Daniel Baron

Born in 1991 from South Africa Daniel Baron is a South African singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved 12 number-one’s among a string of over 20 Top 40 chart hits throughout Southern Africa. In 2016 People Magazine named him “One of the greatest South African pop stars”, and in 2017 he was a mentor on The Voice South Africa. His early rise to fame began when he placed 9th in Season 5 of South African Idols at the age of 18. 31-year-old's success has stemmed from his uplifting pop anthems like ‘Indestructible’ and ‘So Much More’ (DStv Theme Song), and his heart-wrenching ballads namely ‘One More Goodbye’ and ‘Different Feeling’ (Bachelor South Africa Theme Song), to dance-floor worthy chart-toppers such as ‘Children Of The Sun’, which remains one of the biggest hits to come out of South Africa. His international hit ‘Say What You Want’ featuring ADAM was the runner up song in the International Songwriting Competition. Baron’s prolific songwriting and producing abilities have also led him to become very sought-after behind-the-scenes. He has written, produced & collaborated with many South African artists, namely Euphonik, Kwesta, Sketchy Bongo, Pascal & Pearce, ProVerb, Royal K, Cara Frew, Mark Stent, Mandoza, ADAM and Cindy Alter of Clout. His music can also be heard in TV-shows, films and commercials. His smash hit ‘Children Of The Sun’ broke records and debuted on the 5FM Top 30 chart at the number 1 position. It was the top selling South African dance song on iTunes for over 3 weeks in a row, also topping charts all over Africa. Often referred to as the ‘chameleon of music’, Baron is known for crossing over genres with an array of electro-infused pop-dance songs, inspiring stadium-sized rock anthems and emotional piano ballads that have all taken the world by storm. Daniel is a self-taught musician, multi-faceted vocalist, and a prolific songwriter and producer. You’ll hear his songs in numerous TV commercials such as the infamous DStv ‘So Much More’ Advert, The Afri-Cities Summit 2015 Ad Campaign and the Breast Health Awareness 2021 Campaign. His pop ballad ‘Different Feeling’ was the theme song for The Bachelor South Africa Season 2. On the corporate scene, he has also written and produced music for the likes of Sun International, First National Bank, Standard Bank, Roche Pharmaceuticals and Boehringer Ingelheim. Baron has released four highly acclaimed studio albums, each yielding a multitude of hits. His debut album ‘It’s Time’ was released in 2012 and spawned a total of eight hits including ‘Not Here’, the epic rock/rap collaboration with hip-hop star, ProVerb which hit #1 on the Top40SA and remained at the top for two weeks. Other mega hits like ‘All Over Now’ and ‘So Much More’ also achieved huge chart success, both peaking at #2. The latter remained on the chart for a staggering 18 weeks and was later selected for an advertising campaign for Africa’s major satellite television network DStv. In 2013 he was selected to open for Bon Jovi as a part of the ‘Because We Can’ World Tour. Daniel performed with his band to a crowd of 65,000 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. In 2015 his sophomore album ‘APOLLO’ was released, yielding another string of smash hits including ‘Indestructible’, ‘Heartbreak City’ and ‘Free’. In the same year he achieved another number 1 hit with ‘Say What You Want’, a collaboration with Afrikaans super-group ADAM. The multiple chart-topping single ‘Say What You Want’ with ADAM was also selected as the soundtrack theme for the block-buster South African-produced film ‘Vir Altyd’. The success of the collaboration led to the release of the EP titled ‘Young & Wild’ which also featured the popular piano ballad ‘How’. Daniel also achieved a number one with his first ever Afrikaans single ‘Hart’. The hitmaker’s third LP “Weekend Of Mass Destruction” pushed boundaries even further in 2016, featuring well-known hits ‘Beautiful Noise’, ‘Private Show’ (feat. Sketchy Bongo) and the club giant, ‘Children Of The Sun’. In December 2021 he released his career-defining new fourth studio album ‘City Of God & The Jungle Below’ – 25 new track project set in a fictional post-apocalyptic world. An artist who has never been afraid to experiment ‘City Of God & The Jungle Below’ is some of Baron’s most eclectic work to date. The star is proud to have delivered a cross-genre firework display of so many different sounds (including elements of rock, R&B, acoustic, pop, classical, industrial, afro-house, dance, hip-hop/trap), proving his versatility and uniqueness as both a musician and producer. Baron’s experimental production sets the scene for an expansive and boldly unique sonic experience, from maximalist orchestral driven rock to intricate and futuristic electronic soundscapes. This is a concept album of biblical proportions that takes a cinematic journey through life’s different phases and states of being. PAIN, PSYCHOSIS, FAITH, LOVE and HOPE are the thematic interludes that join the different song chapters to culminate in the finale of TRANSCENDENCE — a megacosm of the journey that humanity must embark on. Daniel explains “The album is not only about my story. I believe that all people share this same story of journeying through this beautiful, scary, crazy jungle of life, eventually learning that it’s not all about us. We have to transcend our own egos and then give of ourselves to one another, to ultimately reach the City of God.” The album was preceded by the high-powered inspirational single ‘How To Feel’. The song, mastered by the Grammy-nominated Chris Gehringer, Stirling Sound and NJ (known for his work on the latest albums by OneRepublic, Dua Lipa and Lil Nas X) is about getting up again after a fall, and not being afraid to experience the good and the bad that life has in store for us. Over and above his local success, Baron has also achieved on an international level, having performed in Switzerland, toured the UK, and in the US, gained the attention of various producers for film and music alike. He penned and recorded 3 songs for the international feature documentary film STUCK. ‘Wrongfully Detained’ and two other songs were selected as part of the soundtrack of the film which reviews the worldwide adoption crisis. The music video, was filmed in Ethiopia. Details on the cause can be found on www.bothendsburning.org) Baron’s music has received recognition from the acclaimed Patrick Magneralla (Manager of Green Day and Goo Goo Dolls). In 2014 Baron recorded a song at AfterMaster studios in LA with the team behind the Lady Gaga album, The Fame Monster. He won a Wawela Music Award for ‘Best Male Artist & Composer’ and was nominated for ‘Best Soundtrack in a Feature Film or Theatric Documentary’. The awards applaud South Africa’s international breakout tunes that go beyond borders to achieve success on a global scale. Daniel has featured in the Heat Magazine Hot 100 celebrities at the top 12 position. His collaboration with Trance producer/DJ Protoculture titled ‘Back To Life’, received a play by Armin Van Buuren himself on ‘A State Of Trance’. Baron has gained multiple endorsements including car, hotel and musical instrument sponsorships. Daniel is an ambassador for CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa). In 2014 he started the ‘Rockstars Ride For CANSA’ campaign. Baron rode the JHB 94.7 Cycle Challenge with a team of 12 riders to raise funds for cancer awareness and in memory of his cousin, Matthew who passed away of cancer at the age of 14. The song ’A Lion’s Heart’ was also written and released to remember Matthew and all other cancer victims.