Out today, Darker Lighter, the new project from LA-based musician Salar Rajabnik, has released his highly anticipated self-titled debut album.

Recorded at Studio 606 with Grammy-nominated producer Robert Adam Stevenson (Paul McCartney, Queens of the Stone Age, The Kills, Jeff Beck), Rajabnik brings years of behind-the-scenes experience into the spotlight. Known for his work with artists like Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Kim Gordon, Rajabnik is finally stepping into his own sound.

The album digs into themes like loss, heartbreak, identity, isolation, and political unrest. It’s personal, raw, and emotional. After singles like ‘Nice To Meet You’ and ‘Open Up, Sunshine,’ the full album is here, along with the focus track ‘Be.’

‘Be’ blends heavy guitar riffs with soaring strings, and Rajabnik’s lyrics really hit: “you’re on your own, you should have known” and “living in a house won’t make it home.” It’s all about searching for connection and belonging — the classic reminder that no matter where you go, you still carry yourself with you.

On the track, Rajabnik says, “’Be’ is one of the most deeply personal songs I’ve ever written. It’s about a feeling I get often; which is that I find myself feeling out of place. Whether ideologically, artistically or socially, often due to being unwilling to compromise my identity or principles. Themes of biculturalism, socio-political alienation, the fallout and consequences of activism and more influenced the meaning of the tune. The ultimate conclusion of the song is that ‘The price you pay is who you have to be’.”