Carmaig DeForest was an eccentric singer-songwriter from San Francisco, active since the 1980s, who enjoys accompanying himself on the ukulele. The album I Shall Be Released (Good Foot, 1987) established his style, straddling the line between Gordon Gano and Jonathan Richman, but he then vanished into obscurity.

He returned to the scene years later with Death Groove Love Party (Factory Outlet, 1993), recorded between 1988 and 1993, retaining the same sense of humour (Bend Down Low), and perhaps even a more pronounced subservience to Lou Reed.

A somber mood surfaces on El Camino Real (St Francis, 1997), no less childish and irreverent but a bit more restrained in its best moments (Leavin' It All To You, Bad Things Happen).

After a long hiatus he returned with Idiot Strings (2007).