Dan Webb

Dan Webb
Born (1989-08-13) 13 August 1989 (age 37)
OriginMelbourne, Australia
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
Years active2008–present
Labels
Websitedanwebb.music

Dan Webb (born 13 August 1989) is an Australian musician, composer, songwriter, and producer.

Career

Early in his music career, Webb garnered much attention for his energetic and partly improvised live shows. One of Webb's most notable stage antics at the time involved him playing his keyboard behind his back, in a style similar to Jimi Hendrix.

In 2011 he played five shows in a UK tour, played two sets at St Kilda Festival and supported Conway Savage. He headlined a tour of New Zealand in 2012 and performed at Newtown Festival in Wellington.

Webb released demos of twelve original songs for free download, one a month, from his official website in 2013. These songs were later developed and released on his 2014 studio album Sandstorm, which featured collaborations with Kylie Auldist, Bobby Flynn and actress Ashleigh Cummings. The first demo to be released, "Departure" featured Auldist on co-vocals and debuted on The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on BBC Radio 6 Music on 26 January 2013. Webb played seven shows in January and February 2013 on his most extensive Australian tour to date, before announcing an extended leave from live music performance.

In 2015, Webb released the four-track EP Sailing, describing its title track as "detuned psychedelic post-punk disco". It features his first recorded guitar solo, created by manipulating a detuned acoustic guitar in post-production to achieve an electric tone. Unlike his earlier collaborative studio releases, the EP was self-produced, mixed, and recorded largely in isolation in his bedroom, partly direct to analogue tape.

His 2017 avant-rock album Oedipus The King was recorded in the lead up to the 2016 US election and released on the same day as Donald Trump's Inauguration.

In 2019, Webb released Exotic Erotic Concoction, a fully instrumental electronic album whose tracks were named after various medications, with Webb describing it as a tongue-in-cheek thematic antidote to the political intensity of its predecessor.

His fourth album Sunshine/Dialogue was released on 9 June 2023, featuring an electro-jazz spoken-word collaboration with Greg Saunier of Deerhoof. Webb was nominated for Self Producing Artist of the Year at the 2024 Music Producer & Engineers' Guild (MPEG) of Australia Awards.

In 2026, Webb released "Hungry Ghosts", the first single from his fifth album Lion Dance, due for release on 13 November 2026. It was inspired by his 2023 relocation from Melbourne to Singapore, and took its title from Singapore's annual Hungry Ghost Festival. The track features Portishead and Radiohead drummer Clive Deamer, Thundercat keyboardist Dennis Hamm, and Snarky Puppy guitarist Bob Lanzetti. The single was accompanied by a music video created with Webb Warp, an interactive synesthetic browser-based audiovisual art platform developed and launched by Webb earlier in 2026.

Musical style and critical reception

Webb's evolving musical style has drawn comparisons to a wide range of artists across his catalogue. His work has progressed from keyboard and vocal-led progressive rock in his early career through experimental post-punk and electro-jazz toward an increasingly expansive and largely instrumental fusion of jazz-rock, electronic music and orchestral textures.

His early songwriting and production style was influenced by the Beatles and Stevie Wonder. By 2015 his sound had shifted toward a more guitar-led psychedelic style, with Webb citing Nick Cave, Blur and Bob Dylan as influences.

His 2017 album Oedipus The King drew critical comparisons to Miles Davis's Bitches Brew and David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy.

His 2023 album Sunshine/Dialogue received widespread critical acclaim and drew comparisons to Bonobo and Oneohtrix Point Never.

Singles from his 2026 album Lion Dance drew comparisons to Radiohead's In Rainbows, the electric period of Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jimi Hendrix and Thundercat, as well as Louis Cole.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

References

  1. ↑ "Beat Magazine – Dan Webb". Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Webb and Auldist: A Force To Be Reckoned With | Luna Digital". Retrieved 2 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ↑ "Exclusive Single Premiere: Dan Webb ft. Ashleigh Cummings "Sleep" (2014) | the AU review". Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Dan Webb Announces First Single Featuring Kylie Auldist From 12 Songs, 12 Months & 2013 Tour on Tone Deaf
  5. ↑ BBC Radio 6 Music – The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, 26/01/2013
  6. ↑ A Chat With…Dan Webb | Mismatch.tv
  7. ↑ "the AU interview: Dan Webb (Melbourne) speaks on Sandstorm, not touring the album, and more". Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Premiere: Dan Webb's Stunning New EP 'Sailing'". Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Dan Webb - Sailing". Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Rebel Noise - "Let Them Eat Cake"". Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  11. ↑ "Song Premiere: Dan Webb – Lorazepam (feat. Daniel Mougerman)". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Listen to Dan Webb's new single 'A Good Song' - Happy Mag
  13. ↑ 2024 MPEG Awards
  14. ↑ "Dan Webb's "Things Rise and Fall" Is a Bassline You Won't Be Able To Shake". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Dan Webb shares new single "Hungry Ghosts" - Plastic Magazine". Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 "Dan Webb drops brand new track, 'Hungry Ghosts' • CAST THE DICE". Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Dan Webb delivers a bold psychedelic fusion with "Hungry Ghosts" and an all-star lineup - EARMILK". Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  18. 1 2 "Jazz/Review Dan Webb - Things Rise and Fall - The Musical Road". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Dan Webb - Beat Magazine". Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Song Premiere: Dan Webb – Ephenidine (feat. Daniel Mougerman)". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "antiMusic.com: Dan Webb - Oedipus The King". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Premiere: Dan Webb - 'Let Them Eat Cake' - Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "Dan Webb - Drifter - PAN M 360". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  24. ↑ "Album Feature: Dan Webb - 'Sunshine/Dialogue' -- Obscure Sound". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "Dan Webb - "Things Rise and Fall (feat. Logan Kane)" - Loop Solitaire". Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  26. ↑ "Dan Webb Opens the Door to the Psychedelic Jazz-Rock Pulse of "Hungry Ghosts" - songplode". Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Dan Webb - Things Rise and Fall (feat. Logan Kane) - Indie Dock Music Blog". Retrieved 31 August 2026.