Darren Hayman
Encyclopedia
Darren Russell Hayman is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist in Hefner
. Since Hefner disbanded in 2002, Hayman has embarked on a solo career and has released five albums, three of which were with his band Darren Hayman & the Secondary Modern
.
band Hefner
, who were big favourites of the late John Peel
. The band split in 2002, their discography numbering four studio albums as well as a number of compilations and a live album.
Hayman then released one album with The French and an EP with The Stereo Morphonium. Both were electronic projects.
The debut Darren Hayman solo album Table for One
was released in early 2006. The following year Hayman released Darren Hayman & the Secondary Modern, his second solo album and his first album with a backing band. The band included singer-songwriter John Howard
and Pete Astor, founder of The Loft
and The Weather Prophets
.
In 2009, Hayman released the first part of his "Essex Trilogy", Pram Town
. The second installment came in the shape of Essex Arms
in 2010, Hayman's first release on Fortuna Pop!
.
During January 2011, Hayman undertook January Songs
, a project to write, record and release a song for every day of the month, collaborating with other musicians.
The third and final part of Hayman's "Essex Trilogy", The Violence, is expected in 2011. Hayman has also released a companion album to Essex Arms, entitled The Green and the Grey, comprising B-sides and unused tracks from the album sessions. This was followed by piano-driven album "The Ship's Piano" and the 10" EP "Christmas In Haworth
".
He was also a member of the Vostok 5 collective, a group of musicians creating a 9-track record and an art exhibition about people and animals in space.
In June 2011, he embarked on a solo tour of Britain.
Hayman can now be found performing solo, with his ever-changing backing group the Secondary Modern, or occasionally as part of an indie bluegrass
supergroup, Hayman, Watkins, Trout & Lee.
He currently lives in London
with his wife and his dog Beulah.
Hefner (band)
Hefner were a British indie rock and "urban folk" band formed in east London in 1995. They were active from about 1996 until 2002; since then they have played together only once, for a tribute to the DJ John Peel, who was a strong supporter of theirs....
. Since Hefner disbanded in 2002, Hayman has embarked on a solo career and has released five albums, three of which were with his band Darren Hayman & the Secondary Modern
Darren Hayman & the Secondary Modern
Darren Hayman & the Secondary Modern is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman. It is his first with his backing band the Secondary Modern...
.
Background
Hayman first made a name for himself as the lead singer and main songwriter in UK indie rockIndie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Hefner
Hefner (band)
Hefner were a British indie rock and "urban folk" band formed in east London in 1995. They were active from about 1996 until 2002; since then they have played together only once, for a tribute to the DJ John Peel, who was a strong supporter of theirs....
, who were big favourites of the late John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. The band split in 2002, their discography numbering four studio albums as well as a number of compilations and a live album.
Hayman then released one album with The French and an EP with The Stereo Morphonium. Both were electronic projects.
The debut Darren Hayman solo album Table for One
Table for One
Table for One is the debut solo album by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman. It was released by The Track & Field Organisation in 2006.-Track listing:# "Caravan Song" – 3:11# "The English Head" – 4:42# "Perfect Homes" – 3:33...
was released in early 2006. The following year Hayman released Darren Hayman & the Secondary Modern, his second solo album and his first album with a backing band. The band included singer-songwriter John Howard
John Howard (singer-songwriter)
John Howard is an English singer-songwriter, pianist and recording artist. With his February 1975 debut album Kid in a Big World , Howard emerged as a late voice of the glam-pop wave of the early 1970s...
and Pete Astor, founder of The Loft
The Loft (band)
The Loft were a British indie band, whose debut single was one of the earliest releases on Creation Records.- History :Formed in 1980 as The Living Room by Peter Astor , Bill Prince , Andy Strickland and Dave Morgan , the band changed its name when they discovered a local music venue also called...
and The Weather Prophets
The Weather Prophets
The Weather Prophets were a British indie band formed in London in 1986 after the break-up of The Loft. After two studio albums, the band split up, with singer Peter Astor going on to a solo career.- History :...
.
In 2009, Hayman released the first part of his "Essex Trilogy", Pram Town
Pram Town
Pram Town is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman and his second with his backing band the Secondary Modern. It was released by the Track & Field Organisation on 26 January 2009...
. The second installment came in the shape of Essex Arms
Essex Arms
Essex Arms is the fourth studio album by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman, his third with his regular backing band the Secondary Modern. It was released by Fortuna Pop! in 2010...
in 2010, Hayman's first release on Fortuna Pop!
Fortuna Pop!
