Devendra Banhart

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76 SHARES
174 FAVS
47 fans

albums

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- Cripple Crow
- Released 2005

- Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
- Released 2007

- Ni±o Rojo
- Released 2004

- Rejoicing In The Hands
- Released 2004

biography

Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, and Los Angeles, Devendra Banhart was always playing music and drawing. But it wasn't until his brief stay at the San Francisco Art Institute that the disciplines became his constant companions. With the encouragement of poet and SFAI professor Bill Berskon, Banhart began experimenting with all kinds of art. He also began recording songs around that same time, usually on shoddy, hand-me-down four-track machines. Brief, half-finished, or written in stream-of-consciousness form, the recordings weren't initially intended for release. But friends encouraged Banhart, and he sent out a few tentative demos. He also left SFAI in favor of busking and wandering, and his travels led him from the Bay Area to Paris and eventually back to L.A. By now he was performing regularly, but he hadn't recorded or released anything officially. That changed when Michael Gira (Swans) issued the first Banhart material on his Young God imprint in October 2002. Oh Me Oh My... was an immediate critical hit, and comparisons to legends of songwriting, eclecticism, and tragedy were frequent (Tim Buckley, Syd Barrett, Marc Bolan, et al.). The Black Babies EP arrived in 2003, followed by Banhart's first full-length, Rejoicing in the Hands, in April 2004. Young God released its companion, Ni±o Rojo, in September. Acclaim for both was nearly unanimous, and Banhart's audience continued to expand. He jumped to XL for September 2005's Cripple Crow, an ambitious set and his most sonically expansive album up to that point. Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon continued in that vein, recorded at Banhart's new home studio in Topanga Canyon. ~ Jason MacNeil & Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

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- Akron/Family

- Wooden Wand & the Vanishing Voice

- Elliott Smith

- Cat Power

comments

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- - You Devendra
  - - By Judah McAlister
    - 12/26/2008 07:25:29
  - Your art your music. it's inspiration to my eyes and ears. You are truly a rad person.
    
    Your one cool person I would love to meet.
  - 3 out of 3 people
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