Ten years ago this month, the Western Massachusetts musical collective known as Dark World appeared on the cover of The FADER. The niche, non-urban assortment of rappers, singers, guitarists, and producers had achieved a sort of semi-notoriety among the seriously tapped-in, thanks to their disarming YouTube videos and ultra-DIY ethos. It helped that their music, as bizarre as it could be, really slapped.
Dark World was founded in the early 2010s by Lucas Kendall, better known by his stage name DJ Lucas. At the time, Lucas, alongside his brother Dana and friend Chris Wardlaw, was playing in a rock band called Worm. Dark World began as a loose, informal group of friends who liked to hang out and make music together, and that formlessness allowed a wide range of styles and approaches to blossom under the collective’s name.
The Evolution of a Collective
At its height, Dark World had more than a dozen artists in its ranks, including names like LUCY (Cooper B. Handy) and Sen Morimoto. But many of the artists associated with its buzziest era have since departed. While some former members continue to release new music, others have transitioned out of the industry entirely.
Those who seem to have vanished into the ether include Chris Wardlaw, as well as the producer Josue and keyboardist Eamon Wick. Others remain in the industry behind the scenes, such as Lucas Graham, who now works as an A&R with Create Music Group.
Where Are They Now?
LUCY (Cooper B. Handy): The singer-songwriter continues to defy categorization. Following his departure from Dark World in 2016, he has been prolific, releasing several solo albums and collaborative projects. He is also half of the punk band Taxidermists and the Club Casualties project.
Sen Morimoto: Once the first member brave enough to rap, Morimoto has evolved into an indie-jazz multi-instrumentalist based in Chicago. He co-founded Sooper Records and has released three full-length LPs since leaving the collective.
Gods Wisdom: Known for his dynamic and passionate approach, Gods Wisdom remains a prolific artist, though his departure from the group remains difficult to pinpoint.
Mal Devisa: Deja Carr, known as Mal Devisa, was a standout voice in the collective. Following her 2016 debut, she has continued to release wide-ranging projects and explore poetry.
Weird Dane (Dana Kendall): As a co-founding member, Dana Kendall remains affiliated with the group while balancing his music career with work as a videographer and designer.
DJ Lucas: The founder of Dark World has maintained a consistent output over the years. However, his legacy is complicated by recurring, unverified allegations of sexual assault, which have led to a significant rift between him and former members like LUCY, Gods Wisdom, and Sen Morimoto.
