Darren Hayman

Darren Hayman is a prolific British singer/songwriter who earned acclaim as the leader of the indie pop outfit Hefner, then remained active with numerous bands and a solo career. With his penchant for lo-fi recording, knack for touching character sketches and relationship dissections, and affinity for quaint British cultural institutions, his music incorporates elements of folk, indie rock, synth pop, and bluegrass. Following releases like 2010's Essex Arms and 2011's The Green and the Grey, which were aided by his backing band the Secondary Modern, Hayman embarked on a series of albums that centered around historical themes, including 2015's Chants for Socialists and the multi-volume Thankful Villages series. He also recorded more personal fare like Home Time (2020) and the synth-based You Will Not Die (2022). 2024's jangly More Break-up Songs was credited to the New Starts and was followed a year later the more introspective Amazing Things.