🎶 DEX
Previews
"DEX"
- 2017
- Producer: DEX & Regal Bragg
Dex (often stylized simply as DEX) released his self‑titled debut in 2017 via Burbank Records, produced by DEX & Regal Bragg. Over the course of its ten tracks—“But I Didn’t Have You,” “Honey Comb,” “Horror Movies” (featuring The Farrow), “Why I Came,” “Dope,” “1969,” “Free Ur Mind,” “Punch Drunk Love,” “Talk 2 Me” (featuring Jess), and “Last Night”—DEX melds guitar‑driven synth‑pop with soul‑tinged vocals and tightly crafted songwriting.
DEX is a vocalist, guitarist, synth wizard, and songwriter, and his multi‑instrumental approach bestows the album with a lush yet punchy sonic identity. The guitars often provide a rhythmic backbone beneath shimmering synth layers—think upbeat arpeggiated synth hooks paired with crisp, staccato guitar riffs. Tracks like “How I Came” and “1969” feature dynamic guitar hooks that intersect with synth melodies, anchoring the instrumentation with an organic edge.
Vocally, DEX delivers a polished yet emotive performance throughout. On “But I Didn’t Have You” and “Free Ur Mind,” his voice carries soulful contours, flirting with falsetto moments and smooth dynamics. The collaborators—The Farrow on “Horror Movies” and Jess on “Talk 2 Me”—complement his tone with contrasting textures: The Farrow brings an edge to the darker, atmospheric “Horror Movies,” while Jess adds a softer vocal interplay on the more intimate “Talk 2 Me.”
Lyrically and stylistically, the album sits at the intersection of personal introspection and pop immediacy. Songs like “Dope” and “Punch Drunk Love” explore emotional highs and vulnerabilities—set against driving rhythms and shimmer‑heavy synths. The production style of Don Powell emphasizes clarity and crisp separation: guitars ring out and synth pads glow without masking each other, and DEX’s vocals remain front and center.
Throughout the album, the blend of guitar‑driven energy and synth‑pop sheen stays consistent, offering a cohesive vision: catchy and accessible, yet with nuance in arrangement and performance. It’s the kind of release that suggests DEX’s strength lies not just in songwriting, but in his ability to shape soundscapes—wielding layered synth textures, rhythmic guitar patterns, and warm vocals to create a signature Minneapolis‑inflected synth‑pop vibe.