Editing Devendra Banhart (section)

== Musical career ==

Banhart dropped out of college in 2000<ref name="SFW" /> and left San Francisco after the [[dot-com bubble|dot-com bubble bust]] worsened the city's economy.<ref name="TPD090403" /> That summer, he moved to Paris and began opening [[Concert|shows]] for [[indie rock]] [[Musical ensemble|bands]] such as [[Sonic Youth]].<ref name="SFW" /> Banhart returned to the United States that fall and played music in San Francisco and Los Angeles, until he was discovered by [[Michael Gira]], owner of [[Young God Records]],<ref name="SFW" /> after Siobhan Duffy, Gira's wife, bought a copy of Banhart's demo CD ''[[The Charles C. Leary]]'' and gave it to Gira.<ref name="TO070812" />

Banhart and Gira compiled an album from Banhart's recordings,<ref name=TO070812/> and in 2002, ''[[Oh Me Oh My (Devendra Banhart album)|Oh Me Oh My]]'', which was made up of short fragments,<ref name=NYT041212>{{cite news|last=Bemis|first=Alec Hanley|title=Freak Folk's Very Own Pied Piper|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 12, 2004|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/arts/music/12bemi.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=April 20, 2009}}</ref> was published by [[Young God Records]] and received favorable reviews.<ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web|last=MacNeil|first=Jason|author2=Loftus, Johnny|title=Devendra Banhart – Biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p534323|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=April 20, 2009}}</ref> He recorded two other albums and an [[Extended play|EP]] for the label: ''[[Rejoicing in the Hands]]'', ''[[Niño Rojo]]'', and ''[[The Black Babies]]'';<ref name=Allmusic/> the releases had a simple acoustic sound.<ref name=SFC051026/> Banhart changed to [[XL Recordings]] in 2005<ref name=Allmusic/> and released ''[[Cripple Crow]]'', which was recorded in [[Bearsville Studios]], New York, and had a more elaborate sound.<ref name=SFC051026/>

Banhart's albums offer a variety of musical sounds, and he is often called the leader of the musical movement termed "Freak Folk." His lyrics are fantastical, idealistic, and poetic with the occasional trace of innuendos.<ref>{{cite news|author=Alec, Hanley B.|title=Freak Folk's very Own Pied Piper|work=New York Times|date=2004}}
</ref>

In 2005, Banhart collaborated with [[Antony and the Johnsons]] on the album ''[[I Am a Bird Now]]''. He sings the introduction to the song "Spiraling" and plays guitar on "You Are My Sister" in which [[Boy George]] also appears. In 2005, Banhart was in a relationship with Bianca Casady of the band [[CocoRosie]], with Banhart living with Casady and her mother Christina Chalmers at Chalmer's farm in [[Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer]], a [[Romani people in France|Romani]] village in southern France.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/aug/21/folk |title=Flash-forward: CocoRosie |work=The Guardian |date=21 August 2005 |accessdate=2023-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/featured/queer-as-folk-new-eccentrics-kimya-dawson-joanna-newsom-sufjan-stevens-animal-collective-feature/ |title=Queer As Folk: Our November 2004 Feature on Folk's New Eccentrics |date=24 March 2019 |publisher=Spin.com |accessdate=2023-08-15}}</ref> Banhart's relationship with Casady ended in 2006. Banhart's 2007 album ''Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon'' detailed his break up with Casady.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/devendra-banhart-rolls-out-thunder-canyon-60915/ |title=Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon |date=August 9, 2007 |publisher=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut Magazine]] |accessdate=2023-08-15}}</ref>

Banhart was the first artist to design a T-shirt for the [[Yellow Bird Project]], in 2006. He chose to donate the profits from the sale of his T-shirt to the [[Teenage Cancer Trust]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Nme.Com |url=https://www.nme.com/news/clap-your-hands-say-yeah/26153 |title=Clap Your Hands, Wolfmother design T-shirts |work=NME |date=January 3, 2007|access-date=September 23, 2016}}</ref>

From 2007 to 2008, Banhart was romantically linked to actress [[Natalie Portman]], who is featured in the video for Banhart's song "Carmensita".<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 25, 2008|title=Devendra Banhart splits with Natalie Portman – Tabloid Hell {{!}} NME|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/devendra-banhart-13-1336500|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs {{!}} NME.COM|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=July 22, 2008|title=Natalie Portman Stars in Boyfriend Banhart's "Carmensita" Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/natalie-portman-stars-in-boyfriend-banharts-carmensita-video-246165/|access-date=August 11, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>

He recorded his second album for XL Records, ''[[Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon]]'', at his home studio in [[Topanga, California]].<ref name=Allmusic/> The album charted on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] at number 115.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Artist Chart History – Devendra Banhart|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=devendra banhart|chart=all}}|access-date=April 20, 2009}}</ref> The album's song "Lover" was featured in the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist]]'', which included a cameo appearance by Banhart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist Offers A Devendra Banhart Cameo, New Vampire Weekend|publisher=[[Stereogum]]|date=August 14, 2008|url=https://stereogum.com/archives/video/nick-norahs-infinite-playlist-offers-a-devendra-ba_014661.html|access-date=August 13, 2009|archive-date=February 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227042303/http://stereogum.com/archives/video/nick-norahs-infinite-playlist-offers-a-devendra-ba_014661.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:DUKOFF BANHART.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Banhart performs at the 2009 [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Festival]]]]
Banhart has performed at Carnegie Hall<ref>{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=Steffie|title=Lauren Dukoff's 'Family' photos of free spirits|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 9, 2009|url=https://www.latimes.com/features/image/la-ig-dukoff9-2009aug09,0,67889.story|access-date=August 22, 2009}}</ref> and the [[Hollywood Bowl]] opening for [[Gilberto Gil]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Cromelin|first=Richard|title=Devendra Banhart in tune with Gilberto Gil|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 28, 2008|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-banhartgil28-2008jun28,0,6949298.story|access-date=August 22, 2009}}</ref> as well as at [[Bonnaroo Music Festival|Bonnaroo]] and [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella]] music festivals.<ref name=TPD090403/> He founded a record label, Gnomonsong, with [[Andy Cabic]] of [[Vetiver]], in 2005.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|title=Papercuts' 'You Can Have What You Want': Stream this indie gem here|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=April 13, 2009|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/04/papercuts-mp3.html|access-date=April 23, 2009}}</ref> In 2007, he signed with Neil Young's manager [[Elliot Roberts]], who also contributed vocals to ''Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon''.<ref name=TO070812/><ref>{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p119138|pure_url=yes}} | title = Elliot Roberts: Overview | website = [[AllMusic]] | access-date=August 16, 2009 }}</ref>

Banhart released an album in 2008 entitled ''[[Surfing (album)|Surfing]]'', with [[Megapuss]] – a collaborative project with [[Gregory Rogove]] and [[Fabrizio Moretti]] of [[The Strokes]] and [[Little Joy]].<ref name=TheFader>{{cite magazine| title=Megapuss Revealed or I Believe Your Dickskirt Is Caught in My Microphone |magazine=The Fader |date=June 19, 2008|url=http://www.thefader.com/2008/06/19/megapuss-revealed-or-i-believe-your-dick-skirt-is-caught-on-my-microphone/}}</ref>

In 2009, he signed to [[Warner Music Group|Warner]]/[[Reprise Records|Reprise]] and released, ''[[What Will We Be]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Warner Bros. Signs Devendra Banhart |date=August 3, 2009|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2009/08/warner-bros-scoops-up-devendra-banhart/|access-date=October 26, 2009}}</ref> Later that year, at the band's request, he produced a remix of [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]' "(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady".<ref>{{cite news|title=Oasis ask Devendra Banhart to remix them – audio|publisher=NME|date=June 10, 2009|url=https://www.nme.com/news/nme/45236|access-date=August 14, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015101349/http://www.nme.com/news/nme/45236|archive-date=October 15, 2012}}</ref> Along with "Neighbors", Banhart remixed the [[Phoenix (French band)|Phoenix]] song "Rome" from their 2009 album [[Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Listen: Devendra Banhart Remixes Phoenix |website=Pitchfork|date=September 28, 2009|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/36626-listen-devendra-banhart-remixes-phoenix/|access-date=October 9, 2009}}</ref>

