Devendra Banhart

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Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart photo taken by Laurent Orseau
Background information
Birth name	Devendra Banhart
Born	30 May, 1981
Origin	Houston, Texas, United States
Genre(s)	Psych Folk, Freak folk, New Weird America
Instrument(s)	vocals, guitar
Years active	2002 - present
Label(s)	Hinah Young God XL Recordings

Devendra Banhart (born 30 May, 1981, in Houston, Texas) is a singer/songwriter in a scene that has been described as psych folk, Naturalismo, New Weird America, and freak folk, among other labels.

Banhart's first few records were released on the Young God Records label from New York City. His most recent album was released by XL Recordings. He is one of the most popular^{[citation needed]} artists to come out of the new Folk Revival Movement, which includes performers such as Faun Fables, Animal Collective, Nick Castro, Jana Hunter and many others. He is also a sometimes-member of the group Vetiver.

Banhart is often compared^{[citation needed]} to such disparate artists as Marc Bolan, Daniel Johnston, Billie Holiday, Syd Barrett, Nick Drake,John Fahey, and John Jacob Niles. Banhart himself has cited influence from late 60s and early 70s Brazilian musicians such as Caetano Veloso (also see Tropicalismo). His music tends to consist of fairly simple guitar melodies with minimal other instrumentation, and his lyrics are often surreal and naturalistic.

Banhart was 'discovered' by Michael Gira of Swans, who released his Oh Me Oh My... album on his own Young God Records label in 2002. In 2005, Banhart (along with Andy Cabic and Revolver USA) created the Gnomonsong record label.

His most recent tour of the United States saw him perform with his full band - currently known as Power Mineral - which included Andy Cabic, Otto Hauser (Currituck Co., Espers, Nick Castro), Kevin Barker (Currituck Co.), Noah Georgeson, Luckey Remington, Pete Newsom and others. The band claims to rechristen itself when a name comes to them, and has previously been known as Fried Hummingbird, Hairy Fairy Band, Hairy Fairy and First Woman Millionaire, Las Putas Locas, Stoner Boner, Bathhouse Of The Winds, amongst other names.

Banhart was "oral curator" for a compilation CD released by Bastet (an imprint of the alternative magazine Arthur) called The Golden Apples of the Sun. This CD served in many respects as the defining moment in the resurgence of psych-folk in the early 21st century, and solidified Banhart's role as a leading figure in this phenomenon and a tastemaker for this genre in its current state.^{[citation needed]}

Banhart also was one of the younger musicians responsible for "rediscovering" the music of folksinger Vashti Bunyan. Bunyan is a guest vocalist on his CD, "Rejoicing in the Hands of the Golden Empress." He reportedly writes her name on his arm before every concert.

He currently resides in Los Angeles.

Lindsay Lohan conducted an interview with Banhart at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo. It appeared in the April 2006 issue of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine.

On Bert Jansch's 2006 release Black Swan Banhart features as a guest vocalist.

He is presently in the early stages of writing and recording his next album, due for release in mid-2007.

[edit] 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)
Devendra Banhart/Jana Hunter (split with Jana Hunter, Troubleman Unlimited #153, LP, 2005)

[edit] Trivia

His song Insect Eyes from the album Rejoicing hands was featured in the movie and teaser trailer of "The Hills Have Eyes 2" and on their website [1]
While born in Texas, Banhart was raised in Venezuela.
He contributed to the UNICEF benefit song, "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" in 2005.
Was also the first artist to contribute a design for the Yellow Bird Project
He appeared on the television show Wonder Showzen, singing an anti-war song.
He attended Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, CA.
He played both nights of Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit concert in 2006 and while there temporarily called his band "Devendra Banhart and the Bridges".
His music is featured in television advertisements for New Belgium Brewing Company [2]
His music is featured in television advertisements for Cathedral City Cheese
His song "Little Yellow Spider" is featured in television advertisements for Orange, the mobile and broadband company.
He attended the Art Institute in San Francisco