About The Darph

The Darph is a Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist working in moody soundscapes infused with 90s grunge-inspired alt rock inspiration. The result is a mix of ambient, lofi, and singer-songwriter styles. The goal is to evoke a visceral emotion, connect with people, experiment with sound, and find new ways to create familiar sounds you can't quite place. Liminal Music for modernity.

Self portrait of The Darph at Bear Dance Studios (Above)

Studio Space

The original studio was a converted spare bedroom room I lovingly referred to as Bear Dance Studios (a reference to the painting of the same name). I've been working out of the second floor of a detached garage since 2023. The new studio (Second Story Studios) is much larger and lets me play much louder. I'm no longer restricted to recording direct to an interface anymore and have a lot more freedom to experiment. The place was totally unfinished when I moved in and I am proud to say (brag) that I installed the flooring, drywall, and everything myself to get it ready for recording.

Since 2020, gardening and nature have become an important part of the writing and recording process for me. It's an outlet and a space to be alone when things get too hectic.

The Process

The writing and recording process usually starts with just a feeling. From there I retreat into the studio to begin experimenting with synths, samples, tape loops, and generally tmessing with textures before choosing any arrangements.

Atmosphere

The vibes in the studio are never complete without a cat napping somewhere nearby. The only downside to the new studio space is that it isn't attached to the main house anymore so the cats are always just right next door and no longer hanging out on a couch in the studio with me.

Other Projects

The Darph has always been an experimental, instrumental project. In 2023 I took some time off from this project to focus on a more personal project that is more traditional indie/folk rock sounding called Midori Moss. When things get dull around here and there hasn't been an update in a while you should check out the Moss project because that's probably what I'm focused on when not writing as The Darph. I'll be going back and forth between the two projects as I see fit depending on what music fits each genre.

Both projects can be found on Bandcamp and everywhere you stream music.