Darden Smith has long transcended traditional singer-songwriter boundaries, and his varied, fascinating musical legacy continues to evolve. Following unexpected paths has been a constant force in his 28-year career as a musician, and his work of the last 15 years has led him both further afield than ever, and also brought him full circle to where he began.
Musically, Smith weaves together folk and Americana influences with rock, pop, and the musical roots of his home state of Texas, to create a sound that is uniquely his own. He has recorded fourteen critically acclaimed albums in locations ranging from Austin, New York, and Nashville to London and Los Angeles. All Music Guidehas praised Smith as “a singer-songwriter blessed with an uncommon degree of intelligence, depth, and compassion.” Likened to songwriters such as Nick Drake, John Hiatt, Leonard Cohen and Elvis Costello, Smith is one of contemporary music’s most winning and gifted artistic treasures whose consistent creative excellence keeps blossoming.
LOVE CALLING, Smith’s latest album and his first with Compass Records, was recorded in Nashville with co-producers Jon Randall Stewart and Gary Paczosa. Capturing the sweep of its artist’s prolific career, the album’s lyrics reflect the depth and resonance of a veteran songwriter, while its melodies and production style recall the purity of Smith’s early work. “No machines, and acoustic instruments whenever possible. Fewer instruments, organic arrangements–I wanted to move in a direction I hadn’t gone in a long, long time.”