The Californer - Darren Farris Steps Away From Aketous To Release Solo Album Ulterior Motives

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Launches New Era With Two New Singles Ahead of His Forthcoming Solo Album Ulterior Motives

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- American singer‑songwriter Darren Farris has officially launched a new era in his career with the release of two new singles: Round and Round, released yesterday, and Everyone's a Spy, arriving in five days. These tracks introduce his forthcoming solo album Ulterior Motives, marking his sixth full‑length release since his 2008 debut album Psychopathic Issues.

Round and Round opens the new chapter with a blend of rock‑and‑roll roots, modern electronic elements, and the poetic lyricism that has defined Farris's writing since the beginning of his career. The track echoes the emotional intensity found in artists such as The Killers, Muse, and Coldplay, while maintaining a distinct melodic identity.

Farris emphasizes the importance of songwriting as a literary art form.

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"If I'm going to be remembered at all, I'd rather be remembered as a poet. Words can stand on their own for decades. Even if the melody fades with time, someone a hundred years from now can read the lyrics and still feel exactly what I meant."

The upcoming single Everyone's a Spy expands the sonic palette further. Built on a foundation of rock sensibilities, the track incorporates Alt Rock ‑infused energy, layered guitars, and a melodic intensity shaped by Farris's multi‑genre upbringing.

"There's always this unforgivable but unrepentant melodic streak in my music. I grew up in an era when radio stations played everything — pop, rock, R&B, country — and we just called it Rock and Roll. Even when a track leans electronic, a rocker can hear the edge buried in the layers."

Ulterior Motives marks a return to personal storytelling for Darren Farris. The album blends rock frameworks with modern production and poetic lyricism, drawing influence from artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Daft Punk, David Bowie, and The Smashing Pumpkins. The project represents a creative threshold — a moment of reinvention following his conceptual work under the Aketous moniker.

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Farris describes this transition as a personal Rubicon.
"This is the moment I stopped negotiating with the past. Every track is a signal flare from the other side of who I used to be."

Darren Farris first gained national attention with his 2008 album Psychopathic Issues, which produced the singles Jenna, Save Me, and Nobody But You. His later work as Aketous explored futurist themes and digital‑age storytelling, expanding his audience and establishing a distinct conceptual identity. Ulterior Motives brings the focus back to the artist himself, reconnecting with the emotional and melodic foundations that shaped his early career.

Round and Round is available now. Everyone's a Spy releases in five days. Ulterior Motives arrives soon under Darren Farris.

https://aketous.com