Biography 

Daniele Gigli (stage name: Dan Mudd)
Singer, Musician, and Composer

Daniele Gigli was born in Viareggio on August 25, 1979, to Tuscan parents. His father, a metalworker, and his mother, a sales agent, instilled in Daniele values of commitment and dedication that have deeply influenced his career. His passion for music appeared at an early age: at just 5 years old, he discovered his uncle Domenico’s guitar hanging on the wall of their home and began playing it for fun. From that moment on, music became an inseparable part of his life.

A self-taught musician, Daniele continued to develop his skills, playing in various settings: from small local bars to beach jams with friends, and school performances. While music was always a constant in his life, his youth was also marked by a passion for soccer. Until the age of 27, Daniele balanced both music and sports, managing to pursue both passions. In soccer, he played semi-professionally, reaching Serie D, and later transitioning to beach soccer, where he made it to Serie A and even played for the Italian National Team. A highlight of his sports career came in 2007 when he participated in the Beach Soccer World Cup in Copacabana, Brazil, the sport’s iconic arena.

However, in 2008, Daniele’s passion for music grew too strong to ignore, prompting him to leave competitive soccer and fully dedicate himself to his musical career. He began as a musical instrument demonstrator for several renowned global brands, specializing in live looping—a musical technique that allowed him to experiment and innovate.

In 2011, Daniele won the BOSS LOOP STATION CHAMPIONSHIP 2 in Italy and participated in the 2012 BOSS LOOP STATION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in Frankfurt, Germany. While he didn’t win, his distinctive style and innovative approach caught the attention of the music world. His performance led to a collaboration with Roland, who invited him to showcase their products in Italian stores and at specialized events.

In 2013, his love for blues led him on a journey to the American South—Mississippi, New Orleans, and Clarksdale—where he immersed himself in the essence of the blues genre and honed his skills in slide and bottleneck guitar techniques. Between 2014 and 2016, Daniele performed at numerous blues concerts and festivals across Italy and the USA. He also began collaborating with the renowned Michael Baker, drummer and artistic director for Whitney Houston for over 23 years, with whom he developed a strong artistic bond.

That bond became even stronger in 2017, when Michael Baker encouraged Daniele to record an album of 11 original tracks at his home studio in Minneapolis. The project took place at the historic The Terrarium studio, where Daniele also collaborated with musicians who had worked with Prince. This album marked an important milestone in Daniele's musical journey, solidifying his unique style and artistic identity.

In 2018, Daniele adopted the stage name "Dan Mudd" and moved to Switzerland. There, he began an intense busking (street performance) routine while also performing at major blues festivals across Europe, promoting his album Big Gun. This album led to performances on renowned stages, sharing the spotlight with blues legends like Robert Cray, Eric Bibb, Fantastic Negrito, Popa Chubby, Cedric Burnside, and many others.