B-Side Guys

Salar Rajabnik’s “Hanging On” pulses with the frenetic energy of an identity crisis set to music. Under his Darker Lighter moniker, the Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist transforms personal fragmentation into sonic cohesion, crafting a Prince-inspired punk-funk meditation on the multiplicity of self.

The track’s production, birthed in Foo Fighters’ Studio 606 under Robert Adam Stevenson’s Grammy-nominated guidance, creates a labyrinth of sound that mirrors its thematic complexity. Rajabnik’s self-taught mastery of multiple instruments shines as he layers synths, drum machines, and jangling guitars into a tapestry that’s both chaotic and carefully controlled.

Lyrically, “Hanging On” reads like excerpts from an existential diary. “Stealing from yourself / For so long you don’t remember when” captures the gradual erosion of identity, while “You’re no one & a star / Something new at dusk & dawn” embraces the paradox of simultaneous absence and presence. The carousel metaphor (“Stuck on a carousel / With all the you’s & all their spin”) perfectly encapsulates the dizzying cycle of self-reinvention.

The cultural duality of Rajabnik’s upbringing between Tehran and Kansas City bleeds through every note. This isn’t just music about identity crisis – it’s music that understands how identity can be both burden and blessing, especially when shaped by dramatically different worlds.

Each instrumental element feels purposeful, from the Prince-inspired funk underpinnings to the alternative rock edge. Rajabnik’s time as a guitar tech for industry giants like Queens of the Stone Age and Kim Gordon has clearly informed his approach to arrangement, but there’s nothing derivative about his sound. Instead, these influences serve as building blocks for something distinctly personal.

“Hanging On” is particularly powerful in its refusal to resolve its central conflict. The tension between “giving up & hanging on” remains unresolved, suggesting that perhaps the struggle itself is the point. It’s a bold artistic choice that feels especially authentic coming from someone who’s spent years watching others take center stage.

The track stands as proof that sometimes the most compelling voices are those that have taken the time to develop in the shadows. After years of digging through vinyl crates and supporting other artists, Rajabnik has emerged with something that feels both timeless and timely – a soundtrack for anyone who’s ever felt like “someone else” while trying to remember who they actually are.

The result is more than just another indie rock song about identity – it’s a sonic document of metamorphosis, created by an artist who understands that sometimes you have to lose yourself completely before you can begin to put the pieces back together.