Daniel Victor Snaith (born 1978) is a Canadian composer, musician and recording ...
under stage names Caribou, Manitoba and Daphni. In 2005, he obtained a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College London.
Snaith previously recorded under the stage name Manitoba, but changed his name in 2004 under threat of an American lawsuit by Richard "Handsome Dick" Manitoba, the stage name of The Dictators frontman Richard Manitoba. His previous full-length albums were then rereleased under the new moniker, and The Milk of Human Kindness, his first album under the new name, was released in 2005 by Domino. As Snaith himself commented, "It's like The Smiths suing John Smith or something".
Snaith usually performs with a live band when playing gigs, often assuming the role of percussionist. Currently, Snaith's live band is made up of himself, Ryan Smith, Brad Weber, and John Schmersal. (Former bassist Andy Lloyd now plays with Born Ruffians and former drummer Peter Mitton is now a producer for CBC radio.) Sets also often include complex video projections on a large screen, a DVD of which was released in November 2005. "n music I will have an idea to put some different sounds together or a melody that meshes with a chord sequence or a sonic mood," said Snaith in an interview. "I'm not the type of person who takes physical things apart and plays around with them, but I like taking mental ideas apart and playing around with them. That's what appeals to me about what I've spent my life doing."
His 2007 album Andorra was named the winner of the 2008 Polaris Music Prize, and his DJ-influenced
2010 album Swim was on the 2010 Polaris Music Prize shortlist.
In December 2011 Caribou curated the All Tomorrow's Parties "Nightmare Before Christmas" festival in Minehead, England alongside co-curators Battles and Les Savy Fav.