Darlingside

Darlingside is an American indie folk group from Hadley, United States, active since 2009. The band is based in Massachusetts and is signed to Darlingside Music Publishing. Its core membership consists of Don Mitchell, Auyon Mukharji, Harris Paseltiner and David Senft, with Sam Kapala also part of the original line-up.

Formation and early releases

The group forms at Williams College as a five-piece described by the band as “string rock”, with Kapala on drums. It self-produces its debut EP, EP 1, in 2010, then releases its first full-length album, Pilot Machines, in 2012.

Line-up and performance style

After Kapala leaves in 2013, the remaining four musicians adapt their live approach by clustering around a single condenser microphone. In this period, the band reshapes its indie rock material into folk arrangements. Senft later announces an indefinite break from touring and live performance, while continuing to write and record with the group. Darlingside is also joined on tour by Molly Parden, Ben Burns and Deni Hlavinka, who also contribute to studio recordings.

Albums and EPs

Following its debut album, Darlingside releases Birds Say in 2015, Extralife in 2018, Fish Pond Fish in 2020 and Everything Is Alive in 2023. Its EPs include Woodstock in collaboration with Heather Maloney, Whippoorwill in 2016 and Look Up & Fly Away in 2019.

Style and songwriting

The band is known for choral harmonies and a collaborative songwriting process. Its music is described as literary-minded and arranged with acoustic textures and chamber-rock dynamics, with indie rock and folk elements closely linked in its sound.