Discography:Devendra Banhart (born 30 May, 1981, in Houston, Texas) is a singer/songwriter in a scene that has been described as psych folk, New Weird America, and freak folk, among other labels.
Banhart's first few records were released on the Young God Records label from New York City. His most recent album was released by XL Recordings. He is one of the most popular [citation needed] artists to come out of the new Folk Revival Movement, which includes performers such as Faun Fables, Animal Collective, Nick Castro, Jana Hunter, Six Organs of Admittance, and many others. He is also a sometimes-member of the group Vetiver.
Banhart is often compared [citation needed] to such disparate artists as Marc Bolan, Daniel Johnston, Billie Holiday, Syd Barrett, Nick Drake, Caetano Veloso, John Fahey, and John Jacob Niles. Banhart himself has cited influence from late 60s and early 70s Brazilian musicians such as Caetano Veloso (also see Tropicalismo). His music tends to consist of fairly simple guitar melodies with minimal other instrumentation, and his lyrics are often surreal and naturalistic.
Banhart was 'discovered' by Michael Gira of Swans, who released his Oh Me Oh My... album on his own Young God Records label in 2002. In 2005, he (along with Andy Cabic and Revolver USA) created the Gnomonsong record label.
His most recent tour of the United States saw him perform with his full band - currently known as Power Mineral - which included Andy Cabic, Otto Hauser (Currituck Co., Espers, Nick Castro), Kevin Barker (Currituck Co.), Noah Georgeson, Luckey Remington, and others. The band claims to rechristen itself when a name comes to them, and has previously been known as Fried Hummingbird, Hairy Fairy and First Woman Millionaire, Stoner Boner, Bathhouse Of The Winds, amongst other names.
Banhart was "curator" for a compilation CD released by Bastet (an imprint of the alternative magazine Arthur) called The Golden Apples of the Sun. This CD served in many respects as the defining moment in the resurgence of psych-folk in the early 21st century, and solidified Banhart's role as a leading figure in this phenomenon and a tastemaker for this genre in its current state. [citation needed]
Banhart also was one of the younger musicians responsible for "rediscovering" the music of folksinger Vashti Bunyan. Bunyan is a guest vocalist on his CD, "Rejoicing in the Hands of the Golden Empress." He reportedly writes her name on his arm before eery concert.
He currently resides in Los Angeles.
Lindsay Lohan conducted an interview with Banhart at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo. It appeared in the April 2006 issue of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine.
On Bert Jansch's 2006 release Black Swan Banhart features as a guest vocalist.
He is presently in the early stages of writing and recording his next album, due for release in mid-2007.
The Charles C. Leary (2002)
Oh Me Oh My... The Way the Day Goes By the Sun Is Setting Dogs Are Dreaming Lovesongs of the Christmas Spirit (2002)
The Black Babies (UK EP) (2003)
Rejoicing in the Hands (2004)
Niño Rojo (2004)
Cripple Crow (2005)
