Some bands are built through carefully planned auditions or chance encounters. DARKSTXR was born through something much rarer: friendship that refused to fade. After years of pursuing separate creative paths, Jon Sookdew Sing, Will James, and Gabriel Cuevas reunited with a renewed sense of purpose, creating a project that embraces both crushing heaviness and cinematic emotion without compromise.
Their debut single, “EVERGREEN,” is more than an introduction; it’s a statement of identity from three musicians who have already experienced the highs and lows of the music industry and returned with a clearer understanding of who they are.
Although the members stepped away to pursue individual journeys, they emphasize that they never truly drifted apart. Instead, they remained deeply connected through everyday life sharing updates on personal projects, playing video games, watching anime, and simply being best friends. Rather than rushing back into another band, they intentionally allowed themselves the time to grow independently before reuniting. That period of self-discovery ultimately strengthened their creative chemistry instead of weakening it.
It’s an uncommon story in an industry where bands often dissolve under pressure. For DARKSTXR, distance wasn’t an ending; it was preparation.
Having already toured extensively and played sold-out shows together in a previous chapter, the trio entered DARKSTXR with a wealth of experience that younger bands often spend years acquiring.
Instead of starting from scratch, they carried forward valuable lessons about live performance, stage production, songwriting, and navigating the music business. More importantly, those experiences reinforced something they had always suspected: the chemistry between the three of them was special. Now, they’re intentionally building upon everything that previously worked while leaving behind what didn’t.
Every band has a defining moment where an idea transforms into reality. For DARKSTXR, that realization came while recording their very first song together. Although they acknowledge there have been several milestone moments since, hearing themselves create music again as a trio confirmed that this wasn’t simply another project; it was the beginning of DARKSTXR. That sense of certainty echoes throughout their answers, revealing a band driven less by ambition and more by conviction.
Perhaps the most powerful lesson carried over from their past is remarkably simple.
“Don’t do what you don’t want to do. Being authentic is the only thing that matters.”
That philosophy has become the foundation of DARKSTXR. Instead of chasing trends or attempting to satisfy outside expectations, they’re allowing every creative decision to come naturally. The result is a project that feels unrestricted and deeply personal.
Attempting to describe DARKSTXR’s music proves almost impossible—even for the members themselves. Jon paints an imaginative picture:
“Linkin Park and Bring Me The Horizon are making a movie while Trent Reznor and Vessel direct and Porter Robinson holds the boom mic.”
It’s an answer that perfectly captures the band’s cinematic ambition while acknowledging influences from alternative metal, industrial textures, electronic production, and emotional songwriting.
Will offers a more emotional perspective, calling it:
“Indescribable, yet somehow the music I’ve always dreamed of.“
Meanwhile, Gabe responds with an equally poetic contradiction:
“Ineffable, yet somehow the music I’ve never dreamed of.”
Rather than offering genre labels, each member describes the feeling behind the music highlighting just how difficult DARKSTXR is to place into a single category.
Many bands meticulously analyze their songwriting process. DARKSTXR doesn’t. When asked how they balance crushing instrumentation with emotional storytelling, they laughed at the mystery themselves. They simply follow inspiration wherever it leads, trusting their instincts rather than formulas.
Typically, the music arrives first before lyrics are crafted, though any member may spark the beginning of a song. Their collaborative process has become remarkably fluid, allowing ideas to evolve naturally instead of being confined by predetermined roles. Even though each musician has individual strengths, responsibilities constantly shift depending on what each song requires.
The band’s debut single wasn’t chosen randomly. According to DARKSTXR, the opening lyric immediately felt like the perfect introduction to this new era. At the same time, they intentionally wanted to showcase their technical abilities from the very beginning.
“EVERGREEN” demands both instrumental precision and vocal versatility, serving as an early demonstration of everything the trio is capable of creating together. The title itself symbolizes the joy they’ve rediscovered through making music alongside one another a reminder that they can’t imagine walking this path with anyone else.
One of the interview’s most revealing moments came while discussing the recording process. The band recalls becoming unexpectedly emotional while recording the bridge of “EVERGREEN.” Rather than fully explaining why, they admit the moment affected them in ways they still struggle to understand. That honesty speaks volumes.
Some emotional moments in music simply can’t be translated into words—and perhaps they aren’t meant to be.
Rather than telling audiences exactly how to interpret “EVERGREEN,” DARKSTXR hopes listeners discover their own meanings. They believe music is inherently subjective, capable of reaching different people in different ways. Instead of prescribing an emotional response, they simply hope everyone hears exactly what they personally need from the song.
It’s an approach that mirrors the band’s broader philosophy of authenticity and artistic freedom. One of the biggest differences between DARKSTXR and the members’ previous musical chapter is the absence of creative limitations. Where they may once have tried to fit within certain expectations, today’s collaboration encourages experimentation.
Ideas are allowed to run wild.
Nothing is immediately dismissed.
Nothing has to fit neatly inside one genre.
That creative freedom also means “EVERGREEN” isn’t a complete roadmap for what’s coming next. The band promises there are still plenty of surprises ahead, reinforcing that DARKSTXR has no intention of boxing themselves into a predictable sound.
The themes currently connecting their music revolve around transformation. Their songs explore what it means for something meaningful to end, while simultaneously making room for something entirely new. It’s a fitting reflection of their own journey. Rather than viewing their past as something left behind, DARKSTXR has chosen to build upon it, creating music that feels informed by experience without being defined by nostalgia.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of DARKSTXR’s debut is the opportunity to meet listeners without expectations. While longtime fans may recognize echoes of their musical history, new audiences will encounter the trio exactly as they are today.
No assumptions.
No comparisons.
Just three lifelong friends creating the most authentic music of their careers.
If “EVERGREEN” truly marks where DARKSTXR begins, it’s a remarkably confident first chapter one built on trust, vulnerability, artistic freedom, and a friendship that never stopped growing, even when the music briefly did.
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