March 19, 2024

PREMIERE: Darwin, Bauhaus’ David J, and Friends Team Up for ‘Unkind Lover’ Single

Santa Rosa-based alternative pop artist Darwin presents his new single ‘Unkind Lover’,  which features David J (Love and Rockets, Bauhaus) on harmonica, Dustin Heald on guitar noise and ambience, and producer/collaborator Julian Shah-Tayler (a.k.a. The Singularity).  Darwin (full name Darwin Meiners) makes alternative pop with a dark, electronic feel. While rooted in the 80s, his music straddles several genres simultaneously, assimilating new ideas, processes and instrumentation into his work.

And actually what a wonderful new song by this talented and so much skilled musician, it was inspired by the writing of Dani Burlison , (particularly ‘Shark Week, which is included in her book of short stories ‘Some Places Worth Leaving’).

Here, Darwin created a quite eerie atmosphere all over with the needed ‘cinematic’ singing that is flirting with the spoken-word narrations…and this is all very imposing and quite poetic too as this song was a kind request by the writer herself. Musically, Darwin wrote a quite haunting melody over a down tempo idea that helps the words to capture and nail the listener at once. ‘Unkind Lover’ is a blend of (believe me) darkwave music in its most artistic form with a hidden slow valse approach and all it all comes down to a completely successful result. The song, is a killer!

 

Here are his important and quite informaive words, ‘I was asked to make the music for a spoken word video written by my friend, Dani Burlison. She had recently released a book of short stories called ‘Some Places Worth Leaving’.  I love adding music to film and was especially moved given Dani’s talent.  The short story is called ‘Shark Week’ and features a character known only as the Unkind Lover.  When I saw the final video, it struck me that it would be exciting to develop the music into a song,” says Darwin, and adds, “after getting Dani’s permission, the first person I contacted was Julian Shah-Tayler and told him the plan.  It was an inspiring song to work on sonically, but also writing in character – which I’ve grown to love.  My friend Dustin Heald is a master at getting his guitar to make wonderful noise.  He was enlisted to do just that.  The final piece was the addition of David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) on harmonica. Having been in a band with him for many years (David J & The Gentleman Thieves), I had gotten used to the sound of that instrument and I knew he would be perfect to put that final touch on it.”

The cover artwork is by Mark Gleason. “He had recently finished a painting that perfectly matches the song. I was able to get his permission, as well as the gentleman who had recently purchased the painting, to use it as the cover art. I love this tune and think everyone involved did a fantastic job.  It was a real collaboration,” says Darwin.

As of September 15, ‘Unkind Lover’ will be available everywhere digitally, including SpotifyApple Music and Bandcamp.

This new offering follows Darwin’s latest single ‘Dance Alone’, a synthtastic explosion of energy attesting to the strength of human spirit with a fun self isolation-inspired video directed by Linda Strawberry, featuring dance clips sent in by people sheltering in place.

 

Keep up with Darwin
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Written by Mike D.

 

About Mike D 282 Articles
Hey people I'm Mike D from Athens GR (43). I'm a sound engineer, radio producer, and certainly a music "freak." I couldn't be anything else, you see: I grew up in a musical home (my father was a composer), and wanted to be a rock-star but wasn't patient enough to study music. Instead, I studied the technical stuff and went really "nuts" when I started writing articles about the bands and artists I love. It all started back in 2002 in a printed magazine (Sound Maker - RIP) and I still do it because I really like sharing my libraries, discotheque, info, connections, knowledge, and all. I'm involved in all "waves" music (new wave/darkwave/post-punk/shoegaze), punk, industrial, EBM, alternative rock, indie, electronic, avant-garde/ experimental/ freestyle...but on the other hand I can easily throw a classical CD in the player, or a jazzy tune, or...ok you get it: Music! I'd like to read your comments on my writing because you know how it goes, and you all know the glorious song by Placebo,"Without You I'm Nothing"...Thanx and enjoy Freedom and Music, Loud!
Contact: Website