DARKER LIGHTER - EPK

PRESS

• “Los Angeles Indie Rocker Darker Lighter Makes a Grand Debut in the Video for Hanging On. Hanging On wrestles with the wear and tear of a soul stretched thin, a man who’s lost his sense of self after years of bending to the whims of others. The song stirs with restlessness, a deep-seated hunger to reclaim what’s been buried, while caught between letting go of the past and hanging on to some flicker of hope. It’s a tale of tugging between the old and the new, the known and the unknown, all while struggling to breathe beneath the weight of a fractured identity.” - Post-Punk.com

• “Hanging On” is particularly powerful in its refusal to resolve its central conflict. The tension between “giving up & hanging on” remains unresolved, suggesting that perhaps the struggle itself is the point. It’s a bold artistic choice that feels especially authentic coming from someone who’s spent years watching others take center stage. - B-Side Guys

• “Darker Lighter’s music feels both raw and deeply personal, with "Hanging On" blending nostalgic indie rock elements with a modern twist that hits hard emotionally. It’s the kind of track that makes you reflect, balancing intricate soundscapes with powerful, relatable themes.” - Rebel Noise

• “Hanging On combines electronic and acoustic drums, paying tribute to punk-funk icon Prince; while blending warm synths and jangly guitar layers, the track also echoes the sounds of The Pretenders, Television, and The Cars, offering a nostalgic yet modern listening experience. Lyrically, the song delves deep into themes of identity forfeiture, the pain of losing loved ones, and the relentless fight to retain a sense of self.” - Spill Magazine

• “The success of “Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be The Same Again” lies in its commitment to its cause – both musical and ideological. Darker Lighter has created something that functions simultaneously as a post-punk revival piece and a genuine call to arms, suggesting that Rajabnik’s evolution as an artist will be anything but predictable.” - B-Side Guys

• “… serves as a bridge, connecting the yearning ache of his previous releases, Hanging On, with the simmering intensity of Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be The Same Again. Sounding like something straight out of a mid-90s mix tape – lingering somewhere in the energetic flow of Sonic Youth, the Meat Puppets, Toadies, and Dinosaur Jr, Someday Soon captures a visceral collision of desperation and determination, creating a relentless, rain-drenched anthem for those caught between longing and the promise of something new.” - Post-Punk.com

• Someday Soon: “…as if Nick Cave and The Cure had decided to meet for a night of confessions.” - Zona Emergente

• Someday Soon: “…a song that will portray that need for change where emotions spring up like new water.” - End Sessions

• Someday Soon: “Rajabnik’s songwriting excels with its balancing of vulnerability and striving for betterment, achieving a memorable pull in its alt-rock vigor and pop approachability.” - Obscure Sound

• Someday Soon: “…a song that explores an uplifting, attractive and brilliant personality within genres such as Post-Punk, Indie Rock and Alt Rock, without losing the strength and rawness that characterize these styles.” - R+

• Someday Soon: “The theme is completed with an atmosphere full of nostalgia and emotional tension, which keeps listeners trapped from beginning to end, while they immerse themselves in a soundscape in which indie and alternative encounter a rich load of emotion.” - Oleada Indie