Bending Genres With Jean Dawson
https://tidal.com/browse/artist/9722426
A Genre Defying Artist On The Rise
26 Year old Jean Dawson comes from Spring Valley, California, and brings us nothing but groundbreaking breeds of music. Being a true 2000s kid, he grew up around the tied evolution of music and technology, and like many of us, was an avid user of “LimeWire” and “Bandcamp” before his career kicked off; a real child of the internet. Creating his own terminology as an “alt-pop polymath”, his influences spread from experimental music to rap, punk, and pop. His music is made precisely for the kids like him, the non-conformists and the outsiders. Dawson focuses on the times of the exploration of escapism, identity, and intimacy in a way that leaves you fulfilled after listening; his music is simply valuable and refreshing. Think A$AP Rocky meets 2000s Internet meets explorative punk…
“Pixel Baths”
Jean Dawson’s 2020 album, “Pixel Baths”, can be described merely as a vortex of lethargic xan-rap, indie rock, 90’s grunge, and nu-rave. He experiments with his voice and with genre in a way that can only be recounted as revelatory; the first of his kind. His most popular song on the album, “Triple Double” starts with jarring guitar chords that juxtapose his thoughtful and sometimes painful storytelling. The chorus of the song, “I do better on my own”, manages to be catchy enough to get stuck in your head with notes almost resembling a Blink 182 song, however, still focusing on the themes of isolation and self discovery which is Dawson’s focal point. Putting “Triple Double” next to another song on the album, “06 Burst” might seem like the two songs are from 2 entirely different albums, but that itself is the versatility of “Pixel Baths”. “06 Burst” gives the album a brief foray of unpredictable industrial rap. The song is adventurous and reveals its own sense of triumph while still carrying passion and sentiment. If you like Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract, or Jaden, give Jean Dawson a listen.