Devendra Banhart

Born 30 May 1981 in Houston Texas, Banhart’s life is the stuff of campfire tales, and so is his music. Having moved to Venezuela when he was very young, Banhart grew up around poverty in between the sweatshops and street violence where Thrasher magazines could get you shot or buy you street cred. Eventually after his mother remarried he would be moved again to Los Angeles, the second in a long line of relocations, and after being accepted into the San Francisco Art Institute to study art, his ‘barefoot wanderings’ would begin. Having written songs since he was 12 years old on borrowed four-tracks and an answering machine, Banhart was no stranger to Lo-Fi aesthetics and spur of the moment renditions, thus his two room mates, a gay couple whom he fondly refers to as Bob the Crippled Comic and Jerry Elvis would ask him to play at their wedding. His first gig.

He would play anywhere that would have him, sushi bars, pubs and impromptu slots for friends bands, becoming a homeless couch surfer along the way. His travels would take him and his acoustic guitar to NYC, California and Paris gaining him notoriety, all the while still recording his little demo’s of one minute hobo folk tracks. Banhart was eventually noticed by Michael Gira of the band Swans, whom would eventually sign Banhart to his Young God Records label, which would release four of his albums. Banhart would then become responsible for the ‘Psych Folk’ movement, inspiring artists like Joanna Newsom and Antony and the Johnsons to come out of the woodwork.

His first album ‘The Charles C. Leary’ was released by the non profit organisation Hinah, that promotes young musicians, yet it would be his YGR debut that would become the platform that he would need to gain a tour across Europe and the US, garnering praise from critics hailing him as a time travelling freak folk musician that talks a hell of a lot of shit. He currently tours with his full band ‘Hairy Fairy’.

Discography –
The Charles C. Leary – Hinah (2002)
Oh Me Oh My... The Way the Day Goes By the Sun Is Setting Dogs Are Dreaming  - - Lovesongs of the Christmas Spirit - Young God, (2002)
The Black Babies (UK EP) - Young God (2003)
Rejoicing in the Hands - Young God (2004)
Niño Rojo - Young God (2004)
Cripple Crow -XL Recordings (2005)