Dan Strauss

Dan Strauss has spent the last 25 years developing the art of songwriting. Seamlessly weaving together indie-folk, rock, country and jazz, his music has something for everyone, with lyrics that stay with you long after the last word.

About

In the 1990s, I moved back to New York City after years living in upstate, NY and New England and found a Lower East Side music scene bursting with brilliant songwriters like Elliott Smith, Norah Jones, Matthew Sweet and Jeff Buckley. I couldn't get enough. I wanted to write like them. I went home to my little Brooklyn apartment and wrote endlessly. While I could never come close to their genius, I fell in love with songwriting and in 2001, I recorded my first album of original songs, "Renting Happiness". While my days were spent as a middle school teacher, my nights were all about writing and eventually playing those songs on some of the very Lower East Side stages where I'd seen my heroes perform. Over the next 25 years, six more albums and close to 100 songs were written. I have independently released seven full-length albums as well as multiple singles. These days, I continue to write in my home studio (with cats) and perform as often as I can. All music can be streamed through Linktree.

• Streaming Music

• Stream "January Wolf Moon"

Videos

• More Videos

Live Performance

As long as I am writing songs, I want to play them for people. Over the last quarter century, I have been fortunate enough to have been able to do that. I love to play almost anywhere there are people listening, from farmer's markets to wineries and theaters. I perform as often as I can, mostly in NYC and the Northeast. Follow me on Bandsintown to see where I am playing next!

• Upcoming Gigs

Celebrating 25 Years Of Independent Music

2025 marked 25 years since I released my first album. To celebrate, I have chosen a couple of favorites from each album plus some singles, for this playlist. It’s available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. Thank you to all the great musicians who have collaborated with me and played on these recordings.

What People Are Saying

“Dan Strauss’ wonderful singing and songwriting talent are simply unparalleled. One of the best-crafted and most unique soundscapes that this genre has to offer”-Lost In The Manor“Dan Strauss embodies the essence of a seasoned troubadour, sculpting his musical prowess over a quarter-century journey enriched by a mosaic of genres including indie-folk, country, rock, and jazz.”- Musikepool"Music is at its best when an artist can contemplate deep ideas and turn them into simple and profound lyrics then pair them with gentle flowing music with hooks and harmonies that encourage you to want to enter the songs. Dan Strauss does that as well or better than anyone I know. His melodies will endear themselves to your core and his words will push your mind to work a little harder. What could be better than that?"-Tim Lewis, WBKM Radio, Burlington, VTText