LUKDLX

Luke Henry Darger (born March 19, 1992) a.k.a LUKDLX, is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter whose music draws heavily from the sounds of 90/2000s game music and bedroom pop culture. As a native of Minneapolis, Darger was involved with the local indie rock and hip-hop scenes, playing in a number of bands while experimenting with production at home. He met EHN JEY (a.k.a. Nick Jordan) while studying music at the University of St. Thomas and they subsequently became best friends and musical partners. The two collaborated on two EPs and a handful of singles for EHN JEY. However it was the live performance featuring elaborate choreography backed by Darger on keyboard that garnered local attention.

It was at one of these shows at Minneapolis’ Kitty Cat Klub, December 2016, that JOHN MAUS approached to ask Darger to play keyboard for his upcoming tour. The Maus band first played in August 2017 at a basement venue in the Dinkytown neighborhood of Minneapolis. Their last show was in Locorotondo, Italy the following July. While on tour with Maus, Darger debuted his new moniker LUKDLX with the 4-song BAD HAIRCUT cassette release that was available for free at most Maus shows. The project was co-produced with long-time collaborator FROSTYN (a.k.a. Austin McLaughlin) who joined Darger live for a number of dates opening for Maus across North America in 2018. That summer, LUKDLX performed a number of solo backpack sets in Spain during a break between Maus shows.

LUKDLXs own musical work can be divided loosely into 3 categories. There is LUKDLX the pop/rock singer/songwriter (as heard on the BAD HAIRCUT TAPE), his game-minded electronic productions, and his out-there improvised funk and experimental performances. Taken as a whole, the result is a liturgical procession of psychic funk culminating in rapturous and physical live performances. On February 28, 2019, LUKDLX opened for John Maus at First Ave in Minneapolis accompanied by 7-piece band .

Currently, Darger lives in Los Angeles, CA where he is hunkered down producing music, gigging solo and with the group MARASCHINO (Piper from PURO INSTINCTS solo project). Between maintaining an up-tempo upload schedule for YouTube and Soundcloud, he does composition and production work for hire and sells made-to-order cassettes. He's also working on an augmented reality roleplaying game he intends to debut Fall of 2019.