darren hayman

In a special guest article, Darren Hayman discusses his artwork that runs alongside his songs, and how those two worlds relate to each other: “I am almost always singing about people…In my paintings, people don’t feature at all.” Painting now makes up more than half his income. “Drawing makes my heart rate slower, whilst music makes it go faster.”

Darren Hayman completed “I’m Your Team” in 2022, and it sat on the shelf for four years. Built on constraint, with a DX7 synth at its centre, it sees him at his most undiluted and emotionally stark, delivering some of the best songs of his career.

Darren Hayman reissues “The Violence,” the double album he calls the most ambitious work of his thirty-year career. First released in 2012 and recorded with his sixteen-piece ensemble The Long Parliament, it closes his Essex Trilogy with songs about the 17th-century East Anglian witch trials and the English Civil Wars, now expanded with previously unreleased tracks and demos.

Originally released in 2008 and now reissued with two bonus covers, Hayman, Watkins, Trout and Lee — the quartet of Darren Hayman, David Watkins, Dan Mayfield and David Tattersall — is an absolute joy to rediscover. East London bluegrass played with close-knit, co-operative DIY warmth: witty, lovelorn originals and artfully chosen covers. Think The Basement Tapes with more banjos.

Darren Hayman and His Electric Guitars have released a new single, “It’s Gotten Quiet Round Here,” accompanied by a uniquely crafted video. The track is the latest offering from the forthcoming album, Amazing Things, due out on August 22nd via WIAIWYA.

On More Break-Up Songs, Darren Hayman’s ‘New Starts’ debut, he weaves a personal mythology of love and loneliness. Capturing the minutiae of what happens in a relationship, the results are sometimes humorous, sometimes tear-jerking, and never less than entertaining.

‘You Will Not Die’ finds Darren Hayman at his most withdrawn and introspective, uncovering new truths hidden in well-worn themes…when a songwriter of Hayman’s skill turns the spotlight back on himself – and in doing so creates a new world in miniature scale – it’s worth taking note.

Darren Hayman writes in response to his own break-up album ‘Home Time’ – “one of the finest records of a consistently brilliant and varied solo career.”

Twenty-one years ago Hefner released one of the finest break-up and make-up albums of its era. To say that Hayman has done it again may be a bit reductive – in no sense at all is this a nostalgia trip, quite the opposite in fact – but nonetheless, this is one of the finest records of a consistently brilliant and varied solo career.

Darren Hayman returns with his new album Home Time on 22 May via Fika Recordings, an autobiographical album about breakups. Watch his latest video for ‘I Was Thinking About You”.

English songwriter and former Hefner frontman Darren Hayman reveals new video for “Chantry, Somerset” from his forthcoming new album Thankful Villages Vol II, due out on 26 May via Rivertones.

Watch ‘Woodend, Northamptonshire,’ the latest video from English songwriter and former Hefner frontman Darren Hayman’s forthcoming album Thankful Villages Volume 2, which is due out on Rivertones on 26 May.

A year after his critically acclaimed debut album, Ralegh Long returns with a subtle new E.P, We Are In The Fields. This gentle, restrained E.P picks up where Hoverance left off, listen in full here and watch the new video directed by Darren Hayman.

Darren Hayman has revealed the next video for his ambitious folk project, Thankful Villages. It was filmed in Stocklinch, Somerset, watch it here and read about the folk tale of two sisters who are both in love with the vicar and have churches built for him.

Part one – Best Folk Music Albums of 2015 including: Alasdair Roberts, Anna & Elizabeth, Darren Hayman, Marry Waterson, LAU, SImpson Cutting Kerr, The Rheingans Sisters, This is the Kit, The Weather Station, Trembling Bells, Ryley Walker and more.

The ability to turn a stream of mundane details into something inexplicably heartbreaking, with little but a softly strummed guitar as an accompaniment. This is Hayman’s gift – the ability to elevate the quotidian to heights that are almost sacred.

In association with Caught by the River we have a special giveaway to their upcoming Caught by the River Social Club in London – featuring Darren Hayman, Richard Skelton, July Skies and more.

Darren Hayman is to release his first purely solo album on November 6 via Fika Recordings. The album, titled Florence, is named after the city in which it was written and recorded. You can listen to ‘Nuns Run The Apothecary’ here.