On September 4, 2009, [[Beck]] announced his second Record Club covers album, ''[[Songs of Leonard Cohen]]''. Banhart contributed, alongside [[MGMT]], Andrew Stockdale of [[Wolfmother]] and Binki Shapiro of [[Little Joy]].<ref name="stereokill.net">{{cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Andrew |url=http://stereokill.net/2009/09/04/beck-mgmt-banhart-cover-leonard-cohen/ |title=Beck, MGMT & Banhart cover Leonard Cohen |publisher=stereokill.net |access-date=April 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110044850/http://stereokill.net/2009/09/04/beck-mgmt-banhart-cover-leonard-cohen/ |archive-date=January 10, 2010 }}</ref>

He is a collector of music artifacts.<ref name=TPD090403/> Banhart wrote the foreword for and appears in his friend [[Lauren Dukoff]]'s book ''Family: Photographs by Lauren Dukoff''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=Steffie|title= 'Family': Devendra Banhart and other free spirits|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-ig-dukoff-0809-pictures,0,6522867.photogallery|access-date=August 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=''Family''|isbn=978-0811866620 |last1=Dukoff |first1=Lauren |date=June 3, 2009 |publisher=Chronicle Books }}</ref> He has also written the introduction to a selection of poems by [[Kenneth Patchen]].

On October 27, 2009, Banhart released ''[[What Will We Be]]'', his first record on [[Warner Music Group|Warner]]/[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]. Banhart and Jon Beasley, who were credited as art directors for the album's artwork and packaging, were nominated for a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] in 2011 for Best Recording Package.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://albumcoverproject.com/blog/2010/12/53rd-grammy-awards-best-recording-package-nominees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206071750/http://albumcoverproject.com/blog/2010/12/53rd-grammy-awards-best-recording-package-nominees|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 6, 2010|title=53rd Grammy Awards Best Recording Package Nominees|access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref>

The film ''Life During Wartime'', directed by [[Todd Solondz]], features a musical collaboration between Banhart and [[Beck]]. The song plays over the film's end credits. Banhart sings lead vocals while Beck adds backing vocals and also recorded the track. The lyrics were written by Solondz and the music by composer [[Marc Shaiman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2010/08/listen-banhart-beck-movie-soundtrack-collabo/ |title=LISTEN: Banhart, Beck Movie Soundtrack Collabo |publisher=SPIN |access-date=April 8, 2012}}</ref>

Banhart is an avid skateboarder. In March 2010, he  broke a bone in his right leg while skating, only hours before a concert in Phoenix. This resulted in the cancellation of future shows in Utah and Colorado.

In 2011, he collaborated with [[Marisa Monte]] and [[Rodrigo Amarante]] on a version of the song "Nú Com a Minha Música" for the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s most recent charitable album ''[[Red Hot + Rio 2]]''. The album is a follow-up to the 1996 ''[[Red Hot + Rio]]''. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.

In April 2012, Banhart took part in artist Doug Aitken's audiovisual project "Song 1" at the [[Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden|Hirshhorn Museum]] in Washington, D.C. Banhart joined Beck and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem in performing "I Only Have Eyes For You" for the project that uses eleven high-definition video projectors working in tandem to blanket the museum's entire surface with a video of the performance.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/04/doug-aitken-song-1/|title=Doug Aitken's Song 1 Wraps Museum in 360-Degree Panoramic Video | magazine=Wired | first=Geeta|last=Dayal|date=April 18, 2012}}</ref>

In July 2012, Banhart performed on [[The Eric Andre Show]] during the show's first season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2467304/|title=The Eric Andre Show. Season 1, Episode 6. "Jack" |publisher=IMDb}}</ref>

On December 3, 2012, Banhart announced his new album, ''[[Mala (Devendra Banhart album)|Mala]]''. The album was released on March 12, 2013, and was Banhart's debut album for Nonesuch.

