Draft:Darius (musician)

Terence Nguyen (born October 10, 1989), known professionally as '''Darius. ''', is a French music producer, DJ, artistic director, photographer, and designer. He is known for his dreamlike electronic music blending elements of Soul, R&B, Funk et Disco influences.

Darius began his music career in 2012 with his self-released debut EP Velour, which gained attention for its warm, filtered tones inspired by the French house music scene.

In 2014, he released his follow-up EP Romance with the hit single Hot Hands featuring Canadian singer Darianna Everett.

In 2017, Nguyen released his debut studio album Utopia, establishing his distinct sound blending introspective and cosmic elements with electronic grooves.

A few years later, Darius released EQUILIBRIUM laying the foundations of the OASIS trilogy that would unfold releasing OASIS (Prelude) in 2021, OASIS in 2022 and OASIS (Epilogue) in 2023.

Following studies in Graphic Design, Nguyen has maintained equal dedication to both music production and visual arts. He actively contributes to video production, cover art creation, show design, and merchandise development.

Darius hopes that people will find his music to be rich, timeless, and complete: “I would like for people to escape for a few minutes when they listen to it.”

Early life
Darius was born Terence Nguyen on October 10, 1989, in Paris, France. He was immersed in music at an early age by his parents. While his music has been heavily influenced by the funk and soul records his mother listened to, Nguyen described going to his father’s, who’s house had a room filled with musical instruments, like going to the playground. His father would also introduce him to his first composition software before taking up FL Studio.

At 18, Nguyen pursued graphic design studies in Lyon and started releasing his demos on Myspace. Subsequently, he made the decision to take a sabbatical year to concentrate fully on his music, relocating back to his parents' home.

Darius continues to collaborate with many of the artists he encountered on platforms like Myspace and Soundcloud. They were all part of the growing disco-house/disco-funk movement at the time, and together, they would perform at various parties and events.

2010: Career Beginnings
On September 12th, 2010, Darius released his first two songs, Constance and Road Trip. Over the following year and a half, he released five more songs, comprising his debut EP Velour, while simultaneously crafting the visual identity of Darius. Infused with warm synth tones inspired by the French house music scene, the EP offered a distinctive sound that gained popularity on YouTube as creators began to incorporate them into skate and travel videos.

2011-2013: Cherokee
In 2011, Nguyen began collaborating with French producer Dorian Miche to form the artistic project known as Cherokee. Alongside his work as Darius, Nguyen devoted significant time to this electronic project, drawing heavy inspiration from artists like Daft Punk remixing their track Something About Us and with their early tracks sampling George Benson, 9th Creation, Denise LaSalle, and The Real Thing.

As Cherokee began to garner attention, Darius embarked on his first international tours. The project provided opportunities for him to refine his sound and collaborate with artists, such as Kartell on Atwater released on September 8th, 2012 and with Crayon on Alicia, released on April 9th, 2013.

2014: Darius’ artistic identity and Romance
On February 24th, 2014, Darius unveiled his second EP, Romance, signed on the French label Roche Musique. This release introduced the ethereal and radiant soundscapes that have since become his hallmark. Among the tracks on Romance was the breakout hit, Hot Hands, featuring Canadian singer Darianna Everett, with whom Nguyen had previously collaborated on the single Don’t Matter in 2013 as part of the duo Cherokee.

The EP's success propelled Darius to perform at festivals such as Dour, Peacock Society, Eurockéennes and embark on international tours under his solo project. Hot Hands has since attained gold certification in 2020 and diamond status in 2022.

2015: Helios EP and The Nightbirds
On March 30th, 2015, Darius unveiled the Helios EP, featuring remixes from Bondax, Pomo, and Myd. Helios introduced a slower, more cosmic sound that would later become the cornerstone of his debut album, Utopia, released two years later.

This EP also marked Darius' first collaboration with Berlin-based singer/songwriter Wayne Snow. In an interview with Flaunt, Darius disclosed his admiration for Wayne Snow's vocals, sparked by the singer's collaborations with Berlin artist Max Graef. He described experiencing a "direct crush" after watching the music video for their track Running. Darius reached out to Snow on Soundcloud, eventually sharing several demos, including Helios. A month later, they found themselves in a Paris studio to finish the track.

