Born in Leeds in 1978, Dan Potts developed an early interest in music, singing opera and choral music, and playing in large jazz and rock bands. Graduating in 2000 with a degree in Philosophy and Politics from the University of York, he had risen to the position of Editor of the University film review magazine. At York he sang with the University of York Choir, and after with Leeds Youth Opera, Leeds College of Music Opera, Leeds Festival Chorus, The Northern Wagner Chorus, Leeds Gilbert & Sullivan Society and Leeds Philharmonic Chorus. Dan also acted in various murder mystery events and ITV dramas. The result was the development of a very keen interest in the relationships between music and narrative structure, visual art, the written text, and the moving image. Dan commenced music studies in 2008 at Leeds where he developed and refined his interest in these relationships, studying composition under Mic Spencer.

Under Spencer, Dan developed methods for interpreting written texts and