Hailing from Eugene in Oregon, singer-songwriter Dharmika brings a timeless folk style to life with her voice and guitar. For over three decades, she’s been a voice of meaningful music, drawing inspiration from legendary artists such as Holly Near, Tom Paxton and Jim Page. Her music not only entertains but also sheds light on pressing societal issues, earning her a devoted following over the years.
Dharmika’s live performances have been a cornerstone of her artistic journey. She’s played stages at various festivals, including the Tumbleweed Music Festival in Washington and the Folklife Festival in Seattle. Her presence at local Oregon festivals and on local radio shows this spring has further seen her connect with audiences through live music.
While playing live has also been the main artistic drive for Dharmika and her musical vision, recently she decided to capture her original material in the studio and linked up with C. Todd Robbins to produce her music. Unveiling her studio sound earlier this year with her debut full-length record, Good Green Fun!, she now brings us her recent single titled “I’ll Read That Next.”
Inspired by the worrying trend of banning books that’s become a rising problem across the USA in recent years, Dharmika penned a song that takes a tongue-in-cheek glance at the phenomenon. With the main theme revolving around wanting to read the books that are ear-marked to be banned, she delivers a playful indie folk outing that’s both charming and thought-provoking.
Backed by the bright strums of her acoustic guitar, her elegant vocals thread storytelling lyricism about looking for a new book at a library. When the librarian suggests searching the banned-book list, Dharmika jumps at the chance to devour the books on the list and read everything from classic American novels such as Huck Finn and Catcher in the Rye to Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner as well as books about sexuality and the environment.
With a buoyant sound and an intimate, stripped back arrangement, with “I’ll Read That Next,” Dharmika offers a light-hearted yet profound meditation on censorship in the modern day. Now sharing her music with the wider world via her studio releases as she continues to perform live, Dharmika is sure to continue her enduring musical career for years to come.
Listen to I’ll Read That Next below
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