Rejuvenating the psychedelic rock and funk rock music scene is an artist whose latest album Hitchin’ It To Heaven is just EPIC. Dean The Dream and his band show incredible authenticity throughout each track, at the same time giving the listener the best of the genre we love so much. There is love, sadness, resentment, growth, pain, and more growth, and even more love in this transcendental collection that marks a new era for psychedelic music, and fans couldn’t be more excited.
Dean The Dream is the musical-project of Detroit-born poet Brendan Alpiner, who has numerous stunning pieces already under his belt. We’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Dean about his latest album and music in general, so buckle up for songs that will remain with you, and enjoy the read!
Congrats on your new album Hitchin’ It To Heaven! What’s the story of creation for this Collection?
The story of “Hitchin’ It to Heaven” is mostly my attempt to discuss the different sorts of lives, secrets and stories that live within the gay community. As we become more visible and gain more acceptance, it’s important to tell the stories—even the not so pleasant ones—to further gain understanding. Progress is important, but it’s not always easy.
Tell us a bit about your influences in music. Who are some artists that have inspired your Work?
Oh, so many. I tend to try and cover my inspirations within the albums they appear—in this case, Black Sabbath and Elvis Presley—but, in general, I’d say I’m inspired by artists unafraid to really make a statement, no matter how unpopular it may be at the time.
We’ve really enjoyed “Changes”, the second track on the album. What was the initial idea behind it and did it turn out to be exactly what you had in mind?
It turned out almost exactly as I envisioned it. It’s an iconic Black Sabbath song from 1974 which Eminem reinterpreted in 2007 which then Charles Bradley brought back to life before his death in 2017, and I wanted to bring it back once more time—stripped back, bareboned, bluesy—because it resonated with so many people for so long and just fit the story of the album.
What is it about psychedelic rock music that you love?
To me, psychedelic rock is all about transition; it’s taking a sound or style from the past and imagining it as something new or different. And I think right now, especially in our culture, we’re going through these periods of major change and transition, and I think psychedelia is a great way to bridge the gap between what we knew or thought we knew and what is to come.
What kind of a listener do you believe your music is for?
Funny you ask that; I’ve always wanted my music to be for outsiders, especially those within the gay or queer community. If you look at music history, we have these artists who’ve flirted with their fluid sexualities and hinted at their otherness, but I want to be someone who fully accepts and embraces their gay seuxuality, contradictions and all. So I guess my kind of listener is someone who’s either exploring their queerness or otherness or sexuality or somone who totally and unapologetically embraces it no matter how difficult it may be.
Top three collabs?
Orville Peck, Lana Del Rey and Valerie June.
What was it that sparked your interest in writing your own music? What was your first
attempt like?
Music has always been the fabric of my life. And while I mostly stuck with writing and publishing poetry, I slowly began a transition away from poetry into music around 2016. It wasn’t entirely successful, but I just kept at it. I’m still just keeping at it, to be honest.
What’s your most ambitious dream as an artist?
My most ambitious dream? Probably to record a proper studio full-length backed by a tour. It doesn’t have to be a major blockbuster-type deal and it doesn’t have to be a giant worldwide thing, just something that allows me and my words to resonate with the people like me who are out there, looking for a voice to represent them. I don’t believe I’ve totally found that voice yet in the music world myself, so I’m hoping to be able to be that to others.
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