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Photo: Nico Hernandez 

Jean Dawson is the voice of the misfits.

His new single, “GHOST*,” is the sonic portrayal of an internal monologue we all know too well—the one that can’t be quieted, each thought tripping over the next while our body stays frozen in place. It surges behind still eyes, spitting out silent tongue twisters of regrets and desires.

“GHOST*” starts as a jog and morphs into a full-blown sprint. Ambient, plucked melodies and echoing vocals slowly build a staggering wall of sound as they bounce off each corner of the soundscape. As the ache grows thicker in Dawson’s voice, the track responds, mirroring his grief with guttural percussion and soaring synths. This volatile arrangement immerses listeners into Dawson’s emotional state, spurring them with buzzing layers of melodies just to leave them breathless as the music recedes.

He laments, “I ate the whole world in one bite”. Each repetition of this lyric rips me apart a bit more—at first I’m hearing his sorrow, and then I’m choking too, crushed under the weight we thought we could handle. Following the release of his debut album, CHAOS NOW*, this single invites us into a new era for the Los Angeles-based pop renegade. Never failing to play mixologist with genre and production style, Jean Dawson is sure to hook listeners new and old with his exponential authenticity and industrial sound.

“GHOST*” is the first strike of what will undoubtedly be a visceral year of music for Dawson. You’re going to want to be here for what comes next.

Listen to "GHOST*" below: