Mitch Dane Explained

Mitch Dane
Birth Date:April 6, 1967
Birth Place:Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Instrument:Piano, guitar, Musical saw, synthesizer
Genre:Indie rock, singer songwriter
Occupation:Record producer, songwriter, musician
Years Active:1983–present

Mitch Dane is an American record producer, musician, and songwriter who resides in Nashville.[1] His work with artists include Jars of Clay, JJ Heller, Brandon Heath, Jetty Rae, Sonia Leigh, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Young Fables, Ole Lonesome, Swearingen and Kelli, Kenny Foster and many others.[2] [3] He was awarded a Grammy for his work on Jars of Clay's 11th Hour, and nominated for Grammys for his work on four other albums.[4] Dane also received ASCAP's "Most Played Song" award for "Nothing Without You" co-written with Bebo Norman.[5] He owns the recording studio Sputnik Sound with Vance Powell.

Personal life

Dane grew up in Southeast Missouri (Cape Girardeau), where he spent his childhood making playhouses and treehouses. At age 14, Dane was involved in a motorcycle accident, rendering him clinically dead for several minutes until his was miraculously revived. His esophagus, trachea and vocal cords were injured in the accident, prohibiting him from speaking for two years, a period Dane defines as when he "learned to really listen". His injuries required 33 surgeries, one of which removed a vocal chord, contributing to his distinct voice. Dane worked the story of his accident into his musical performances over the next 15 years until he pivoted and began audio engineering.

Dane is married with two children and has lived in Nashville since 1989.

Musical Influences

As a producer, Dane has been cited as saying "I like to collect the best aspects of every genre of music and bring them together in hybrid productions".[6] Citing his childhood affinity for building treehouses, Dane states that he took the same approach when designing his studio; a place for people to be comfortable and to hang out. His demeanor has been described as "calm and focused".[7]

Selected Production credits

As of December 2018 Mitch Dane has produced or engineered over 275 projects. Below is a selection of his production credits:

