Dez Dare (AKA Darren Smallman of labels God Unknown, BATTLE WORLDWIDE, Low Transit Industries, and bands Thee Vinyl Creatures, The Sound Platform, Warped) grew up in Geelong, Australia, where he became involved in the local punk and rock scene in 1990. Sharing stages with the likes of 5678s, Cosmic Psychos, Fugazi, The Dirty Three and the Hard-ons, before shifting his focus to running record labels.

In the 2020s we see Dez Dare take form in a spare room in Brighton, UK, where Dez starts building his own studio and producing music and videos that have been described as "sounds like MONSTER MAGNET and DEVO caught in a drug bust… highly unique and highly recommended" by MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL [Nick Odorizzi] to The Wire’s Edwin Pouncey "dynamically armed with a ten-pronged set of lyrical barbs and musical hooks that, once heard, sink deep and hold fast" to Crossfire Metal "minimalistic, electronic, psychedelic, hippie poop, that is only bearable with a hell of a lot of acid, angel dust and LSD".

"At a time when much of indie rock is drifting toward reverb-drenched melancholy or algorithm-friendly mush, Dez Dare is a welcome jolt of clarity. His music points out that punk rock music can still be smart, noise can still be meaningful, and absurdity can still be art. He makes records that feel like manifestos written in neon, sung through a bullhorn, blasted through fuzz pedals and synth wires... Dez Dare proves once again that he is one of the most interesting, inventive, and important voices in underground rock today." Thoughts Words Action

Photos x Michiel de Wilde

The Team

Record Labels: God Unknown + Six Tonnes De Chair + CH!MP
Publishing: BATTLE WORLDWIDE
Licensing: Jeff @ Polyvinyl
Touring: Darren @ CH!MP [UK/EU] + Mickey @ Ivy Agency [US] + Vital @ Crunch Tapes [DE]
Got any questions? Say hi!

Apr

Purple Turtle

Jun

BLOC+

Leith Depot