| About Darren J Claxton | Darren J Claxton has been playing music since he was 9 years old. Born in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire his musical obsession started with Drums, playing his first ever gig at the Exhibition in Godmanchester as part of a 6 piece band at the age of 11. At the age of just 15, he began teaching himself the Guitar on an old Aria acoustic bought by his father. His influences at the time included the legendary Jimi Hendrix though whilst his skill and technique improved, he never quite mastered playing with his teeth. In a subconscious move to ensure he retained his musical independence, Darren also taught himself Keyboards and Bass Guitar which allowed him the scope of a solo-virtuoso Emerson Lake and Palmer! In the 90’s Darren performed Britpop Indie originals with Jayne Raydio in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and London including with former original (short-term) Queen Bassist Barry Mitchell. By 2003, he moved towards original solo compositions and 5 years later had taken the decision to move to Derbyshire, to take up a music tutor position and move closer to his family. Darren then began to establish himself properly as a solo modern ‘folk’ artist, writing and singing his own compositions and recording them in his own home studio on a 12 track portastudio which he referred to as his ‘Box of tricks’ The quality of his recordings and production were honestly compared to ‘Abbey Road’ and he was described by one reviewer as a ‘Proper songwriter at his best… excellent.’ Less than 2 years later, he and his partner Karen had their first child Riley (pictured left for the cover of his current EP). With renewed confidence in his singing capability from 2010, this year has been his busiest yet. In February he began writing for his current EP release – choosing 5 tracks from 15 original songs for the ‘Never Grow Old’ EP). Previewing the tracks, ‘Dragonfly’ on Sally Pepper’s show on Radio Derby in August this year and ‘Lights’ on Ambersound FM - he was subsequently approached by a film-maker Ben Cambridge, on behalf of charity organisation Reuben’s Retreat’, asking for his benevolence in donating those 2 songs for the sound-track of a ten minute promotional video, entitled ‘One year On’ www.youtube.com/watch?v=_86XPoR9EDY. The charity is dedicated to Reuben Michael Graham, who tragically passed away at just 23 months old. It offers families who have suffered similar loss, a place to ‘relax, recharge and remember’ whilst they adjust to their heart-breaking circumstances. The Manchester based organisation has also attracted the support of Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper) and her husband, actor and writer Ian Kershaw. Julie herself has subsequently described Darren’s music as ‘beautiful’ on Twitter. As a father and an uncle, Darren remains absolutely passionate about the charity and has pledged to donate £1 to Reuben’s Retreat from every download of his current EP ‘Never Grow Old.’ www.facebook.com/notes/darren-j-c…/643581748995857 Darren has played 16 gigs since his EP was released on July the 26th and has many more performances planned in the Midlands throughout the remainder of summer and autumn including a performance on the ‘Fringe stage’ at Derby Folk Festival. His 5 track EP ‘Never Grow Old’ is available on iTunes and Amazon: itunes.apple.com/gb/album/never-g…d-ep/id680991945 www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Grow-Old/d…282&sr=301-1 For further details about all of his activities, check out his Facebook Page www.facebook.com/darrenjamesclaxton and LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. |
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