Daygan grows up between Liverpool and Manchester and is influenced early by the local live music scene. He finds an abandoned mandolin at the age of nine, which has a strong effect on his musical direction, and starts his first band at 14 playing indie rock.

After several bands, he moves gradually from indie rock into folk rock, helped by his renewed interest in the mandolin and by developing a love of the bouzouki. He starts Dragonsfly with Maya in 1998 and remains a central part of its development.

In the group, he plays a bridging role between bass and drums on one side and melodic instruments on the other. His style moves between crisp lead lines and forceful rhythmic parts, and he combines Eastern reggae and rock influences to create layered textures and colour in the music. He also contributes his own songs and sings with a broad northern voice.