Keith Whitley, George Strait, Robert Earl Keen, Radney Foster, Merle Haggard, Steve Wariner, U2, Sting
Sounds Like
Country music. Darren's vocal is a very clean ringing, powerful voice. Chris Claridy's ability to set the perfect layer of harmony just over the top of the lead vocal makes for a really huge sounding vocal delivery of each song you hear on any given night at a live show. With Aaron Lyons on drums and Seth Borsellino on bass guitar, the rhythm section is nothing short of thumping in the pocket. Tunes are kind of on the rocking side of country at the moment, when the band plays a ballad or two they are definitely sure to get your attention. They feel every word and beat of each song they play. So, as a fan you should expect the hair to be raised up all over your body when the sound of this band hits you.
Record Label
Major 7th / Nine North Records / Spinville Records
From the thick of the Red Dirt music scene comes a debut artist with a hypnotizing talent that takes us back to the traditional sound of country music. In the onset of what will surely become a most respected career, Darren Kozelsky comes into radar with his debut release, Let Your Mind Fly, on Spinville Records. Texas born and bred, Kozelsky is the spittin' image of that contagious gene that runs through the Red Dirt blood stream. A San Angelo State University graduate, and on the Deans list no less, his emerging aptitude as a singer/songwriter has been recognized and embraced by his audience and peers alike. Wade Bowen is but one of many in the brotherhood who senses the inevitable success of this newcomer, proving that good word travels fast.
Darren Kozelsky has one of the best debut albums of any artist I have heard from in this scene. His powerful voice and remarkable character will take him extremely far. - Wade Bowen
Sharing the writers log with A list versifiers such as Red Dirt God father, Bob Childers, Tom Skinner, Jonny Burke and Sean Faires (The Dedringers), and Mike McClure was initially a nerve racking experience as Darren admits. Initially, it was somewhat of an intimidating experience when I sat down in the studio and played Mike some of my original material that I was considering for the album. It was a really big deal being that I am such a big fan of Mikes. I was a wreck. As the formation of the record progressed, Darren found himself becoming more comforatable in the studio. McClure, reverently known for his signature tales including Rather Have Nothin, which will appear
on Garth Brooks February release of The Lost Sessions, McClure has also become one of the most coveted
producers in the Red Dirt music scene. His savoir faire for making records is wide spread including all three
major label releases from touring super giants, Cross Canadian Ragweed. "Working with Darren has been one
of my favorite projects. Let Your Mind Fly is the best record I've ever recorded with the most country sound I
have done in a while. He has a powerful voice and we have all the top-notch players on it. I'm very proud of it.
Some of the prime time players include legendary Texas steel player and GRAMMY award winning producer,
Lloyd Maines, and fiddle player Cody Braun from Reckless Kelly.
Darrens warm country cadence ushers us into Cool Grass with the ease of that George Straight-esque
southern comfort, and a fluent nature inherited in part by the unmistakable whine of Texas steel player, Lloyd
Maines. Its enlightened attitude, as the records title suggests, sets a tone for what becomes a solid body of
chicken soup for the soul. The collection is finely tuned and highly caffinated with tunes like Loving You
and Mind Over Matter. The vagabond saunter of Running Kind is a widely received theme in the country
music curriculum, and it goes hand in hand (like all the best combinations) with the tale of chance encounters
that can lead to change of heart in Restless Spirits. Its the every day candor of life that makes the best
stories whether it is in the form of a paperback or a record, and this one is not without its tearjerkers. The
imploring words from a lovers heart in Love Was Just A Joke, lends us mercilessly into the gorgeous
serenade of Name On Her Wing, an ode that would make even the most cynical of broken hearts believe
again. Let Your Mind Fly should most definitely hold high rank in any country music lovers collection. Although
highly addictive, its quite good therapy.
What's up dude. I really like that song "She Got Me There'. I've heard in on the Roadhouse here in Austin, that's very cool man. I hope we'll do a show.
