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Dan Lotti isn’t new to the game—but he’s moving like he just unlocked the next level. From his early roots in the southeast to his current work with the creative powerhouse Morning Moon Productions, Lotti’s path is a living example of how artistry evolves when passion meets purpose.
Starting From Soulful Roots
Growing up with a deep love for music, Dan’s path kicked into gear in Charleston, SC, where he began gigging with the band that would put him on the map—Dangermuffin. Touring across the U.S., he carved out a name in the indie-folk circuit with introspective lyrics and a natural command of the stage. But Lotti wasn’t satisfied with just one creative lane. About five years ago, his longtime friend Kyle launched Morning Moon Productions, and with it, Morning Moon Music—a home base where Dan now moves fluidly between composing, music supervision, and creating soundscapes for visual media. “To simply create, to be a creator, to be in the work, is all very fulfilling for me,” he says.
Folk, Fire, and the Universe
When it comes to sound, Dan Lotti’s compass is set somewhere between introspection and cosmic awareness. His music lands in the folk singer-songwriter space, but it’s not boxed in by genre. “I tend to explore themes that are universal—the elements, the sun, the universe,” he explains. The result is music that feels grounded and expansive all at once, as if you're listening to both the soil and the stars. Influences like Gillian Welch, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and even rock icons like Pearl Jam weave into his musical DNA, but Lotti’s tone is unmistakably his own—reflective, present, and searching.
Crafting Sound with Intention
Dan’s songwriting process doesn’t start with lyrics—it starts with a melody he hears in his head. From there, it becomes a process of building a world around that spark. “The source of the song has to be an inspirational melody for me,” he shares. This intuitive, melody-first approach explains why his songs often feel emotionally fluid, as if they’re discovering themselves in real time. Whether he’s writing for a live audience or composing for film, Dan treats each piece as an opportunity to shift a moment—sometimes subtly, sometimes powerfully.
Visuals as a Language
Lotti understands the weight of visuals in music’s current landscape. It’s why his longtime collaboration with multi-talented partner Mike Sivilli is so essential. “Mike is a genius-level musician and graphic designer,” Dan says. Their partnership ensures that the visual identity of each project—be it a music video, album cover, or branded piece—feels just as intentional as the sound.
Looking Ahead: Sync Dreams and Sonic Expansion
These days, Dan sees his creative world expanding even further. He’s diving deeper into film scoring, sync licensing, and the broader intersection of music and storytelling. “I envision floodgates opening for me in the world of film composing,” he says, describing his future in terms that feel more like a calling than a career plan. But even as his work grows more cinematic, he stays rooted in the craft of songwriting and performance—the kind of growth that’s organic, not manufactured.
Conclusion: Staying in the Work
Dan Lotti’s story isn’t one of overnight fame or flashy gimmicks—it’s about staying in the work. It’s about answering the call to create, whether on stage in front of 12,000 people or behind a screen scoring a scene for film. His journey shows what happens when an artist doesn’t just follow the path—they help build it.