Fortuna Pop! is a British independent record label based in London, started in 1996 by Sean Price. It specialises in indie pop and indie rock music, released on 7" single, CD and vinyl....
.
During January 2011, Hayman undertook January Songs
January Songs
January Songs was a one month project undertook by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman. Each song was written and recorded throughout January 2011 accompanied by a music video and video diaries. It was later released as a full album in February 2011...
, a project to write, record and release a song for every day of the month, collaborating with other musicians.
The third and final part of Hayman's "Essex Trilogy", The Violence, is expected in 2011. Hayman has also released a companion album to Essex Arms, entitled The Green and the Grey, comprising B-sides and unused tracks from the album sessions. This was followed by piano-driven album "The Ship's Piano" and the 10" EP "Christmas In Haworth
Haworth
Haworth is a rural village in the City of Bradford metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It is located amongst the Pennines, southwest of Keighley and west of Bradford. The surrounding areas include Oakworth and Oxenhope...
".
He was also a member of the Vostok 5 collective, a group of musicians creating a 9-track record and an art exhibition about people and animals in space.
In June 2011, he embarked on a solo tour of Britain.
Hayman can now be found performing solo, with his ever-changing backing group the Secondary Modern, or occasionally as part of an indie bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
supergroup, Hayman, Watkins, Trout & Lee.
He currently lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with his wife and his dog Beulah.
Discography
- See also the discographies for Hefner and The French
Studio albums
- Table for OneTable for OneTable for One is the debut solo album by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman. It was released by The Track & Field Organisation in 2006.-Track listing:# "Caravan Song" – 3:11# "The English Head" – 4:42# "Perfect Homes" – 3:33...
(2006, Track & FieldThe Track & Field OrganisationThe Track & Field Organization is a London based independent record label, founded in 1999 by Steven Drew and Paul Wright. The label's first release was Kicker's "Said and Done" / "Chancifer" single, in April 2000, and The Tyde's debut album, Once, in March 2001.-Artists:* Beatnik Filmstars* The...
) - Darren Hayman & the Secondary Modern (2007, Track & Field)
- Pram TownPram TownPram Town is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman and his second with his backing band the Secondary Modern. It was released by the Track & Field Organisation on 26 January 2009...
(2009, Track & Field) - Essex ArmsEssex ArmsEssex Arms is the fourth studio album by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman, his third with his regular backing band the Secondary Modern. It was released by Fortuna Pop! in 2010...
(2010, Fortuna Pop!Fortuna Pop!Fortuna Pop! is a British independent record label based in London, started in 1996 by Sean Price. It specialises in indie pop and indie rock music, released on 7" single, CD and vinyl....
) - January SongsJanuary SongsJanuary Songs was a one month project undertook by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman. Each song was written and recorded throughout January 2011 accompanied by a music video and video diaries. It was later released as a full album in February 2011...
(2011, Self-released)
EPs
- Caravan SongsCaravan SongsCaravan Songs is a 7" EP by British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman. The first in a series chronicling Hayman's favorite holiday spots, it was released in 2005 on Static Caravan....
(2005, Static Caravan) - CortinalandCortinalandCortinaland is an EP by British singer/songwriter Darren Hayman. It was released in 2005 by Aculera Discos.The song "Crissy M" is about porn star Crissy Moran.-Track listing:#"Leave Your Shoes On"#"The Light in Her Room"#"Crissy M."...
(2005, Acuarela) - Ukulele Songs From the North Devon CoastUkulele Songs From the North Devon CoastUkulele Songs From the North Devon Coast is an EP by British singer/songwriter Darren Hayman. His second in a series of EPs chronicling Hayman's favorite holiday spots, it was released by Static Caravan in 2006.-Track listing:#"Rain All Summertime"...
(2006, Static Caravan) - Bad Policewoman/Your Heart (2007, Unpopular)
- Eastbourne Lights (2007, Static Caravan)
- Table for One: the Dessert Menu (2007, Track & Field)
- Minehead (2007, Static Caravan)
- Songs for Harmonium and Drum Machine (2008, P572P572P572 is a Canadian independent record label. Based in Quebec City, Quebec, the label was co-founded by Sam Murdock and Sébastien Leduc in 2004....
) - Losing My Glue (2009, Track & Field)
Studio Albums
- Hayman, Watkins, Trout & Lee - as Hayman, Watkins, Trout & Lee (2008, Fortuna Pop!Fortuna Pop!Fortuna Pop! is a British independent record label based in London, started in 1996 by Sean Price. It specialises in indie pop and indie rock music, released on 7" single, CD and vinyl....
)