Daniel Givens

The Profile

American DJ, producer, photographer, and poet with Chicago roots and New York ties. Debuted with Age (2000), an acclaimed blend of electronic, dub, trip hop, jazz, and spoken word. Followed by Dayclear & First Dark, reflecting on Black and gay identity in post-9/11 America.

Debut album: Age (2000), named album of the year by Blow Up magazine; Follow-up after five years: Dayclear & First Dark; Dayclear & First Dark conceived in a Bronx studio with Fred Ones; Contributors include Ihu Anyanwu, Semay Wu, and Matana Roberts; Chicago connections with Jeff Parker appearing on some tracks of Age; Style described as a collage of jazz, pop structures, icy electronics, and soul; Reviews note collaborations/assists with artists such as Tricky, Tortoise, Four Tet, Anti-Pop Consortium, Prefuse 73, and DJ Hell.

Two DeBaser reviews chart Daniel Givens from his acclaimed debut Age (2000) to the ambitious Dayclear & First Dark. The music fuses electronic, dub, trip hop, and jazz with spoken word. Themes include Black and gay identity in post-9/11 New York. Chicago roots and notable collaborators surface across both write-ups.