Dan Sugarman

Dan Sugarman is a 26 year old guitarist, producer, teacher and songwriter hailing from the South Bay of Los Angeles, CA. His tenacity and dedication to the art of music and guitar led him to the lead guitar position in the internationally touring band, As Blood Runs Black. Now as a solo artist, Dan continues to work on his original music being released through Patreon, and is currently producing and engineering other bands & artists at Sugartone Studios, and composing for film & television. He also maintains an ever-growing student body as a private guitar teacher, mentor, and educator in the crafts of songwriting, creativity, and modern day recording techniques.

Dan Sugarman is a 26 year old guitarist, producer, teacher and songwriter hailing from the South Bay of Los Angeles, CA. His obsession with the guitar began early on, as one of his earliest musical memories is from when he was in 3rd grade, and was asked to draw a picture of what he wanted to be when he grew up. Without hesitation, Dan drew an ugly crayola version of himself; holding a single-stringed guitar-shaped thing, on a stage before a sea of poorly drawn stick figures.

Fast forward 10 years, and his tenacity and dedication to the art of music and guitar led him to starting/running his own guitar-teaching business, as well as the creation of his high school band, Fallen Figure. After releasing their first full length album "deVival", and before fully realizing the potential of his original group, Dan was offered the lead guitar position in the internationally touring band, As Blood Runs Black. He accepted the position, and immediately began touring the globe while completing his education on the road. Dan hit the ground running by writing and recording for the critically acclaimed album, "Instinct", and the massive follow up record, "Ground Zero".

During this period, Dan was asked to write columns for Guitar World Magazine, as well as be a part of the first wave of artist-teachers on BandHappy.com (created by Matt Halpern of Periphery). Throughout all of this, he continued to work on his chops as a guitarist, and further develop his skills as a guitar teacher; mentoring a large and loyal list of students, worldwide, through his private skype lessons, and on-tour lessons.

After experiencing the nooks and crannies of the globe that he once craved, and selling over 100k records globally in his 6 years with the band, he finally returned home to dedicate time to being with his mother; who was battling her 3rd brain tumor. This new found perspective on life and what mattered most to him, ultimately allowed Dan the time to focus on further exploring and perfecting the crafts of songwriting, and recording. Only this time he was creating for nobody else, but himself; without boundaries, or expectations.

Dan's passion for expression and storytelling through music led to the creation of his solo instrumental debut, "Centersun". This album provided him an outlet to journal his thoughts and emotions amidst returning home from his last tour with As Blood Runs Black, only to discover that his Mother's health was deteriorating, and more rapidly than ever before. Dan locked himself in his studio and wrote 1 song per-day, for a week. The writing process was a highly cathartic one for him, as the album takes the listener on a musical journey through his grieving process, into acceptance. Dan sat on the album for months, unsure of what to do with this collection of music, until his mother gave him the strength and courage to stand on his own, ultimately reaching higher then he ever had reached before.

2016 saw the release of "Centersun", and the reception couldn't have been better. With the buzz growing about the release, Alternative Press Magazine released the official music video debut for "Outspire", featuring a classroom full of pre-school children head-banging and moshing to Dan's music... the rest was history.

After a phenomenal response from metal lovers everywhere, even more support from within the industry and guitar playing community itself came pouring in. This this new wave of hype and belief in Dan's message thrust him back into the writing process to begin work on his follow up record entitled, "Inside/Out - Part I". In fact, Dan was asked to perform at the Jim Dunlop booth alongside Aaron Marshall, Plini, David Maxim Micic, and Nick Johnston, this past January at the NAMM show, where he performed the song "Mind Frame". There, he showcased an array of new Dunlop products along with his beloved Kiesel K6-Prototype. That very same night, performed at the First Annual Guitar Collective show alongside Angel Vivaldi, Felix Martin, Nili Brosh, Yvette Young, and James Norbert Ivanyi - solidifying his arrival into the instrumental-prog scene.

When speaking about his new album "Inside/Out", he often describes this new project as a "living album", due to the fact that he releases one song at a time to an exclusive audience each month. Upon signing up, fans gain access to exclusive songs, videos, interviews, tabs, studio-session stem files, private lessons, and more. With 10% of each song's proceeds going to charity, he ensures that this project stays in line with his heart, as the entire album is dedicated to the memory of his mother, and to helping those going through similar challenges in their own lives. The platform that he's created has also inspired and reinvigorated a new wave of up and coming modern musicians to take their careers into their own hands; as more and more artists are signing up for Patreon and using Dan's business model to further their own goals and dreams.

Without the ability or desire to slow down, Dan plans on publicly releasing "Inside/Out - Part I" before Fall 2017. Both of the music videos for "Creatures of Circumstance" and "The Art of Knowing" have both been released so far from that album, and the overwhelming response that was received has once again reignited Dan's creativity. He is currently writing for his return to the "living album" on www.patreon.com/dansugarman, as "Inside/Out - Part II" unfolds one song at a time to those who subscribe.

The incredible thing about this innovative platform that Dan has created is that it has given him the opportunity to write and collaborate with some of his favorite musicians, including: Angel Vivaldi, Francesco Artusato (Devil You Know//ex-All Shall Perish), Scott Carstairs (Fallujah), James Norbert Ivanyi, Rick Graham, Alex Lopez (Suicide Silence), Justin McKinney (The Faceless//Zenith Passage), Ruben Alvarez (Upon A Burning Body), Sims Cashion, Alex Campbell (Seek Irony), Gil Sharone (Marilyn Manson//Stolen Babies), Nili Brosh, Anna Sentina, and many more.

Amidst all of these projects, Dan is currently writing a guitar-instructional book, producing and engineering other bands & artists at Sugartone Studios, composing for film & television, and completing an album for his new group A Mind Made Me, featuring singer//actor Sarah J Bartholomew. He also maintains an ever-growing student body as a private guitar teacher, mentor, and educator in the crafts of songwriting, creativity, and modern day recording techniques.