Dan Romer: A Sonic Alchemist Navigates New Horizons with Barking Owl

Dan Romer’s journey into music began in Brooklyn, where his early fascination with guitar and songwriting laid the groundwork for a prolific career. “I started learning guitar at seven, before writing songs, playing and singing in bands,” he tells me. “In high school, a huge portion of the singers around me came from a gospel background, and I’d just sit and listen to them perform. I had barely heard any of that music before, and the feelings that the music had was pretty life changing. The pure bliss of it probably influenced me more than anything else I’ve heard – and I was immediately drawn to the world of music.”

He went on to attend LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts which is where his “real classical music education began.” When one of his teachers gave him a stack of Bach to analyse,  a deeper passion for music theory was ignited. This formative experience set the stage for his future endeavours in film scoring and music production. 

Dan recalls a pivotal moment in his musical evolution came when parents gifted him a Tascam 4-track tape recorder. “I spent every second I could record on it,” he says. This early experimentation with recording technology shaped his approach to music production and composition. After studying pop music production in college, Dan went on to become a music producer and mixer, before scoring his first feature film “Beasts of the Southern Wild”. The film score went on to earn critical acclaim and prompted Dan’s decision to move to Los Angeles to focus on composing.

Talking to Dan, he is the first to admit a long standing obsession with music theory. But it is clear his approach to film composition is also driven by a meticulous attention to the emotional detail of a creative brief. “Every project is a puzzle,” he explains. “The goal is to get every section of a piece of music to have that ‘ahhh’ feeling.”

This quest for emotional resonance is evident in his work, where he skilfully navigates the delicate balance between simplicity and complexity. This ability to evoke a physical and emotional reaction through music is central to his creative process.

“One aspect that’s often overlooked in film scoring is the importance of emotional precision,” he notes. While grand, dramatic scenes might seem straightforward, Dan emphasises the challenge and significance of scoring subtle, nuanced momentum notable in his work on movies like Woman of the Hour and Self Reliance, and TV shows such as Station Eleven (HBO Max), Atypical (Netflix) and Emmy award-winning, RAMY. 

“The subtle scenes that require a mix of emotions often need the most expertise. If the music doesn’t work, the big cues around it won’t either.”

Blending tradition with innovation, Dan draws from a rich arsenal of multi modal techniques. His vibrant and eclectic creative palette includes orchestral textures, synths, and manipulated samples.

Whatever technique he chooses to employ, Dan’s music defies conventional boundaries. “Every sound has its own unique qualities,” he admits. “Whether it’s a cello or a pitch-shifted forest sound, each can become a useful tool in your toolkit.” His background in pop music and orchestral scoring enables him to blend diverse sound sources seamlessly, creating rich, layered compositions that resonate on multiple levels.

Joining the ranks of award-winning music and audio post-production company, Barking Owl, Dan brings with him a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective, enriching the sonic landscapes of client’s advertising and branded content. “The opportunity to work on shorter form compositions and apply my film scoring expertise to advertising and branded content is incredibly exciting,” he says. 

This new role at Barking Owl will see Dan leveraging his skills in both composition and mixing to craft compelling audio experiences. “I’m particularly excited about the chance to explore precise emotional specificity and apply my knowledge of frequency distribution in voice-over work,” he adds.

Johanna Cranitch, creative director at Barking Owl, tells me about this highly anticipated arrival. “Dan’s melodic sensibility and innovative use of instruments make him an unparalleled talent,” she notes. “His ability to weave traditional and modern elements together is truly exceptional.”

Carol Dunn, managing director, echoes this sentiment, highlighting Dan’s impressive track record and the strategic growth Barking Owl aims to achieve with his addition.

His journey from a young guitarist in Brooklyn to a revered composer and producer is a testament to Dan’s dedication and passion for his craft. His profound grasp of emotional nuance will undoubtedly contribute to shaping the future of sonic storytelling.

For Romer, the possibilities are as boundless as the music he creates. “With shorter form composition, I feel I really have the opportunity to realise an entire world of sound in completion. I feel that the precise emotional specificity that has come from film scoring and pop music will lend a hand as well,” he says. “I couldn’t be happier to join the Barking Owl team and I can’t wait to make amazing music together.”