The Story

Six years ago, I moved to Venice Beach, a place like nowhere else, to immerse myself in its carnivalesque atmosphere of artists and musicians. I was determined to find my distinct voice and mature as a musician in an environment where anything seems possible before setting out to make my first album. Discovering what this album would be meant discovering myself first. As a singer songwriter, I had to resist the temptation to confine myself to labels like "folk rock" or comparisons (albeit flattering) to artists like Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, or even Tool. My music crosses over pop sensibilities to rock and folk, and at other times, latin and jazz. 

The Music

Sometimes my music is more melodic; sometimes it's more percussive. Our lives have many textures and aren't one thing; and yet, those textures, emotions, and contradictions are unified by the fact that they form the story of one life. In the same way, the varying elements of my music are unified by the individual voice I've finally found.

Adrian Norman, a music blogger writes:

“Covered in Light” is a perfect example of his versatility with his guitar and vocals. Darren is not only a sound musician but also a very deep songwriter. The song is an acoustic folk style sound that tells his story. The song refers to how one searches, grows, and tries to create his own roots and namesake. It portrays a talented individual who is “covered in light” himself. “The Quiet Song” is also an acoustic piece that tells a love story about that special someone. It is a struggle in his mind about someone he loves and how lost without her he has become but his mind won’t let him win the battle between head and heart. It is a brilliant play on words that shows the depth of his song writing abilities. “Stay With Me” is an alternative song that could easily be heard on the radio today as a top 40 hit. It speaks of not wanting to be alone any more but how conflicted he actually is. “Foolish Boy” [is] another acoustic example of a relationship that “set sail into a hurricane” and the inner conflicts of good vs. evil. He refers to how ‘his shadow hides his purpose’ and how he is ‘lost within himself’.

The Goal

I've been waiting a long time to make this album, and with your support, it can finally happen. The songs and arrangements are done, the musicians selected, all we need to do now is get into the studio, produce the album, and promote it. I've gotten this far with the help of friends and labors of love from producers, engineers, and musicians; with your help we can take it the rest of the way. Obviously, there are always challenges involved in the recording process, and I'd be foolish to think this project was immune. But, planning and realistic goals will ensure that, regardless of what happens with this Indiegogo effort, a final product will be produced. These songs will be recorded. The level of that production is now up to you! I am fortunate to have friends in Venice Beach, with years of combined experience producing music, feature films and television; and they have rallied around this project to ensure that its professional standards meet my creative ones. The synergy of industry expertise, and your funding will combine to produce a final product that will far exceed expectations for this budget. The three songs I've been able to record and mix based solely on favors to this point demonstrate this potential. Now, with your help, we will bring those three mixed songs, and two more, across the goal line, in one fully produced and mastered EP.

So how can I help?

Every little bit helps! Even if you can't support with money, you can spread the word, tell your friends, and listen to the music! Share the campaign link on your blogs, twitter, and facebook to help get the word out! The passion to play music will always be with me, but the passion to share it comes from the knowledge that I'm connecting with people, we're sharing in something bigger than all of us when we listen to and make music. Come be a part of that with me!