British singer/songwriter Darren Hayman earned critical acclaim in the late '90s as the driving force behind the beloved but under-recognized indie pop outfit Hefner. Following their dissolution in the early 2000s, he remained active with numerous bands and launched a prolific solo career. With his penchant for lo-fi recording, knack for touching character sketches and witty relationship dissections, and affinity for quaint British cultural institutions, his music incorporates elements of folk, indie rock, synth pop, and bluegrass. Following releases like 2010's Essex Arms and 2011's The Green and the Grey, which were aided by his backing band the Secondary Modern, Hayman embarked on a series of solo releases that often centered around historical themes, including 2015's Chants for Socialists and the multi-volume Thankful Villages series, which began in 2016. He also recorded more personal fare like the 2020 breakup-themed Home Time and 2022's introspective, synth-based You Will Not Die.