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Devendra Banhart (born 30 May, 1981 in Houston, Texas) is a psych folk singer/songwriter whose first few records were released on the Young God Records label from New York City; his most recent album was released by XL Recordings. He is one of the most popular artists to come out of the new New Weird America movement that includes performers such as Faun Fables, Animal Collective, Viking Moses, Jana Hunter, the MV + EE Medicine Show, Currituck Co., Six Organs of Admittance, We the Royal, and many others. He is also a sometimes-member of the group Vetiver. Banhart is often compared to such disparate artists as Marc Bolan, Daniel Johnston, Billie Holiday, Syd Barrett, Nick Drake, Caetano Veloso, John Fahey, and Tiny Tim. Banhart himself has cited influence from late 60s and early 70s Brazilian musicians such as Caetano Veloso (also see Tropicalismo). His music tends to consist of fairly simple guitar melodies with minimal other instrumentation, and his lyrics are often surreal and naturalistic. Banhart was 'discovered' by Michael Gira of Swans, who released his Oh Me Oh My... album on his own Young God Records label in 2002. In 2005, he (along with Andy Cabic and Revolver USA) created the Gnomonsong record label. His most recent tour of the United States saw him perform with his full band - previously known as Hairy Fairy, among other names, but recently rechristened First Woman Millionaire - which included Andy Cabic, Otto Hauser (Currituck Co., Espers), Kevin Barker (Currituck Co.), Noah Georgeson, Luckey Remington, and others. Hauser and Barker have also toured with Antony and the Johnsons as members of Antony's band; Banhart and Antony have served as guest vocalists for one another. Banhart was "curator" for a compilation CD released by Bastet (an imprint of the alternative magazine Arthur) called The Golden Apples of the Sun. This CD served in many respects as the defining moment in the resurgence of psych-folk in the early 21st century, and solidified Banhart's role as a leading figure in this phenomenon and a tastemaker for this genre in its current state. Banhart also was one of the younger musicians responsible for "rediscovering" the music of folksinger Vashti Bunyan. Bunyan is a guest vocalist on his CD, "Rejoicing in the Hands of the Golden Empress." He reportedly writes her name on his arm before every concert. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Lindsay Lohan conducted an interview with Banhart at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo. It appeared in the April 2006 issue of Andy Warhol's ''Interview'' magazine. He is presently in the early stages of writing and recording his next album, due for release in mid 2007.
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