Darren Sylvester

Australian singer/songwriter Darren Sylvester established himself as a highly respected visual artist in his home country and beyond. When he committed to his own musical debut, Sylvester applied the same meticulous work ethic as in his visual work by writing, recording, and playing every note on his self-titled 2009 debut. As indicated by the pop leanings of his artwork, his witty and melodic songs drew heavily on influences like T. Rex and Roxy Music. Sylvester slowly recorded his follow-up record, Off by Heart, which was released in 2013. More adroitly stylized than his debut, the record is deeply rooted in the slick, dreamy production styles of the mid-'80s, calling to mind the pop dramatics of Bryan Ferry and New Order. ~ Timothy Monger