Daniel Merlot
ABOUT
Daniel Merlot is a filmmaker, music producer, and creative director based between Los Angeles and Tokyo. His work spans across music, film, and live performance, blending visuals and sound into cutting edge entertainment experiences.
He started his career in music production, releasing dance floor tunes, creating hit songs in Japan, working with K-pop groups, and producing major artists in China. His music has also been featured in Hollywood films like Blade Trinity, Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain, and fashion videos for Vogue.
Expanding into filmmaking, Daniel directed the award-winning sci-fi fantasy short House of the Unholy (2023). His work focuses on bold visuals and storytelling, combining different creative disciplines to bring fresh ideas to audiences.
MUSIC BIO
Daniel has worked in music production, live performance, and event curation for years, collaborating with artists in the U.S. and Asia.
His journey began in San Francisco, where he organized trip-hop and dance music events in the late ’90s. After moving to Los Angeles, he released music under the name Crash Berlin and worked with artists like DJ Bassnectar, drum & bass group Aquasky, and Kool Keith. His projects included releases on Virgin Records alongside Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction, Lollapalooza) and reggae producer Mad Professor.
As a DJ and performer, Daniel has played at Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, and Lollapalooza, while also curating and producing festival stages. He later worked as a live music director for Red One, Lady Gaga’s producer, and toured with Porcelain Black, opening for Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, and Drake. His performances included appearances on The David Letterman Show and Apple Music events.
Daniel’s music has also been featured in films and TV shows, including Modern Family, Volkswagen commercials, and MTV projects. He contributed music to Blade Trinity, collaborating with Kool Keith and RZA (Wu-Tang Clan).
In Asia, he has produced chart-topping songs for artists like China’s Shang Wenjie and K-pop group SPICA. His work gained attention in the U.S. when he released an English version of SPICA’s single, leading to TV appearances and concerts with G-Dragon and Girls’ Generation. In Japan, he produced #1 singles for Morning Musume and ℃-ute, touring the country and performing at festivals in Taiwan.
Daniel also served as the music director for Tokyo Girls Collection’s expansion into China, organizing large-scale fashion and music events at Cadillac Center (Beijing) and Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai). He helped develop dance festivals in China and built partnerships for Ultra Music China.
Now based in Hollywood, Daniel continues to produce music, direct films, and collaborate on projects internationally.