In 2014, Banhart covered Arthur Russell's "Losing My Taste For The Nightlife" for the ''Red Hot + Arthur Russell'' compilation that benefitting the Red Hot Organizations fight against AIDS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/10/12/354284791/first-listen-master-mix-red-hot-arthur-russell|title=First Listen: 'Master Mix: Red Hot + Arthur Russell'|website=NPR.org|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

On May 14, 2016, Banhart curated a two-day event at the [[Walker Art Center]] in Minneapolis, Minnesota, featuring performances from Harold Budd, Hecuba, Lucky Dragons, Jessica Pratt, Rodrigo Amarante, William Basinksi, and Helado Negro.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://walkerart.org/magazine/finding-a-sense-of-moment-devendra-banhart-and-friends-night-two|title=Finding a Sense of Moment: Devendra Banhart and Friends, Night Two|website=Walkerart.org|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

In 2015, Banhart scored the film ''[https://exclaim.ca/music/article/devendra_banhart_scores_indie_comedy_joshy Joshy]'', directed by Jeff Baena and starring Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate, and Thomas Middleditch.

In June 2016, Banhart released the first track of his ninth studio album, ''[[Ape in Pink Marble]]'', titled "Middle Names".<ref>Lozano, Kevin. [https://pitchfork.com/news/66351-devendra-banhart-announces-new-album-ape-in-pink-marble-shares-new-track-middle-names-listen/ "Devendra Banhart Announces New Album Ape in Pink Marble, Shares New Track Middle Names: Listen"], ''[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]'', June 24, 2016. Retrieved on June 26, 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czOOpMBaM_4 |title=Devendra Banhart – Middle Names (Official Audio) |publisher=YouTube |date=June 2, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2016}}</ref> In August 2016, Banhart released the second track of his ninth studio album, titled "Saturday Night".<ref>Yoo, Noah. [https://pitchfork.com/news/67888-devendra-banhart-shares-new-song-saturday-night-listen/ "Devendra Banhart Shares New Song "Saturday Night": Listen"], ''[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]'', August 29, 2016/ Retrieved on August 29, 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md0000uSgOs |title=Devendra Banhart – Saturday Night |publisher=YouTube |date=August 2, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2016}}</ref> His ninth studio album, ''[[Ape in Pink Marble]]'' was released on September 23, 2016, on [[Nonesuch Records]].

In 2018, Banhart sang on Ssion's album ''O'', lending vocals to the track "Free Lunch".

In September 2018 Banhart participated in the project ''27: The Most Perfect Album'', which was born out of the podcast More Perfect, a Radiolab spinoff. The project celebrated the 27 amendments of the US Constitution.

His tenth studio album, ''Ma'', was released on September 13, 2019, on Nonesuch Records.<ref name="ma">{{cite web |last1=Minsker |first1=Evan |title=Devendra Banhart Announces New Album Ma, Shares New Song: Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/devendra-banhart-announces-new-album-ma-shares-new-song-listen/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=June 18, 2019 |date=June 18, 2019}}</ref> Helado Negro remixed the track "Love Song" which was released on January 16, 2020.

In April 2020, he was featured on a Mykki Blanco track titled "You Will Find It" <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mykki-blanco-devendra-banhart-new-song-you-will-find-it-990666/|title=Mykki Blanco Teams Up With Devendra Banhart for 'You Will Find It'|first=Jon|last=Blistein|website=Rollingstone.com|date=April 28, 2020|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

In 2020, Banhart, along with Noah Georgeson, scored the film ''Arkansas'', directed by Clark Duke and starring [[John Malkovich]] and [[Liam Hemsworth]].

On February 5, 2020, Banhart contributed to a 50th anniversary tribute album honoring [[Allen Ginsberg]]'s ''Fall of America''. Other artists featured included [[Mickey Hart]], [[Yo La Tengo]], [[Thurston Moore]] and [[Lee Ranaldo]]. Banhart provided music and score to the poem "Milarepa Taste".

