Darja Väärsi
Vocal Artist | Musician | Lyricist | Composer | Producer
"The storytelling of doom and forlorn romance through dark lyrical imagery interwoven with somber musical landscapes. In the Wild West men would leave behind their wives in search of striking gold and better prospects. They had plans to return for them at a later time but never did, leaving them to become a California Widow.”
Estonian Singer-Songwriter Darja Vaarsi released Gothic Country, Rock, Shoe-gaze, Post-punk, Industrial to Blackgaze in 2020. Under her birth name, solo project California Widow, film soundtracks, collaborations Deeper Graves (Wolvhammer, Nachtmystium, Abigail Williams, Yakuza) and Chrome Waves.
Her self produced music video "Last Transmission" premiered on Decibel Magazine, and single "Dirt" in Dark Beauty Magazine. Following that she released her first licensed Video Game/TV trailer album. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range, works in all genres and previously toured in industrial projects. She is self taught, recorded and released.
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A former political refugee, her family bribed their way out of illegal soviet occupation after selling their worldly possessions. They trekked thousands of miles through a dozen countries for years with only the clothing on their backs and their St. Bernard Pelia.
Both Darja and her father were shot by police and wrongfully incarcerated. Igor was an Estonian freedom fighter, surviving a gunshot to the head at 14, he was held captive and tortured for a decade, Darja for one year. After sponsorship by Italian diplomats they received asylum and had an oceanic crossing.
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Overcoming hardships such as homelessness, foster care, abuse, rape, being alone since fourteen, and domestic violence, she dedicated her life to non profit causes, veterinary medicine and law.
In her free time she's an Actress, Model, Voice-Over Artist, Media Musician, Writer, HMUA, Surfer, working towards her Captain's license and follow up releases. Her work has appeared in magazines (Elegant, Vogue, Bizarre, Darke Beauty) films, TV Shows, commercials, #1 MTV music videos (Lena Katina/TATU), publications, gallery exhibits, movie posters and album covers.
