Darby is a composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and yoga educator facilitating the intersection of sound, creativity, mindfulness, and embodied awareness. It may seem like an odd combo but anyone who navigates the artistic landscape understands the importance of cultivated presence and clarity of vision.
As a songwriter and producer, Darby honed his craft in an old industrial building in the then edgy Deep Ellum district in Dallas, Texas. His band, Twist of Fate, was soon signed into development by CBS. When the band imploded ( as bands often do…) he made his way to Los Angeles where he was signed as a staff writer/producer for Sony Music. He has written and produced music for CBS Records, Atlantic Records, Mercedes Benz, Ford, Universal Studios, Disney, Chuck E. Cheese, Time Warner, Buena Vista Pictures, Target, a slew of TV shows & commercials, and online video games. In the sync world, Darby has composed hundreds of songs in every imaginable genre for production music libraries.
Two-time Grammy winning mixer/engineer Francis Buckley (Quincy Jones, Alanis Morissette, Black Flag, Stevie Wonder) said of Darby: “You’re the real thing when it comes to songwriters and I should know cause I’ve worked with the Best”.
As a producer Darby has overseen the journey of countless artists and their songs-both for commercial release and for sync. He has an ear for hearing the emotional essence of the artist and a production clarity to capture that essence in a way that honors the artist’s vision.
And what about that yoga thing? Well, while navigating the challenges of the entertainment business, Darby discovered yoga. He was intrigued by the deep changes a mindfulness practice offered not only to his physical and mental health but also to his creative capabilities as a songwriter and producer. This has led to over eighteen years of teaching yoga as a mindfulness tool to foster deeper and more expansive creativity. His philosophy is that art is not only intrinsic to our mental health but also to the health of the planet and we all have the capacity ( and responsibility ) to foster our unique individual journey. He teaches yoga classes, workshops, and offers retreats focused on the creative journey.
Darby splits his time between the bustles of Burbank and a bucolic bungalow at the base of the Berkshires.