Los Angeles outift Darker Lighter, the solo project of Salar Rajabnik (Pete Yorn), makes its grand entrance with Hanging On, the first of four singles ahead of his debut self-titled album set for release on March 28, 2025, via Mishi Records and The Orchard/Sony Music.
Hanging On wrestles with the wear and tear of a soul stretched thin, a man who’s lost his sense of self after years of bending to the whims of others. The song stirs with restlessness, a deep-seated hunger to reclaim what’s been buried, while caught between letting go of the past and hanging on to some flicker of hope. It’s a tale of tugging between the old and the new, the known and the unknown, all while struggling to breathe beneath the weight of a fractured identity.
The track is a blend of old and new, fusing electronic and acoustic drums with a nod to the punk-funk of Prince. Warm synths and jangly guitars layer the sound, evoking echoes of The Pretenders, Television, and The Cars. It’s nostalgic without feeling tethered to the past, a sound that both honors its influences and stands firmly in the present.
Joey Martinez, celebrated for his striking photography, turns his lens toward Rajabnik in the studio, where the artist plays every instrument with unflinching precision. There’s no polish, no pretense—just Rajabnik grappling with the raw reality of who he is, what he’s become, and what he might be. The mix, under the sharp ear of Robert Adam Stevenson (known for his work with Paul McCartney and Queens of the Stone Age), cuts deep, blending each instrument with the pulse of a heart that’s been through the wringer. It’s a picture of an artist, stripped bare, standing at the crossroads of reinvention and reflection, holding tight to the music that defines him.
Watch the video for “Hanging On” below:
Listen to Hanging On below and order here.
Darker Lighter’s next single, Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be The Same Again is an urgent anthem of catharsis, reflecting the anguish and helplessness of navigating a world engulfed in relentless tragedy and injustice. A punishing cyclical riff and layers of distorted guitars sonically embodies the frustration so many feel – trapped beneath the weight of depraved, unaccountable power structures. The track’s production is a full-blown assault on the senses, featuring amplifiers pushed to the brink of combustion, drums that pound with rage, cymbals that crack under strain, and vocals that scream with unfiltered desperation.
You can pre-save the song here.
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