[3] Daniel was born in Toronto, Canada, and as a teen was involved in the city's DIY music community, playing in numerous bands and organizing events including several all-night concerts at a circus rehearsal warehouse, and on the Toronto Islands.
[4] In the early 2010s he became closely affiliated with Montreal label Arbutus Records, and began frequently performing as a touring musician with Grimes,[5] Sean Nicholas Savage and Doldrums, while beginning to write and produce his own music.
[7] Performing live with guitarist and vocalist Maddy Wilde, as well as a rotating cast of backup musicians, Moon King toured heavily from 2013-2015, supporting artists including Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Austra, TOPS, Majical Cloudz, Mr Twin Sister and Alvvays,[8][9][10][11] and releasing an album, 2015's Secret Life.
Eventually a collection of new material found its way back to Arbutus Records in Montreal, who offered to release it.
Hamtramck '16, named for the Detroit-area neighborhood, was released in the summer of 2017, documenting Moon King's shift towards disco and dance music.