that invests in tech-focused logistics start-ups. [5]

In January 2025, Daniel announced that he would be launching a podcast titled The Dart Board. [6]

Early life

Dart's early life and his troubles growing up and dealing with drug addiction and family problems have been well documented. [7] He often cites his own personal experiences as influences in his lyrics and the direction of the music he writes and creates. He also cites his difficulties growing up as the reason for his heavy activity in volunteer and non-profit work. He talks easily with people about his past and the difficulties he has had to face and overcome.

Time Again

In 2004, Dart was discovered by Rancid frontman and guitar player Tim Armstrong and two years later signed to Armstrong's label Hellcat Records. On Time Again's first record, The Stories Are True, Armstrong joined Dart on the song as they both sing about facing the troubles of the world and how the stories of both are true. [8] Dart announced plans for a new Time Again record titled May The Bridges We've Burned Light The Way hinting at a release in early 2016. [9]

Producing / Composing / The Riot Bros

From 2008 to 2011, Dart owned a recording studio in Hollywood with long-time friend and partner Donal Finn called Riot Riot Studios. The two worked out of this studio under the pseudonym, The Riot Bros. [10] During this time they also recorded two records under the name Swapmeet Shakedown/The Riot Bros, of which songs have been used in TV shows Shameless on Shotime, Blacklist and NBC's Under The Dome. The two composed original music for television and film advertising as well, working on projects such as Jennifer's Body, All About Steve, The Haunting in Connecticut, The International, and New In Town among others. [11]

Dart also produced and worked on many other various projects during this time. Ranging from MC Lars and Mighty Mighty Bosstone's to projects with Ne-Yo [12] and original music for commercial enterprises such as The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. [13]

DEC Artists

In early 2015, Dart started his own Talent Management company DEC Artists [14] (Dart Entertainment and Creative Artists) with his first client being his former songwriting and producing partner Donal Finn. He made a sizable leap by signing his first major client, the #1 BillBoard charting band The Crash Kings shortly after. DEC Artists roster at one time included actor/ musician Devon Werkheiser, Jurassic 5's Soup (Jurassic 5), Grammy award-winning artist Salvador Santana, songwriter/composer Antonio Beliveau, Los Angeles street artist Teacher, Time Again and actor/ musician Brad Carter among others. He also worked with Brian Bell of Weezer and British icon Seal. In 2017, as Dart began focusing more on social impact work, he changed the name of the company to DEC Projects [15] and moved away from management.

In late 2011, Dart was arrested on multiple charges including kidnapping, carjacking, dissuading a witness, and assault, among others. [16] He was originally sentenced to 6 years although he denied any wrongdoing vehemently. In 2013 he won an appeal and was released shortly thereafter in 2014. He originally did not speak publicly about this after being released, but in June 2015 while announcing the revival of Time Again he finally spoke out in Czech Republic magazine Kids and Heroes about how winning his appeal and getting released was one of the most victorious days of his life. [17]

He has since become a leading voice in the criminal justice reform movement. In January 2016, Dart was invited to speak in Washington, D.C. at the AFL–CIO Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights conference about his experience and how he is working to help others in similar situations.

DEC Projects

What began in 2015 as DEC Artists officially evolved in 2017 to DEC Projects, an impact-focused strategy and development firm whose tagline is - Creating Global Campaigns & Content That Raise Awareness + Change Culture. [1]

DoMore104 with Duplass Brothers and Wounded Warrior Project

In July 2017, Dart teamed up with Mark Duplass and Wounded Warrior Project to create [18] a campaign called DoMore104. [19] The campaign launched and ran during the lead up to Duplass Brothers HBO series Room 104, as a way to both promote the new show, but also as a way to raise money and bring awareness to issues wounded veterans face.