On September 3, 2020, Banhart released a cover of [https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-devendra-banhart-cover-grateful-dead-franklins-tower/ the Grateful Dead's "Franklin's Tower"] as part of Amazon's Amazon Originals series. The song has since been widely released.

In December 2022 he played in Cusica Fest in Caracas, Venezuela; this was his first show in the country.

===Influences===
Banhart has cited [[Vashti Bunyan]], [[Simón Díaz]],<ref name="splend" /><ref name="mojo4music1" /> [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Arthur Russell (musician)|Arthur Russell]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Schreiber|first=Abby|date=July 12, 2012|title=Devendra Banhart on His New Album His Thoughts on the EDM Scene and Making Ostrich Egg Omelets With Beck|url=http://www.papermag.com/2012/07/devendra_banhart_interview.php|access-date=July 27, 2012|publisher=Papermag}}</ref> [[Ali Farka Touré]], and [[Caetano Veloso]] as his main influences.<ref>{{cite news|author=Banhart, Devendra|title=Stirring Ska, Rock, R&B and Hip-Hop into a Freak-Folk Stew|work=New York Times|date=2009}}
</ref>

===Critical reception===
Banhart's music is often referred to as [[psychedelic folk]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Hall|first=Nicholas|date=April 7, 2009|title=Devendra Banhart's footloose folk|newspaper=SF Weekly|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-04-08/music/footloose-folk/|access-date=May 2, 2009|archive-date=June 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610122604/http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-04-08/music/footloose-folk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Freak-folk|freak folk]]<ref name="NYT041212" /> and [[New Weird America]]; it is associated with acts such as singer-songwriter [[Joanna Newsom]], musical group [[CocoRosie]], and [[Contemporary history|contemporary]] [[Folk music|folk]] [[Band (rock and pop)|band]] [[Vetiver (band)|Vetiver]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rutledge|first=James|date=November 5, 2004|title=Joanna Newsom and the New Weird America|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A3212740|access-date=May 2, 2009|publisher=BBC}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' has called his work "free associative work"<ref name="NYT041212" /> and ''[[SPIN Magazine|SPIN]]'' magazine has described it as "[[ashram]]-appropriate guitar strums" and "[[Hippie|trippy-hippie]] tone poetry."<ref name="Devendra Banhart on SPIN.com">{{cite web|date=October 27, 2009|title=Devendra Banhart on SPIN.com|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/devendra-banhart-what-will-we-be-reprise|publisher=SPIN.com}}</ref> Critics have compared Banhart's style to that of [[1970s in music|1970s]] band Tyrannosaurus Rex, an early version of [[British rock]] musician [[Marc Bolan]]'s [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]],<ref name="allmusic">[[AllMusic]] page: "[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/devendra-banhart-p534323/biography Devendra Banhart biography]."</ref><ref name="times">''[[The Times]]'' article: "[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article6864474.ece Devendra Banhart: What Will We Be]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}."</ref><ref name="splend">''Splendid'' article: "[http://www.splendidezine.com/features/devendra/ Features: Devendra Banhart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217113200/http://www.splendidezine.com/features/devendra/|date=December 17, 2008}}."</ref><ref name="mojo4music1">{{cite web|title=Devendra Banhart|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2008/05/devendra_banhart.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522110450/http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2008/05/devendra_banhart.html|archive-date=May 22, 2011|access-date=May 17, 2011|publisher=Mojo.com}}</ref><ref name="stylus">''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' article: "[http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/devendra-banhart/cripple-crow.htm Cripple Crow review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027235550/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/devendra-banhart/cripple-crow.htm|date=October 27, 2011}}."</ref> though in a 2004 interview Banhart stated that he was unaware of Tyrannosaurus Rex until after he began writing and recording music.<ref name="arthur">''[[Arthur Magazine]]'' article: "[http://www.arthurmag.com/2011/02/18/so-righteous-to-love-devendra-banhart-interviewed-by-trinie-dalton-arthur-no-10may-2004/ "So Righteous to Love": Devendra Banhart, interviewed by Trinie Dalton (Arthur No. 10/May 2004)]."</ref>