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Derek Darker - Conversations With Rose
Darker encapsulates powerful, emotional and meaningful music coupled with an onstage warmth that lures audiences to join him as he revisits the ups and downs of life. The Dubliner who’s made London his home, invites you to share in his tales with his debut release ‘Conversations With Rose’ all recorded under the watchful eye of Will Baker at Vendetta Music.
There’s a poignant feel to “Conversations”. Rock Hard or gut-wrenchingly slow, it touches in every way - something of the past, his life of the now, and all that's in-between. Darker revealed the first taste of the EP with the lyric video to the beautiful ballad 'Numb' which has now been played on BBC Introducing Hereford and Worcester. The song is stripped back and allows him to showcase his soulful, heartfelt vocals. The Yorkshire Times described it as ‘one of the most tender, honest and beautifully raw ballads you will hear in 2014’. Discussing the song he mentions how it has to be about an experience, something real otherwise he won't believe in what he does. He says, “I’m incapable of sitting down, and writing a piece just to write ‘a hit’. It can’t be anything but real, must come from the heart”. There is a great sense of pride when he discusses the record in particular with reference to Numb as he says it's the first song he wrote on piano that he knew just "felt right".
As the record progresses we see that it's not all heart-breaking ballads. Darker has an incredible ability to change the style instantly and hit us hard, as we hear in the song 'Demons'. The powerful drum beat accompanied by the rasp, raw vocal drives the sentiment home as he looks for answers to overcome his personal demon, the greatest of which is the concept of love something that he "doesn't get". Nevertheless, we are treated to the brighter side of life with the song 'Home' featuring Malaysian singer-songwriter Natallie Ng. Darker reveals that he doesn't always view life through miserable eyes. “It’s not all doom and gloom,” Derek is quick to protest. “I love Rudimental. They just lift you up, man, and the sentiment behind it all is so real. Sam Smith, Naughty Boy, great producer, Jessie Ware – she’s excellent! But, just too many to mention". 'Home' showcases his soulful, playful side as he motors through the song over electric piano and a marching drumbeat that adds a positive summer feel. The addition of the guest vocalist takes the style down a different route to the others and really shows the versatility of the record. The EP finishes with 'Hold On' a song that Darker dedicates to his late Grandfather, one of his biggest supporters and the first man to have ever inspired him.
Darker won’t compare his music to another artist, because that would be “too scary” – doubling the pressure, and the feeling is lost however it wouldn't look out of place alongside the likes of Emeli Sande and Sam Smith. 'Conversations with Rose' will be released digitally on October 19th distributed via Right Track Records/Universal Music UK.
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