Review: Darius Lux "Arise"

Darius Lux is a London born, New York City-based singer/songwriter pioneering "inspirational rock ’n’ soul". What does this mean? Try to imagine a blender full of Lenny Kravitz, Jamiroquai, Robbie Williams, and Maroon 5. The mix of styles he likes to stitch together in his music stem from extensive travels that took him through the Pacific, Asia, Europe and South America. "Arise" was actually recorded in a studio next to the rainforest, as Lux recounts, "[it was] incredible to record while the sun set across the volcano and birds chattered day and night". In describing his music, Lux summarizes his craft as possessing "the honesty of 60's songwriting, the vitality of 70's soul music, the infectiousness of pop music in the 80's and the rawness of 90's hip hop".

"Arise" is an impressive, genre-bending record that holds a little something for everyone. Exceptionally well-produced and free of wild bird chatter, nearly every track sounds ready for the radio. I gravitate more towards the melodic pop rock elements, so highlights for me included "Hey You!", "Every Single Moment", "The Great Unknown", and "You Take My Breath Away". These songs are uplifting indeed - great for thoughtful reflection and catchy enough to stick with you for days after hearing them.

Thematically, "Arise" describes how we can take control of our lives. Lux says, “For each one of us, life can be full of different fears, but we have to remember that fear is a choice. When we decide we don’t want fear and we have chosen to believe in ourselves instead, we find that we begin to receive the things in life we’ve hoped for". So check it out today - "Arise" won't let you down!

iPOD-worthy: 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

Darius Lux on MySpace. Official site. Get it.

Check out a video of a live performance of "The Great Unknown":

The Great Unknown - Live @ The Gig, Hollywood

Darius Lux | MySpace Music Videos