Remembering Ann Everton of Darsombra
[UPDATE 10/07/25: A GoFundMe to help Brian with expenses has been launched. Find it and contribute here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-brian-in-memory-of-ann]
Just a moment here to remember Ann Everton of Baltimore’s Darsombra, who passed away this weekend. The duo — Everton on synth, vocals, percussion visuals, etc., and Brian Daniloski on guitar, synth, the odd megaphone, and so on — were at the beginning of their Fall tour in Canada, with dates in the US Midwest/Southeast to follow, and details are scant, but there seems to have been an accident somewhere between one show and the next. Daniloski’s condition is unknown at this time, but reportedly he’s alive. His brother and former Meatjack bandmate, Jason Daniloski, posted the following on social media:
Words cannot convey how devastated we are. Ann Everton was truly one of a kind. A creative, wild, intelligent, kind soul. She will always be missed. I still can’t believe this is real. I feel so much pain for my brother. Please give him time to deal with this horrible tragedy. Please hug your loved ones and don’t let the day end without telling them how much you love them.
I won’t claim to have known Ann well, but she remains among the most gleeful weirdos I’ve ever met. Somebody who didn’t fit into society’s expectations for what she was to be, and who by all appearances, was just fine with that. She joined Darsombra around 2010, and the project flourished. Her role initially was more toward the visual aspect of their live presentation, and honestly, that was what always seemed to count the most to Everton and Daniloski — doing the thing live. As the band’s experimentalist bent pushed further and further into psychedelic drone and madcap oddballism, their outsider status held firm, and they continued to tour, and tour, and tour. Together, they became freedom in a van.
No matter what time of year it was, the safe bet was Darsombra were on the road, somewhere. They crisscrossed the United States together I don’t know how many times, and the band was always just the two of them, Everton and Daniloski. I was lucky enough to see them earlier in 2025 in the Netherlands at Roadburn Festival, and aside from being the most outright joyous moment I had over the course of my days in Tilburg, I was even more fortunate to sit down and have a real, human catchup with the two of them, to talk like people do, like friends do, about places and things in general, music and not. I feel privileged to say I knew her at all.
Both members of Darsombra — Ann and Brian — took the Obelisk Questionnaire in 2021. Thoughtful in her answers throughout (that’s my way of saying you should read it), Everton reflected on her creative journey, saying:
“In my own life as an artist, I have been cheered to see one thing hold true for the artist who keeps making art — the longer you stay at it, the better it gets, the more people are familiar with your work, enjoy it, get it, the more opportunities you get… the trick is, you’ve gotta keep doing it. In 2007, I did a short artist residency in rural Hungary, on lake Balaton. There was a Hungarian artist there that my 25-year-old self had such a crush on. So, of course, I was all ears to his very good advice, which was, “Keep making art. See where it goes. Never stop making art.” Very simple, so right — the world will give you a million-and-one reasons to stop being an artist, but if you just sort of keep doing it… I agree with his beautiful Hungarian ass! Keep making art and see where it goes!”
Brian Daniloski posted the following Sunday night:
Hello friends. I’m out of the hospital and in the care of Ann’s family who have flown up here to New York. It looks like we may be stuck here for a few days dealing with stuff. I have a working phone again and I have been getting all of your kind messages. If anyone wants to call it would be great to here from people. I don’t know what to say or do with myself. I’m devastated. My heart is so broken and I’m not sure how continue on, but I’m going to try. Ann was the sweetest person I ever knew and I always felt like the luckiest person on earth that she chose to spend her life with me. I should be back in Baltimore in the next few days and I would love to see anybody when I get back. This is such a loss for all of us. I love you all.
Darsombra didn’t need lights on stage because there was Ann. On behalf of myself, this site and anything else I might be able to put behind it, all love and condolences to Brian Daniloski, his family, Ann’s family, their many, many friends and anyone whose life she touched, which was a lot of people, including me. She will be deeply and sincerely missed.
[photo by Madeline Bilan]
Tags: Baltimore, Darsombra, Exile on Mainstream Records, Maryland, Sad shit
That’s incredibly sad news, I saw them at Desertfest London and Darsombra were one of the most memorable shows I’ve seen over the years. Ah man, so sorry for her family, freinds and hope Brian is ok.
I got the incredibly horrible news last night. I have been good friends with Brian Daniloski since we were teenagers in good ol Carroll County, MD. I’m 56, so it’s been awhile.
I remember him being a wonderful musician and person even then and I have always loved him. I was fortunate to know Ann a little, but not nearly enough. She was so,so talented and sweet. She made Brian INCREDIBLY happy. I’m still in shock. My sincere condolences to everyone who knew and loved her music and knew and loved her. It’s an awful loss for the music world and the world in general.
terrible news.
Anne was an old friend that i met 25 years ago. we reconnected when Darsombra came out west in the fall of 2021 and i opened for them. I was looking forward to seeing both Ann and Brian next month in Baltimore after they finished their tour dates.
the last time i saw her she gave me a bismuth crystal (one of her many interests was making them) and it is permanently on my bedside altar.
Much love to Brian.
My band The Philistines played with them many times over the last decade or so here in Kansas City and surrounding areas. They are both the most beautiful, joyful people you could ever meet. We are devastated. We last played with them in July of 2024 and as usual we had an amazing time and hung out after the show laughing and telling stories.
Just feel so bad for Brian.
Thank you for these words in remembrance of Ann. She absolutely beamed a radiance that was unique. I loved my encounters with her and the music of Darsombra over the years. Devastated by this news. All love to Brian and the rest of Ann’s family and friends.
Both of these weirdos are great people. I’ve had the pleasure of performing with them intermittently over the last decade. My heart reaches out- words fail me, but this love story was beamed to the cosmos and all I have is recognition and appreciation for the power duo that is Darsombra. From my brief interactions with Anne, I feel she’s utterly qualified to explore the realm she’s currently in. Much love to Brian.
We have a gofundme set up for Brian. Their van was totaled, and we’re trting to help him stay afloat and not worry about all the expenses, hospital bills, etc, that need to be paid. I would like to share here, with permission (I am Ann & Brian’s sister-in-law, and Jason’s wife).
Hi Nicole, thank you for letting me know. I found the link and added it to the top of the post.
I was blessed to host Darsombra a few times over the last 12 years and always looked forward to the next time. Ann was so wonderful and everyone at each house show would become starstruck by the duo. She could discuss any topic from art to autoimmune disease while chomping down a carrot stick or striking a random yoga pose. My heart goes out to Brian, their close friends and family. She was so very lovely.
Oh man, what a heartbreaker. I just saw them on Cape Cod. Gleeful weirdos is right – I thoroughly enjoyed their whole package. You show up to a punk/noise show at a church rec hall and are treated with an audio-visual-tastic rave. Deepest condolences to Brian and their families.