Mitch Dane is an American record producer, musician, and songwriter who resides in Nashville. He has worked with artists such as Jars of Clay, JJ Heller, Brandon Heath, Jetty Rae, Sonia Leigh, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Young Fables, Ole Lonesome, Swearingen and Kelli, Kenny Foster, and many others. He was awarded a Grammy for his work on Jars of Clay's The Eleventh Hour and nominated for Grammys for his work on four other albums. Dane also received ASCAP's "Most Played Song" award for "Nothing Without You", co-written with Bebo Norman. He owns the recording studio Sputnik Sound with Vance Powell.
Dane grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he spent his childhood making playhouses and treehouses. At age 14, Dane was involved in a motorcycle accident that rendered him clinically dead for several minutes until he was revived. The accident injured his esophagus, trachea, and vocal cords, which prohibited him from speaking for two years, a period Dane defines as when he "learned to really listen." His injuries required 33 surgeries, one of which removed a vocal cord, contributing to his distinct voice. Dane worked the story of his accident into his musical performances over the next 15 years until he pivoted and began audio engineering.
Dane is married with two children and has lived in Nashville since 1989.
As a producer, Dane said, "I like to collect the best aspects of every genre of music and bring them together in hybrid productions." Citing his childhood affinity for building treehouses, Dane stated that he took the same approach when designing his studio: a place for people to be comfortable and to hang out. His demeanor has been described as "calm and focused."
As of December 2018, Mitch Dane has produced and/or engineered more than 275 projects. Below is a selection of his production credits: