Summer Darling

Summer Darling opens up a new chapter with their self-titled album on Origami Vinyl. The band battled alcoholism, divorce, interstate moves, and a number of family deaths to create an extremely personal record. Ben Heywood, frontman for Summer Darling, grew up the son of pastors in suburban California. Upon graduating from college with a degree In English and Creative Writing, he started the band as an outlet to come to grips with his dissolving faith and darkening worldview.

Ben Heywood, frontman for Summer Darling, grew up the son of pastors in suburban California. Upon graduating from college with a degree In English and Creative Writing, he started the band as an outlet to come to grips with his dissolving faith and darkening worldview. His wife and band mate, Heather B. Heywood, who also fronts the Richard Swift produced band Kissing Cousins, was raised the daughter of Pentecostal ministers in Alabama and experienced a similar rebellion when she began playing in bands. They've shared the stage for the last seven years with guitarist Dan Rossiter. Todd Spitzer, who replaced their previous drummer three years ago, has added an aggressive yet musical element behind the drum kit..

Musically, the new record walks the line of pop music and aggressive experimentation. The band set out to write songs that would challenge the close listener with a myriad of time signatures, interlacing guitar parts, and bombastic drumming while simultaneously pleasing the casual listener with hook laden vocal melodies.

Lyrically the album explores Heywood's decade long struggle with alcoholism and the place of faith in modern society. Heywood has been quoted as viewing his band as his church, which explains the allegorical nature of the lyrics, expressing thematic elements through story narrative rather than expository self-reflection.

Summer Darling has played extensively throughout the West Coast since 2003. In 2010 Summer Darling brings their new album and live show to the national stage.