This collaboration also laid the groundwork for the formation of the group The Nightbirds, comprised of FKJ, Crayon, Darius, and Wayne Snow.

2017: Utopia
On November 24th, 2017, Darius unveiled his debut album, Utopia, comprising 14 esoteric and atmospheric tracks. In a teaser video for the album, he revealed his immersive approach to each track, hoping to invite listeners into the universe he had meticulously crafted in his mind. Darius also reveals how the songs on the album were linked to moments spent with loved ones or places that had profoundly impacted him. Utopia was conceived as a journey, bookended by the intro track Aube and the outro Bright Side.

For this album, Darius had the means to materialize his artistic vision for the first time, producing music videos, merchandise, and cover art. Utopia draws heavily from the aesthetic of retro science-fiction films, particularly Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The vintage color palettes and expansive cosmic vistas portrayed in these films continue to resonate at the core of Darius' artistic vision.

In an interview with Stereofox, Nguyen delved deeper into his fascination with the cosmos which has accompanied him since he was young : “For me, we are here consciously in a material world but we sometimes forget that the magic of this world is right in front of our eyes, every natural light that shines on Earth and as a form of magic already visible.” In tandem with the album's release, Darius unveiled two music videos. The first, accompanying the track Bright Side, saw him collaborating with Director Thomas Vanz to vividly capture the cosmic imagery evoked by his music. This video delves into the concept of the birth of light and the triumph of brightness over darkness in the cosmos

The second video for Lost In The Moment ft. Wayne Snow was crafted by the creative agency Frenzy Paris and directed by Lisa Paclet (known for works with Solann, Thomas Roussel, and Boston Bun). Frenzy Paris describe the clip, "In the not-too-distant future, on a planet that feels almost familiar, three teenagers embark on an adventure that will become a unique experience."

After the release of Utopia, Darius went on tour supporting Norwegian-born Cashmere Cat and Danish artist MØ for the MEØW Tour across North America.

2020-2021: OASIS (Prelude)
In 2020, Darius explored new musical horizons, inspired by the sounds that have always captivated him, aiming to recapture the spirit of his childhood as much as possible. For this project, he secluded himself around Paris to avoid external distractions: "I wanted to establish myself musically without anyone influencing my choices and artistic direction." He was also motivated by his mother's encouragement, urging him to make music people can dance to. The album's artistic direction will be dedicated to her, as she has shaped his musical upbringing.

On July 16th, 2020, Darius released EQUILIBRIUM featuring Wayne Snow, a track rooted in the funk and disco influences of his early work, exploring the theme of finding balance amidst chaos and calm. In an interview with FLAUNT magazine, the collaborators discussed the songs that inspired the track, including Friend Zone by Thundercat, Wesley's Theory and King Kunta by Kendrick Lamar featuring Thundercat, and Let’s Groove by Earth Wind and Fire.

Nguyen followed up on this release the following week, on July 23rd, with a clip directed by Alice Kong, known for her collaborations with artists like Vendredi Sur Mer, Bon Entendeur, and Ichon. The clip portrays, with absurdity and extravagance, the concept of equilibrium, where opposing forces achieve perfect balance. The director elaborates: “This concept inspired me to craft a surrealist narrative featuring characters in opposition to each other, who, at the precise moment a conflict erupts, suddenly find themselves inexplicably fused together.”

On October 1st, Darius released APOLOGY the B-Side of the single, which also featured Snow. The track came with a profound message of forgiveness and hope, with the artists expressing, "Our song APOLOGY is a call for change without forgetting oneself or others.” The EP was concurrently launched on vinyl, containing an exclusive track titled Sonar and an extended rendition of EQUILIBRIUM.

A year later, Darius returned with FEELS RIGHT, featuring French composer and singer Duñe, and RISE with Benny Sings, both released on October 5th. Darius explained about the tracks: 'To achieve that vintage patina and groove found in "Rise," it was crucial to have all instruments played live: bass, guitars, Rhodes, piano, drums." These releases marked the continuation of a retro and danceable sound initially introduced with 'EQUILIBRIUM,' complemented by the vintage aesthetic of music videos directed by Jason Yan Francis, Manu Fauque, & Derek J MacDonald.

Eager to share more of the demos he had crafted, Darius made the decision to release OASIS (Prelude) on November 19th, 2021, signaling that the 6-track release featuring new collaborations with Amaria and Flwr Chyld was just the start of a larger project.

