Indie Artist Darren Doherty Releases Stunning EP

Music Review | 25th July, 2024 Darrren Doherty

Despite being the primary songwriter in a variety of successful projects over the last 20 plus years, it's only now that Darren Doherty moves to produce, record and release music under his own name.

The artists latest EP, Darksides, blends elements of rock, singer songwriter, experimental music and EDM to provide the vocabulary for his singular voice.

The EDM influence is immediately felt during the short intro to the track R.S.V.P'. As soon as the delicate fingerpicking guitar joins its clear we are on a different journey. Amidst the wealth of sounds, at the heart of the track is Darrens mellon collie melody that lilts more and more into hope as the track progresses.

Through the lead single Extraterrestrials, Darren sought to capture this chaotic, fun and intense feeling of new love in a blizzard of an upbeat melodious track.

The track Violence is a beautiful canvas woven from shimmering synths, reverse reverbs that sounds like whispers from ghosts and choral underpinnings. The multitude of melodies throughout the track the result is a lush yet haunting song that gives the listener something new to discover with every repeat listen.

The title track Darksides closes the EP and tells a tale between two lovers whose darksides Born of an impatient Darren awaiting the arrival of a new guitar, picking up his acoustic and finding a contrasting melody that he took further still once full production was added to the track.

Helping round out the EP back where it began, pulling from EDM/house influences the final moments of the EP are bathed in a stunning euphoria that allows you to get lost in the music, eyes closes and hands pulled into the sky, as explosions of sonic colour erupt all around.

Darren is wholly responsible for the recording, production and performances on darksides, a blessing and a curse. Taking this approach allows Darren to avoid having to compromise his sound or vision for the songs and wider body of work.

Luckily, he says, he has a few trusted ears he can turn to when he finds himself getting lost in solitary vacuum this can create.

In Darren's own words;

darksides is about embracing your shadow side and being honest about it with someone in order to bring you closer together

Darren Doherty - Extraterrestrials (Youtube)

The EP Darksides is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: Old Crow Promotions

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