Too often, the drummer toils away behind his kit, keeping the band in the pocket and the music on time. Anonymity is an occupational hazard.

North Carolina’s Darren Jessee – long time drummer for Ben Folds Five – has broken that mold. While he has spent much of the last decade driving the rhythm for Sharon Van Etten, The War on Drugs, and Hiss Golden Messenger, Jessee has also been writing and performing his own songs. He serves as singer and guitarist for his project Hotel Lights, and his latest solo record, Remover, which drops on October 16th, follows his well received 2018 release, The Jane, Room 217.

Remover continues Jessee’s reputation as a songcrafter of the highest pedigree – heartwrenching, evocative, and introspective are descriptors often used to describe his work – and Trail Mix is happy to be featuring “Getting Back To It Now” this month.

This month’s