Darker is an electronic music band with Valerio, Jeps and Evelien.
Dark, romantic, melancholic, entrancing.
In the midst of the chaotic and haunting landscape of the 2020 pandemic, Jeps and Evil-ien embarked on a transformative journey. Armed with their resurrected Kaoss pads, drum machines, synth guitars, and keyboards, they secluded themselves in their Tilburg home studio, ready to compose the soundtrack for a world teetering on the brink of apocalypse.
As the outside world plunged into chaos, the duo ventured deeper into their creative abyss, crafting intricate tales of hope, love, and the tempest of emotions that gripped the collective consciousness. With every pulse of their drum machines, every twist of their plugins, and every daring push of their synths, they exorcised their inner demons, giving birth to a dark symphony of despair and desire.
In a secretive alliance with the enigmatic singer Valerio, who had retreated to his own studio in The Hague, they worked tirelessly to produce a staggering 87 songs. Each one became a reflection of the darkness that enveloped the world. Their debut singles, Love is Gonna Save Us (featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday) and Hope, emerged in early 2021, signaling the dawn of a new era in sonic exploration. These tracks were followed by the release of two EPs—Rainy Days and Wild Rose (2021-2022)—which weaved tales of heartache, longing, and redemption.
Their magnum opus, Enough, released in late 2022, made an immediate impact, securing a prestigious Song Of The Year nomination from 3voor12 Tilburg and reached the 13th spot—an omen of the darkness to come.
In 2023, the trio unleashed Radio Panic, a shadowy electronic ballad that defied expectations and plunged deeper into the abyss. Fake News and All I Gave followed, securing spots in major playlists like New Music Daily and ALT CTRL on Apple Music. Plastic Dreams, You Started It All and Bed Karma further solidified their hold on the hearts and minds of listeners, their music resonating with the essence of dystopian existence. The release of Deluded and Solitude in late 2023 led to the highly anticipated release of their first full length-album, Memento, on March 1, 2024. The journey continues with the release of Memento – remixed in February 2025, featuring fresh, darker interpretations by artists like The Last Element, Voodoo Chambers, Alphamay, Korinthians, Xtort, and Fallen Angel. Their latest single is the catchy synthpop track Tone Of Voice, again mixed by Jan Bijlsma (The Last Element, Vengeance) and DARKER.
These recordings possess an irresistible pull, beckoning listeners to the underground dance floors, the desolate stages of post-apocalyptic festivals, and the airwaves of a world on the edge. Rooted in the revered traditions of 80s synthpop, darkwave, synthwave, post-punk, and dystopian soundscapes, their music carries the influence of electronic legends such as Depeche Mode, Editors, White Lies, Röyksopp, Nine Inch Nails, and How To Destroy Angels. The future may be uncertain, but one thing is clear—Jeps, Evil-ien, and Valerio are the architects of a new world, soundtracking the chaos, beauty, and the dark heart of our post-apocalyptic dreams.
And when DARKER takes the stage, they are joined by live drummer Jurgen, and a mesmerizing array of visuals across four LED screens hypnotizes the crowd. This stunning visual language seamlessly intertwines with their lyrics and music, creating a breathtaking audio-visual experience that leaves a lasting impact. Since their sold-out debut performance in Tilburg in January 2023, DARKER has toured across The Netherlands during the We Love Dark Music tour with Auger (UK), Korinthians (B) and Palais Ideal (NL), and even headlined Wave Invasion Fest at Hyde Park, Osnabrück (Germany).
DARKER is more than a band; they are creators of future classics. Their music weaves a hopeful soundtrack for a post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure, a sonic journey waiting to be featured in the next trending Netflix series. Brace yourself for a musical voyage into the unknown with DARKER, where darkness and light converge to create an unforgettable sonic spectacle.
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RELEASES:
* Love Is Gonna Save Us (12-02-2021) * Hope (19-03-2021) * Hope – remixes (23-04-2021) *
* Rainy Days-EP (27-08-2021) * Enough (11-02-2022) * UnFl The Night (11-03-2022) * Wild Rose-EP (01-04-2022) *
* Wild Rose-extended (06-05-2022) * Radio Panic (27-01-2023) * Fake News (10-03-2023) * All I Gave (18-08-2023) *
* PlasFc Dreams (15-09-2023) * You Started It All (27-10-2023) * Bed Karma (24-11-2023) * Deluded (12-01-2024) *
* Solitude (02-02-2024) * Memento-album (01-03-2024) * Memento-remixed (07-02-2025) *
* Tone Of Voice (12-09-2025) *
WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL DARKER WEBSITE 