Damian Wilde released his debut solo project, Noveau Noir, on May 20th. These 5 tracks offer a unique downtempo, trip-hop, alt-r&b experience worthy of your attention.

Raised in Belhar, near Cape Town, by a mother who cared for schizophrenics and manic-depressives, Damian’s song crafting summons a soothing darkness as he scrapes away pieces of his heart and embeds them onto the record.

‘My heart, it feels tainted and black. There are a lot of things that are wrong inside’, he says. ‘When I make a record I try and scrape off pieces of it, smear it on a record and send it out there,” he says.

A poet by age 10, Wilde turned to music around age 16. By 19, he was playing in a psy-hop band known as The Red Underground. Now, a few years later, Damian is venturing out as a solo artist on a mission to articulate his emotions and reflect on the “f***** up state” of being human.

Unable to find a producer that fit his tastes, Damian took it upon himself to produce the album. He initially decided to learn guitar after his band’s guitar player left and then he began playing piano during the writing of this record. Damian’s piano playing came naturally – not knowing any note or chord names, he wishes it to stay that way…

…his “honest instrument” [piano], a tool to aid him on his journey of self discovery a journey of “a twisted mind in an even more chaotic world”.

Noveau Noir is Damian’s heart and soul in frequency. This is his self-discovery and will serve as support and “comfort food” for all those moments you find yourself reflecting on the current ‘effed up state of being human.

My personal favorites are Tempestuous and Disco Shit.

“…i think i love the law but i hate the cops cause at 2 AM all the music stops, and they put my boy in the back of the van, i really think we need to escape from the man…”

Go support Damian Wilde (the EP is free) then connect on FB or Twitter.