May Day Action

Dart co-created and produced a national call to action [20] and event in partnership with CASA de Maryland, UFCW, and SEIU and the AFL–CIO in Washington DC on May 1 calling for comprehensive immigration reform. [21] The event took place in Lafayette Square in front of the White House and featured DNC Chair Tom Perez [22] and Rep. Luis Gutiérrez. [23]

A Day Without Immigrants

He created and appeared [24] in a series of PSA/call-to-action videos for Movimiento Cosecha [25] calling for support of a national strike and economic boycott on May 1, 2017. The goal is to create solidarity and protection for immigrants from all origins.

This Is My Home

In 2016, Dart created the #ThisIsMyHome campaign for immigrant rights with Salvador Santana for We Are Casa and CASA in Action (CASA de Maryland). [26] [27] The campaign focused around creating awareness across the United States with specific calls to action in the hopes of achieving comprehensive immigration reform. [28] [29]

CA Prop 57

In 2016, Dart wrote and directed a public service announcement television ad endorsing California Proposition 57 (2016) for Californians for Governor Brown for public safety and rehabilitation for Governor Jerry Brown's ballot measure committee and the California Democratic Party. [30]

Film and television

Dart was the Executive Producer of Leather Bound (2016) and Producer for Rylo (2017). [31]

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References

  1. 1 2 "We Are Photographers: Daniel Dart - Voice to the Voiceless on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  2. ↑ "Petitioners Offer Differing Views of Situation in Western Sahara as Fourth Committee Continues Discussion on Decolonization | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  3. ↑ Germany, LFI-Leica Fotografie International, Hamburg. "Daniel Dart | LFI Blog". LFI. Retrieved 2019-10-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ "Daniel Dart - Rock Yard Ventures | LinkedIn". www.linkedin.com. Archived from the original on 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  5. ↑ Hibbison, Ryan (2024-04-09). "From prison to pre-seed: Daniel Dart and Rock Yard Ventures". Venture Capital Journal. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  6. ↑ "The Daniel Dart Board". The Daniel Dart Board. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  7. ↑ "Sometimes Rehab Works: The Misadventures of Daniel Dart and Time Again - SLUG Magazine". Slugmag.com. Retrieved 2015-07-30.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ "Tim Armstrong | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  9. ↑ "...this story is true: TIME AGAIN is back! | AWAY FROM LIFE". Awayfromlife.com. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  10. ↑ "The Riot Bros / Riot Riot Studios | Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  11. ↑ "Donal Finn | Composer, Songwriter". Donalleefinn.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  12. ↑ "Daniel Dart | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  13. ↑ "Seismic Productions". Seismicproductions.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  14. ↑ "DEC Artists". Decartists.com. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  15. ↑ "DEC Projects". DEC Projects. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  16. ↑ "Time Again vocalist convicted to 2.5 years in prison | Punknews.org". Punknews.org. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  17. ↑ "Kids And Heroes.com | Kalifornští Time Again jsou po propuštění frontmana z vězení zpět na scéně". Kidsandheroes.com. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  18. ↑ "#DoMore104 Campaign Supports Wounded Warrior Project". Newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  19. ↑ Project, Wounded Warrior. "#DoMore104 Campaign Supports Wounded Warrior Project". Prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  20. ↑ "May Day Action". Maydayaction.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  21. ↑ "May Day Action". Maydayaction.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "DNC Chairman Perez at May Day March: 'No Human Being Is Illegal'". Fox News. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  23. ↑ Master, Cyra (1 May 2017). "Dems observe May Day as immigrant day of action". The Hill. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  24. ↑ "Cosecha & Daniel Dart #ADayWithoutImmigrants". Facebook.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  25. ↑ "Our Movement". Lahuelga.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "Daniel Dart - Projects". Shotthruthedart.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  27. ↑ "Take the Pledge - Casa in Action". Archived from the original on 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  28. ↑ "StackPath". Casainaction.org. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  29. ↑ Olivo, Antonio (23 October 2016). "They crossed the border illegally, and can't vote. But they can knock on doors". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  30. ↑ "Hey California. LISTEN UP! #YESon57". Facebook.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  31. ↑ "Daniel Dart | Producer". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
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