Lockdown has arrived, not that it’s really made much of a dent, cars are still out on the road, runners and cyclists are still carrying on as if there isn’t a global pandemic.
The tender-hearted effigies that secrete themselves from Dick Dent’s mind are hand made for the warmth that currently drenches the darkness of your room. It’s pillowy gestures irrevocably saunter around the comfortable yet disorientating atmosphere that isolation evokes, it’s music for inside and outside, cozily nestled between two.
Last week, out of nowhere, Dent introduced himself with his debut EP, the poignant yet pertinent Life’s Hard – a collection of longing vulnerability and growth that simmers gently throughout. The nostalgia that the playful, midnight synths kindles brings comforting solace, but ensures not to lose any of the claustrophobic mood that fills your lungs with anxiety.
‘Lighthouse’ is a fitting example of this – fluttering affection battling with affecting seclusion – brewing more and more yearning sentimentality as the cushioned drum pads click pleasantly into place. Dent sounds braver, more assured here – bold and irrevocable, only focused on the emotion that stems from longing for the return of a loved one.
While Dick Dent is sat in his home, playing Athens 2004 on the PS2 – he kindly offers today’s Isolation Selection.
These really are unprecedented times, how are you, how are you all feeling in all this?
I’m alright thanks, it’s a very weird point in all of our lives. On the one hand, it’s nice to have a period of self-reflection away from the pressures of life, on the other it’s incredibly hard to forget why you’ve been given that opportunity.
Can you quite comprehend the impact this is having on the music industry?
I don’t think you can ever really comprehend anything like this until you’re in the midst of it. Even after all this is said and done, I don’t think it’ll be an easy subject to comprehend. It’s the freelancers that I feel really bad for in times like this – their livelihoods depend on going out and working. I’ve tried to do my bit to help with giving back to the contributors I work with and it seems there are processes being put in place to support them, so let’s see what happens.
I know at this stage it’s perhaps not the most important of things to consider, but do you think when all this is said and done, the foundations and the nature in which the industry runs will change?
Who knows? There’s a lot of things within the industry that could be done better and hopefully this time will allow for some experimentation on how people present their work. The live sector counts for so much within the industry these days so it’ll be interesting to see how everyone adapts to life without it.
You’ve just begun to explore the possibilities of what your project could do in a live setting – how is that? Are you excited by the possibilities of exploring your music in such a way?
A lot of my experiences in bands etc came from getting together and writing music in live settings, so flipping the process on its head is really interesting. Finding ways to perform the songs without missing bits out has been a great challenge and I get to channel my inner Shaun Ryder with my first foray into being a frontman. I’m also really lucky to have some extremely talented people around me who are willing to help make that happen. I’ve got some big plans for future shows so keep e’m peeled.
Talk about your playlist for us, what does it represent for you?
I guess the theme I’ve gone for is music that has kept my spirits up during this weird time. They have all either soundtracked wonderful times in my life, or inspired me to get out and try some stuff of my own. In regards to the latter, I hope it does the same for whoever is reading this and we get some great new stuff to watch and listen to once we all get out. See you in the new world.