Darkpines links with Brother’s Crickets

Based in Pittsburgh, Darkpines is a musical project that channels personal struggles into a body of work that frames vulnerability within enthralling soundscapes. What began as an exploration of songwriting during childhood has transformed into a lifeline during the most challenging moments of life.

The Darkpines journey came to fruition during a turbulent period marked by intense mental health struggles, including panic attacks and suicidal ideation. Supported by a vital network of loved ones, the artist turned to music as a means of survival and expression. This cathartic process not only became a path to healing but also created a connection with others facing similar battles and the resulting sound is as much about personal redemption as it is about connection.

In May 2022, Darkpines made his debut with the self-titled full-length record Darkpines, an eleven-track outing that introduced a sound brimming with emotional impact, tackling themes of struggle, growth and strength. Since then he’s shared a string of singles and his sophomore record, The Vacation Pack, a collaborative release with his longtime friend and fellow artist, Brother’s Crickets.

Now, the duo reunites for “River of My Dreams,” a single that showcases their unique ability to distil storytelling with experimental sound. Born from shared experiences and a history of over two decades of collaboration, the track explores themes of loss and longing. With both artists based in different locations, Darkpines in Pittsburgh and Brother’s Crickets in Annapolis, they recorded at the same time to create a spacey jazz voyage wrapped in psych vibes and experimental aesthetics.

Crafting a hypnotic sound straight away, the hazy warble of sonic textures, stretching sax tones and crisp rattle of cymbal is met by softly autotuned vocal elements, crafting an immersive sound that gently tumbles into a mellow rhythmic groove. Gliding with overlapping melodies, staccato piano touches and layers of backing vocalisations, the dusty percussive shots gradually build with intensity as the arrangement softly swells with energy.

Forging a truly enveloping soundscape, the laid back marching shuffle of the drums and stabs of strings float through the bubbling synth backing, resulting in a spectacular slice of avant-garde music that filters various styles and genres into something truly original and thoroughly engaging. With another superb collaboration from Darkpines and Brother’s Crickets, we can’t wait to see what this musical partnership will cook up next.

Listen to River of My Dreams below

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