2022: OASIS Album
On April 22, 2022, Darius released the album OASIS, named so "to symbolize his relationship with musical creation, which he cannot do without anymore." Drawing inspiration from the warmth of Velour, the dynamic rhythms of Romance, and the atmospheric tones of Utopia, Darius blended several elements from his previous works while leaving ample room for vocal expression.

Two long-standing collaborators returned for the OASIS project, Wayne Snow and Darianna Everett who hadn’t released anything since Hot Hands. The song held particular emotional weight for Nguyen as at the time Everett had recently lost her parents. Darius regards their song CHERIE as a poignant tribute to her.

In his pursuit of vocalists embodying the envisioned North American vibe, Darius collaborated with three fresh faces: the Maryland-based trio Lo Village; Kadhja Bonet, a long-desired partner for the producer; and Devin Tracy, who features on EASE YOUR MIND. Initially intended as an instrumental follow-up to EQUILIBRIUM, Darius has described EASE YOUR MIND as serendipitous, with Tracy's last-minute vocals perfectly complementing the track and imbuing it with emotional depth. This partnership "eased his mind" in its true sense, as he knew he had found the voice the song required.

The trilogy’s cohesive artistic vision that stimulates both auditory and visual senses was crafted by Darius himself, drawing from his background and deep passion for graphic design. The OASIS color circle represents the diverse sounds and genres on the album. The patchwork cover for the single NOTHING TO ME and the OASIS trilogy was sewn and photographed by Darius.

2023: OASIS (Epilogue)
Embracing the momentum of his album, Darius embarked on the OASIS Tour in 2022, spanning Europe, Canada, the United States, Mexico and Asia. For this tour and as is often the case, Darius had prepared live edits and remixes from the OASIS album. Two of these remixes, RISE – Darius Remix and FADED – Darius Remix, later became the focal point of OASIS (Epilogue,) which was released on June 30th, 2023. The EP was so named because Nguyen wanted to celebrate the end of the final chapter of the OASIS trilogy with ‘Behind the Scenes’ extras.

The NightBirds
The Nightbirds is a collective consisting of FKJ, Crayon, Darius, and Wayne Snow, established in 2017. What began as a casual jam session among friends and associates of the French music label Roche Musique resulted in the creation of three tracks initially released on July 21st, 2017.

The release, dubbed '1st session' and accompanied by a 12-minute visual directed by Kevin Froly, promised more of the group's signature soul and retro groove. However, the release faced copyright issues surrounding the name, leading to the removal of the tracks from streaming platforms.

Nonetheless, the single U & I was reissued on Roche Musique's 10-year anniversary compilation House of Groove in 2023. The project is now scheduled for re-upload in 2024.

Albums

 * Utopia (2017)
 * OASIS (Prelude) (2021)
 * OASIS (2022)
 * OASIS (Epilogue) (2023)

EPs

 * Velour (2012)
 * Romance (2014)
 * Helios (2015)
 * EQUILIBRIUM (2020)

Music Videos

 * Darius feat. Wayne Snow – Lost In The Moment (2017)
 * Darius – Bright Side (2017)
 * Darius & Wayne Snow – EQUILIBRIUM (2020)
 * Darius feat. Duñe – FEELS RIGHT (2021)
 * Darius feat. Benny Sings – RISE (2021)

Compilations

 * Ô - FKJ, Darius in Wave 1 (2015)
 * Ouh - Darius .Wave, Vol. 2 (2018)
 * U & I - FKJ, Darius, WAYNE SNOW, Crayon, The Nightbirds in House of Groove (2023)

Remixes

 * Bondax - All I See (2014)
 * Crayon feat. KLP - Give You Up (2013)
 * Daft Punk - Something About Us (2011)
 * Dua Lipa – IDGAF (2018)
 * Flight Facilities feat. Emma Louise - Two Bodies (2015)
 * Jessie Ware - Champagne Kisses (2015)
 * Jungle – Time (2015)
 * Lianne La Havas - Green & Gold (2015)
 * MØ - Don’t Wanna Dance (2014)
 * Ohyeah - Saint Tropez (2013)
 * Sebastien Tellier - Comment Revoir Oursinet ? (2015)
 * The Magician – Sunlight (2014)