Datura formed in 2018 in Wenatchee, Washington, carving out an identity that draws deeply from goth-rock and post-punk luminaries including The Chameleons, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, early Dead Can Dance, and Depeche Mode. Initially self-releasing two EPs, Datura signed with Sell the Heart Records (Berkeley, California) in 2021 and released their debut full-length album in 2022, Arcano Chemical, which received critical praise for its melancholic catchiness and haunting atmosphere.
The band’s sophomore LP was released in April 2025 via Sell the Heart Records and in collaboration with Poland’s Bat-Cave Productions and the UK’s Engineer Records. Songs from a Dark House introduces a more upbeat, driving side to the band's repertoire and touches thematically on burnout, addiction, isolation, and war. Timothy Anderl, journalist, describes the album as “the danceable darkwave soundtrack of your next panic attack,” and Devolution Magazine notes that “Datura derives a lot of power from reduced numbers and creates haunting soundscapes that are bigger than their constituent parts.”
With the addition of a touring drummer in early 2025, the band has expanded its live capabilities and looks toward expanding into the eastern United States and internationally.
Datura is David Betancourt (vocals, guitar), Jake St. John (bass), and Dustin Hays (touring drummer).
You can reach Datura through email at daturapnw@gmail.com