downtalker

downtalker is a Boston-based post-punk disco project rooted in recovery, chronicled by struggle, and nurtured by love. A result of 20 years of collaboration and friendship between Massachusetts natives Darin Thompson (lead vocals, synth, bass, guitar) and Justin Mantell (synth, guitar, bass, backing vocals), 2021 debut album Post Junkie Selfish Millennial Single Father Field Notes landed in Brooklyn Vegan’s Year in Review series. In September 2023, with an overall sound now augmented by Matt Freake (drums, percussion, backing vocals), downtalker released two kinetic new dance-minded singles – “All My Friends Are Dead” and “Watch Your Heart Break” – via the resurrected Iodine Recordings, with their debut show arriving a week later, opening for Fiddlehead’s highly-anticipated record release party at Royale. More new music is set to come, opening up the creative world of downtalker and the difficult, yet hopeful, stories of addiction and recovery contained within.