Dan Reynolds (singer)

Daniel Coulter Reynolds (born July 14, 1987)[4] is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is the lead vocalist of the pop rock band Imagine Dragons. Reynolds also released an EP in 2011, titled Egyptian – EP,[5] as a duo with his wife Aja Volkman under the moniker Egyptian.[6] He is a recipient of the Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award.

Reynolds was initially reluctant to become a professional musician, partially because future bandmate Wayne Sermon had once told him: "Don't do music because you want to do music - do music if you have to do music".[22] After he began attending Brigham Young University, Reynolds found that he could not "do anything else" and committed fully to a professional music career. In Utah, Reynolds met and recruited drummer Andrew Tolman to form Imagine Dragons.[23] With Reynolds as lead vocalist, Imagine Dragons won BYU's "Battle of the Bands" and other local competitions.[24] Bassist Ben McKee joined the band in Las Vegas and after Tolman's departure 2011 invited Daniel Platzman, also a friend of Wayne's from Berklee College of Music, to play drums, thus completing the group's current lineup. The band relocated to Las Vegas, where they began performing almost nightly as a lounge act.[13][25][26] It was there in 2009 that they caught their first big break when Train's frontman fell sick just prior to the Bite of Las Vegas Festival. Imagine Dragons were called to fill in for them and performed in front of a crowd of more than 26,000 people.[27] In November 2011, they signed with Interscope Records and began working with Grammy award-winning producer Alex da Kid.[28]

Imagine Dragons released their debut studio album Night Visions on September 4, 2012. The album was preceded by their first single "It's Time", released on August 18, 2012. Night Visions charted in the top ten albums in the U.S. in 2012, 2013, and 2014.[29] It won a Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Album and was nominated for a Juno Award for International Album of the Year.[30] The album's second single, "Radioactive", reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Radioactive" set the all-time record for the longest reign at the top of the Billboard Rock Songs chart, with 23 consecutive weeks. It also broke the all-time record for longest run on the Billboard Hot 100, with 87 weeks, a record that would remain unbroken until The Weeknd’s smash single “Blinding Lights” charted for an 88th week on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 2021.[31][32] Rolling Stone called it "the biggest rock hit of the year".[33][34] It is the best-selling rock song in digital history, with sales of more than 7.5 million copies in the United States, and was certified diamond by the RIAA.[35][36] The third single, "Demons", reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is the eighth best-selling rock song in digital history with sales in excess of 5 million copies in the United States. Imagine Dragons were nominated for two Grammy Awards, Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance, the latter of which they won. They also won two AMAs for Favorite Alternative Artist, a Teen Choice Award for Choice Rock Group, a World Music Award for World's Best Rock Act, and a Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Artist. The band made their major festival headlining debut at the Made In America Music Festival in 2014 and also drew large crowds and positive reviews at festivals such as Lollapalooza Brazil in 2014.[37][38]

Imagine Dragons released their second album, Smoke + Mirrors, in February 2015. Smoke + Mirrors debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, UK Albums Chart, and Canadian Albums Chart.[39][40] Two of the album's four singles, "I Bet My Life" and "Shots", charted on the Billboard Hot 100.[41][42]

Imagine Dragons released their third album Evolve on June 23, 2017. Evolve debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Canadian Albums Chart. Singles "Believer", "Thunder", and "Whatever It Takes", each of which have charted at number 4, number 4, and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.[43] Believer topped the Billboard Hot Rock Songs (29 weeks), Alternative Songs (13 weeks), and Adult Top 40 charts. Thunder also topped the Billboard Hot Rock Songs (22 weeks so far) and Alternative Songs chart (3 weeks so far), as well as the Mainstream Top 40 chart. Whatever It Takes topped the Billboard Rock Songs chart (17 weeks so far) and Alternative Songs chart (3 weeks).[44][45][46] In 2018, the band was nominated for two more Grammy Awards and received the iHeartRadio Music Award for Alternative Rock Artists of the Year.[47]

Imagine Dragons released their fourth studio album Origins on November 9, 2018. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The singles "Natural" and "Bad Liar" peaked at number #13 and #56 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively.

Imagine Dragons released their fifth studio album Mercury - Act 1 on September 3, 2021. The album debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200. The single "Follow You" peaked at number #68 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reynolds was invited to perform an opening set for Nico Vega in 2010; this was when he met Aja Volkman, the group's lead singer. He asked her to help him finish some demos he was developing.[48][6][49][50] The two began collaborating, and formed Egyptian.[6] They recorded, produced, and independently released a four track eponymous EP digitally. They have only performed this material once live.[51]

In 2013, Reynolds discovered the unsigned alternative band X Ambassadors. After connecting with the band, he brokered a record deal for them with KidinaKorner/Interscope Records.[52] Dan co-wrote a few songs on their debut album VHS, which has gone on to achieve Platinum certification by the RIAA.[53]

In 2016, Reynolds formed Night Street Records, an imprint label under Interscope Records. His first signing was to alternative hip-hop artist K.Flay.[54]

He organized the charity festival LOVELOUD, held August 26, 2017 in Orem, to "fight against teen suicide and to bring communities [...] and encourage acceptance" of LGBTQ youth.[55] The concert donated the profits to LGBT organizations The Trevor Project, GLAAD, and others. Performing acts included Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees, Krewella, Joshua James, and Nicholas Petricca (of Walk the Moon).[56][57][58] The film Believer, centering on LGBTQ youth suicides in Utah, and the LOVELOUD concert, premiered at Sundance on January 20, 2018, and on HBO on June 25, 2018.

A second LOVELOUD festival was held on July 28, 2018, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.[59] Acts included Imagine Dragons, Zedd, Mike Shinoda (of Linkin Park), Grace VanderWaal, Tyler Glenn (of Neon Trees), Vagabon, A.W., and Cameron Esposito.[60][61][62] An estimated 35,000 people attended the 2018 event and raised approximately a million dollars for the various charities.[63] The event was live streamed for free on YouTube, sponsored by AT&T.[64][65] During his appearance at the 2018 festival, Utah's Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox announced Governor Gary Herbert's declaration[66] of July 28, 2018, as "LoveLoud Day in Utah."[67]

The third LOVELOUD festival occurred on June 29, 2019, at USANA Amphitheater in West Valley City. In addition to Reynolds, featured performers included Kesha, Daya, Tegan & Sara, PVRIS, K. Flay, and many others.[68] Martin Garrix was also originally booked to perform; however, due to an injury, was unable to attend the festival.[69] In his absence, Indie Pop band AJR made an appearance and entertained fans with hits such as 100 Bad Days, Weak, Burn the House Down, and Don't Throw Out My Legos. Former BYU mascot and dancer, Charlie Bird, also performed a choreographed number along with some dancers from the BYU Cougarettes. Other notable speakers included Reynold's wife, Aja Volkman, Shannon Beveridge and X González.