Dark Rume, composed of Matthew Craffey, and John Marsteen, was founded in the fall of 2000, at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. The song writing process begins with Matthew’s lyrics and melody ideas. He’s the singer. John plays all the instruments, and creates the music of Dark Rume. On most of the songs, back-up vocals are also performed by John.

David Freeman came on board in the summer of 2002, adding keyboards and input to several of Dark Rume’s songs.

The idea for the first album is to follow the typical structure of a movie, containing a plot, a main character, supporting characters, a beginning, middle, and conclusion. The music is to paint this picture for the listener, and the lyrics tell the story. Each song expresses both lyrically and musically the emotions dealt with at that part of the story. Mainstream rock, alternative, grunge, classic rock, ballads, and even hints of country can all be heard in this album. The album takes the listener on an almost cinematic journey, one that tells a story in both its entirety, as well as in each individual song.

A screenplay about the story told in the album has recently been finished. Like the songs, the movie follows the story of a young gay man as he discovers love, sexuality, drugs, heartbreak, and the struggle to love again. It’s a story written from a gay, male perspective in rock music, yet most of the subject matter discussed and explored is broad and androgynous enough that everyone can relate to it.

Dark Rume has 25 songs written and 17 recorded. An eventual goal of Dark Rume is to also write, record, and perform some songs in Spanish, and other languages, potentially opening up our music to even more people around the world, and making for a truly unique concert experience wherever we tour.

Musical influences include English language artists such as U2, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, The Killers, The Cure, Muse, Our Lady Peace, Alice in Chains, and Coldplay, but also include Spanish Rock Bands such as La Ley, Lucybell, Soda Stereo, Panda, and Café Tacuba, French rock band Kyo, Icelandic Band Sigur Ros.