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Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
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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, Niño 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 GuideMore

Official Profile

Devendra Banhart
“…Banhart was born in Texas in 1981, and named by an Indian mystic whom his parents foll...
Songs: 14, Videos: 0, Playlists: 1, Blog Posts: 0, Polls: 0, Battles: 0

Fan Comments

Sep 13th, 1:11pm
p.s. "Will Is My Friend" is one of my favorite songs out of MANY MANY! I tried to search for one of your cd's at the library today with no luck.
Sep 13th, 1:11pm
love it. you are a wordly man who writes like nobody has ever seen. maybe you can turn a free verse poem into a song. "indie music: second to nothing as the pop art of the music world"
Oct 1st, 12:26pm
UN GRAN ABRAZO!.... I
Sep 24th, 3:52pm
you guys are amazing, huge fan right here :) come to buffalo ny please.

peace and love
carolanne
Sep 15th, 5:14pm
i love you!!!

xoxo
Sep 12th, 10:00pm
Ahh Jajaja I can not believe it, you play the guitar like nobody, hard away from the noise of the city, just as you know it.

Thank you for the time when these there with your songs because they do really happy people.

Also good vibe emanating from your person, first of all origins. So which is ashamed of their roots, be ashamed of yourself.

Que dime Lunita porque Taz tan amarilla.
Bueno ya estoy Cansada y mis hijos ya me dicen viejita,
ay mi pelo esta seco y mi piel ya no brilla
Pero el Mundo Es tuyo...
Sep 12th, 9:03pm
in love with music
beautiful like cloudy skies
devendra banhart.
Sep 12th, 9:01pm
I really love the style, its beautiful, i'm in love.
Sep 12th, 8:11pm
Thank you for your friendship and thank you for the music!