For our latest “Local Song of the Week,” we spotlight the latest song creation by Hershey-based singer and songwriter Darcie Miner, called “Back to Before.” This year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Darcie’s first recording. From a musical family, she played her first show at the age of 13. After meeting The Badlees in 1998 at an open mic that they hosted, she began recording her songs with them. By her middle teen years, she had established her name and was growing a following throughout central PA. By age 18, she achieved a recording deal with Los Angeles-based recording label Beyond Music/UMG and began touring the eastern U.S. with her band, opening shows for such names as Heart and the Go-Go’s. Soon discovering that a record deal could be a mixed blessing, Darcie parted ways with Beyond Music, with the record label itself dissolving in 2002. Darcie then continued as an independent artist, issuing several more recordings and playing college shows plus larger club venues such as the 9:30 Club, CBGB’s and House Of Blues. Darcie stepped back from the rigors of full-time music in 2019 to focus on personal growth and introspection, but has continued to create music in her home-recording setting. Reminiscing a simpler and more innocent time before life’s complexities, “Back to Before” shows Darcie Miner as a seasoned artist who has weathered the music industry, and now creates her musical visions on her own terms. Her “Back to Before” is one of the nominees for Song of the Year in the 2025 Central Pennsylvania Music Awards, which will be presented on Wednesday, March 5 at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster.
