Darker Lighter, the project of songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Salar Rajabnik, released his self-titled debut record last month, today, Rajabnik returns with, “Hanging On,” with a remix by producer Justin Raisen (Sky Ferreira, Yves Tumor, Charli XCX).

The remix layers in a pulsating techno beat, playful vocal effects, and a blistering synthesizer solo from session cat Joe Kennedy, all mastered by Grammy-winner Mike Bozzi (Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar).

The collaboration was born from Rajabnik and Raisen’s mutual admiration and shared connection through Kim Gordon, highlighting the creative synergy that emerges when two artists from different sonic worlds collide. “Justin and I became fast friends through Kim,” Rajabnik shares. “We bonded over similar artistic ethos, despite having very different sonic palettes — and over our mutual love of football (soccer) and parapolitics. I wanted to commemorate one year of Hanging On with a remix, and I knew Justin was the perfect person for the task. I simply told him to ‘fuck it up’ in his own way — and what came out is a version that’s totally different from the original, but perfectly complementary.”

With years of experience behind the scenes in indie rock and post-punk — including collaborations with Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Kim Gordon — Rajabnik stepped fully into the spotlight with this summer’s debut LP. Now, with the “Hanging On (Justin Raisen Remix)”, he fearlessly expands that world, marking the track’s anniversary by venturing into bold new territory.

Darker Lighter on the inspiration behind the remixed version:

As the one-year mark of the first Darker Lighter single came up, I found myself thinking back on the song that first introduced the project to the world. On the album, it kind of sits where a few different corners of my sound meet – one of them being that Prince-inspired, punk-funk sound. I’ve known Justin Raisen for a while through both of us working with Kim Gordon, so I already knew how fearless his approach is. I hit him up thinking it’d be cool to hear Hanging On pushed even further in that direction, but with his own spin on it. When I heard what he did, it was like the song had been reanimated – still true to my original intent, but now with Justin’s signature unhinged pop feel.

Darker Lighter
Darker Lighter
Vinyl Tracklisting:

SIDE A
1. Hanging On
2. Someday Soon
3. Be
4. Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be The Same Again
5. Shadow Of A Doubt

SIDE B
6. Open Up, Sunshine
7. Nice To Meet You
8. Electronic Eye
9. Like Birds Fly Away
10. Did You See Me Walking?
11. Take It All In

Order Darker Lighter by Darker Lighter HERE