A new era, a new age and a new Jean Dawson it seems.
Sharing his new 3-track EP, BOOHOO, on Thursday, the alternative enigma’s latest serves as an overture for a full-length album due out later this year. Paying homage to his Mexican roots on the Spanish-spoken exclusive “Divino Desmadre,” other cuts like “Tastes Like Metal” and “New Age Crisis” celebrates the epitome of being alive in its purest form — finding the beauty in pain above all.
Methodical and cinematic, the San Diego native shines once more through an array of organ and piano arrangements on “New Age Crisis.” Touting somber yet emotive croons and bombastic, percussion that feels like larger than life, it sounds as if an alt-Hozier is singing about the throes of a youthful mid-life crisis. “I’ve been looking at the sky for hours / I’ve been planning my escape for months,” Dawson echoes, embodying the roots of his diverse upbringing.
“Tastes Like Metal” is a dose of medicine, with demons hanging over Dawson’s shoulder every step of the way. “I’m on the edge of the road… They hope I crash, what if I crash? What’s unlucky if you’re lying?”, he belts over gorgeous violins and sweltering, distorted synth bass. Protecting himself even if it hurts him in the moment, “Tastes Like Metal” sees Jean at his most vulnerable — with BOOHOO offering a sample platter of what’s to come.
With CHAOS NOW*, Destruction For Dummies and “NO SZNS” with SZA in the rearview, Jean Dawson’s BOOHOO is just the beginning of something special.
Listen to “BOOHOO” below!