ArtistYearAlbumProducerEngineer
Audrey And Hugh2020Sisterman
Towne2019TBD
SisterManLilly White Parade
Ole LonesomeTurn It On
Heathen SonsBorn to Lose
Swearingen and Kelli2018Cold-Hearted Truth
Sonia LeighMad Hatter
The Young Fables2017Old Songs
Kenny FosterDeep Cuts
Jetty Rae2016Can't Curse the Free
Man UndergroundCouples Therapy
The Snow GlobesSnowed In
Rob BlackledgeNow
Reuben BidezTurning to Wine
Treva Blomquist 2015The Risk & The Gift
Ryan Scott Travis The Guadalupe Breakdown
Victor & PennyElectricity
Giles BlankenshipHome
Daniel JohnsonPromo Videos
Katie BarnetteSputnik Sessions
Mr. & Mrs. SomethingSetting Sail
Coyote KeeneBlue Skies & Red Wine
MaryMacMaryMac
Eric PetersSputnik Sessions
The Hummingbirds13 Days
Sean HaleSputnik Sessions
Lauren LightSputnik Sessions
Africa Worship BandSputnik Sessions
UnspokenUnplugged
JJ HellerSputnik Sessions
Hannah MillerHannah Miller
Holly Spears2014Boots and Bling
Ryan HorneVanilla Lightning
Kyle MatthewsBe Here Now
Christopher WilliamsThe City Makes The Man
So Long SoloSo Long Solo
Chris ReganAll Things Beautiful
Andrew CooperEP
Ronnie DennisWe are Satellites
Jessi McKinnonDancing Again
Humming HouseRevelries
We Are The MonksWe Are The Monks
The Gray Havens2013Fire and Stone
The Pedal StillsStatic Queen
Mare WakefieldPoet on the Moon
Humming HouseSingle
Carrie MoellerSingle
Madison GrigsbyJoie De Vivre
Holly SpearsSingle & EP
YouPlusMeLittle Beginnings EP
Jesse MachtSingle
The Snow GlobesThe All Living Things
The Black CadillacsSingles
Christie CookEvery Good Thing
Trish IvyCotton Country EP
AbernathyRococo
Dave GerhartzLeaving the Family Behind
Josh HillikerShadows or Sunlight
Hannah Miller Sputnik Sessions
August YorkSwimming Upstream
Little RadarSouvenirs
RavenhillSoul
Ruby Amanfu2012Sputnik Sessions
Elizabeth BuschRedemption's Mystery
The BillisSingles
Dean GuevaraSongs of Hope and Devotion
Matthew ClarkBright Came the Word from His Mouth
Ryan HorneSilent Night (A Christmas EP)
High Street HymnsLove Lives Again
Brad JonesOh Well My Love Farewell EP
Brian FraazaThe Shadows of the Light
Colleen NixonLake Ella's Sky
Rachel BelmanThe Call
Dustin Ah KuoiDustin Ah Kuoi
Humming HouseSingles
The KicksTonight Everything Changes
Sean ForestLive Love Lead
Brandon HeathGive Me Your Eyes – Acoustic Sessions
Andy Needham BandLifted High
Hillary McBride2011Sputnik Sessions
Stephanie DayMorning Came
High Street HymnsChristmas EP
Jenny & TylerOpen Your Doors
Scott SmithEP
Holly SpearsChristmas EP
Stephanie DaySingle
Eddie GilbertEP
Micah MichelleSharpened in Time
Carrie MoellerSending One Up (EP)
Zach EllsworthNotes on Becoming
Blake AaronEP
JJ HellerDeeper
Shaun GrovesThird World Symphony
Christopher WilliamsStone Water Wood Light
Humming HouseHumming House
After the ChaseYou Are My Child
Ryan HorneThe Whistler & The Majestic
Faith Gilmore2010Bold as Lions
The KicksSputnik Sessions
Eddie GilbertSingles
Caitlin Nicole EadieGravity
JJ HellerWhen I'm With You
The Young InternationalThe Young International (EP)
Ryan CornWonderful Things
Rachel BarrentineDeparture
CompelledThe Fight
Sarah KellyMidnight Sun
Jars of ClayThe Shelter
ReillyAround the World
Raining and OKLiving Like a Ghost
The SpeedbumpsThe Moon is Down
Farewell Flight2009Lonesome Traveler
Levi WeaverThe Letters of Dr. Kurt Gödel'
FlorezEl Diablo
Doc Single
This & ThatVolume 2
Julianna ZobristThe Tree Remix
The KicksThe Rise of King Richie
Obadiah ParkerThe Siren and the Saint
Lara LandonBeloved
Then There Was TwoLove Lies in Jealousy
Zach EllsworthNotes on Becoming
Brandan McCarthyTo The Moon (EP)
Jocelyn ScofieldA Witty Girl
FFHWide Open Spaces
Jon TroastA Person and a Heart
JJ HellerDeeper
Sarah Hart2008Road to Ohio
Jon TroastI Want to be President
Jon TroastLiving Room
Branden McCarthyYellow Roses
Jars of ClayLong Fall Back To Earth
Jerry ChapmanSweet Impossible
JJ HellerPainted Red
Adam AginFoundation (EP)
Julianna ZobristThe Tree (EP)
Trish IvyRequiem
Marvin and GentryMaster Plan
Colleen McCarronLove is in the Details
Blake Aaron2007Love in Different Lights
Dean GuevaraPierce the Night
Caedmon's CallOverdressed
Farewell FlightSound.Color.Motion
Nate AllmanDream for Free
Jars of ClayChristmas Songs
Midtown Worship BandThe Midtown Project Vol.1
Christopher WilliamsSweet Redemption
Justin McRobertsDeconstruction
JJ HellerPretty and the Plain
JJ HellerWake Up The World (Christmas EP)
Nathan ShaverThese Words Aren't Working
Hannah MillerInto the Black
Sarah KellyBorn to Worship
Matt ThienDesert Dry (EP)
Jeromy DieblerWhere Do I Go From Here
Josh RosenthalRenaissance

Notes and References

  1. M. Bill. June 2005. Producer's Corner: Mitch Dane. Performing Songwriter. 66–67.
  2. Web site: Mitch Dane Credits. AllMusic. December 19, 2018.
  3. Web site: The Gray Havens: Chicago's much praised duo soon to hit the road – The Gray Havens. crossrhythms.co.uk.
  4. Web site: WCA No. 075 with Mitch Dane " Working Class Audio. Matt. December 19, 2018.
  5. Web site: Twenty-Eighth Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards. October 16, 2006. archive.li. December 19, 2018. October 16, 2006. https://archive.today/20061016114530/http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/christianawards/2006/. live.
  6. Web site: RSR140 – Mitch Dane – Producing Grammy Winning Americana at Sputnik Sound. Recording Studio Rockstars. May 11, 2018 . December 26, 2018.
  7. Web site: Mitch Dane: Carving a Path Through the Wilderness. tapeop.com. en. October 1, 2019.