Devendra Banhart

Devendra Banhart is a singer-songwriter and a veteran folk artist who was one of the original names associated with the freak folk scene in the early 2000s, pushing psychedelic folk into a more avant-garde direction. He is also a visual artist whose work has been displayed in exhibitions over the years. His early songs had some elements of mid '60s Donovan and very early Marc Bolan. Fast-forward to his work in the past 10 years, Banhart has a more settled, mainstream friendly sound, more spacious and restrained, though still off the beaten path to some extent. The folk voicing continues to dominate. He moves along in an unhurried manner, often with imaginative stylistic flourishes, sparse arrangements, singing in his remarkably soft and smooth voice.