Today we’d like to introduce you to Dagen Lusis.
Hi Dagen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was a kid, music has always been at the center of my life. At the age of seven, I started taking guitar lessons, and instantly fell in love with it. Growing up in Milwaukee, I took advantage of the music scene surrounding classic rock, and performed at many local gigs in Waukesha; the birthplace of Les Paul. Although I enjoyed learning how to play my favorite songs, I was much more drawn to the creation of my own music.
In the sixth grade, I began to produce on Garageband, and became obsessed with music production. I spent countless nights in my room throughout middle & high school learning everything I possibly could about making beats, drawing inspiration from artists and producers from many different time periods. Although my background was classic rock, I fell in love with hip hop and RNB instrumentation, and spent my weekends searching vinyl records to sample on my own songs.
By the time I graduated high school, I had over 1,000 beats stored on my beat up laptop, and not one artist to send them to. Although I was very self conscious of my voice, I purchased a $30 microphone and started laying down some of the worst vocals you have ever heard in your life. Although this was a frustrating new experience, I was able to find my greatest passion in life– songwriting.
In 2020, I moved to Minneapolis to pursue a business & marketing degree at the University of Minnesota, and I hesitated to even bring my recording/production equipment to my dorm room. I quickly fell out of love with making music, and became overwhelmed with being in such an unfamiliar environment. In March of 2020, I was forced to move back to Milwaukee during COVID, and was reintroduced to my love/hate relationship with the songwriting process. Flooded with anxiety and depression during this time, I used songwriting as an outlet to express myself, recording over 200 songs in a cold, musty basement along one of my best friends. I wrote about real emotions I was struggling with, life experiences that shaped me, and relationships that helped me grow as a person. My songs started to feel much more organic, and true to the person I was at the time.
Trapping myself in a home studio for half a year gave clarity to the kind of artist and person I wanted to be in life. I confidently moved back to Minneapolis with a clear head and a sharp motive. Immediately, I started up my own business, SYATT Recordings, and took to Fiverr to offer my services to other artists who wanted to find their voice. Commissioning over 200 songs on Fiverr, I cultivated a network of dedicated artists, producers, and audio engineers.
Instead of working from home, I was given opportunities to record at The Hideaway Recording Studio in Northeast, as well as The Institute of Production and Recording in Downtown Minneapolis. In 2022, I was given the opportunity to travel to Atlanta with my representation (Divert Music Group), and work with Grammy winning engineer, Luke Campolieta, at the famous Patchwerk Studio. While in Atlanta, I also created new relationships with members of The Playmakers, a dominant production group who have worked with artists such as Young Thug, Wiz Khalifa, and Gunna. In the music industry, connections are the name of the game, and my hard work in my early twenties provided me experiences that I will never take for granted. I have worked on songs for upcoming films, worked with some of my biggest idols in music, and even had an opportunity to write for one of YouTube’s biggest channels.
Today, I continue my efforts to expand my business, collaborate with local talent, and keep my experiences close to my chest. Songwriting isn’t a formula; it’s a culmination of our shared and individual experiences, emotions, and relationships.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the greatest challenges I have faced in the music industry is being taken advantage of; especially when I was an emerging artist. I started my business with my last dollar, meaning I was taking on any project I could get my hands on. The power dynamic between me and the labels I was working for were ruthless and disingenuous. There was a point where I was ghostwriting songs for $200 a pop, while the distributor would flip it for over $30,000! It has always been difficult for me to understand my worth as an artist, especially when presented with 100 page contracts, shady executives who make empty promises, and the belief that these corporations will change my life overnight. However, these real life experiences have taught me to understand my value, and take the power into my own hands by being my own distributor.
In terms of songwriting, my biggest challenge is staying ahead of Artificial Intelligence. Many of my repeat customers no longer reach out for new songs, because they can give ChatGPT a prompt, and it will write them a full song in seconds. I completely understand the mindset behind this practice, but I also understand the desire behind human-made media in all shapes and forms. The best songs are not the ones that are polished by algorithms and pigeon-holed prompts. They are the ones that are shaped by lived experiences and individual perspectives, which is a core value of SYATT Recordings
With all of these difficult situations, I learned to trust my instincts, and take pride in my art. Being an ethical business owner has disqualified me from countless opportunities, but opportunities that would completely sacrifice my morals and integrity.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In 2025, my work revolves around amplifying the voices of the artists I work with. When people approach me with a new song they would like written for them, I spark a conversation about topics they would like included, the genre they are interested in pursuing, and the emotions they intend on provoking. Due to my background in music production, mixing, and songwriting, I currently do everything in house; meaning that I will provide them a completed song based on just our conversations and idea sharing.
Once all the lyrics and melodies are recorded, I send them the demo, and begin a new conversation on things they like/don’t like about it, and what needs to be changed. Once they are satisfied with the song, they will then re-record using their own voice, and use the song for however they chose! Most customers record the song and put it on streaming services, but I have also had artists request songs to perform at their wedding, as well as screenplays for movie pitches. The number one aspect that sets me apart from other songwriters is that I never request any kind of royalties or copyright agreements, meaning the entire song is the customers intellectual property the moment they pay for it. My number one goal for the completed product is a customer that is excited to embrace the song as their own, and feel inspired to continue their dreams as a recording artist.
The genres I currently specialize in are RNB, hiphop/rap, pop, and alternative rock. My favorite genre to write for is RNB, as it is my strong suit production-wise, and has the capacity to evoke strong emotions.
Along with being a ghostwriter, I also publish my own songs under the stage name “Dagen” on all streaming platforms. I am releasing my first solo album, “Ivory” this April. The entire album is written, recorded, and mixed/mastered by me, and it is my proudest piece of work I have ever made. The first single “ILOVEYOU” recently dropped on all platforms on February 21st, and I would appreciate it so much for to give it a listen!
Some of my proudest accomplishments in my industry include:
– Semifinalist for The International Songwriting Competition
– Accumulated over 10 million streams on Youtube from songs that have been written or recorded by me
– Received over 47,000 streams on Spotify for my song “Feeling You Out”
– Collaborated with my one of my favorite artists, whiterosemoxie, on a song called “real simple concept”
– Currently rated as a Top Seller on Fiverr, reaching the top 1% of all freelance creators on the website
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The easiest way to reach out for collaboration is through my email, dagenmusic@gmail.com. I am eager to work with any and all types of artists, and would be overjoyed to work with local artists in the Minneapolis area. You can connect with me on Instagram @dagen.dmg to stay up to date on my own music that is dropping soon, along with different promotions that I run on a monthly basis.
If you would like to have a song written for you, this is the link to my Fiverr gig: https://www.fiverr.com/s/0bappzq
Collaboration is my biggest goal for 2025, as I believe music is elevated when people are in a collaborative environment.
Pricing:
- – Songwriting (depending on duration): $80-120
- – Mixing/mastering services: $50
- – Songwriting/Mastering Bundle: $100
- – Beats/Instrumentation: $60
- – “The Works” (songwriting, mixing, production): $130
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dagenmusic.wixsite.com/syatt-2
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dagen.dmg?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dagen-lusis-23785853?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
- Other: hoo.be/dagen.dmg
