Gene Dante invites you to a life ‘DL/UX’
An exercise in self-preservation, the glam rock aesthete's October 15 album arrives digitally and on vinyl, compact disc, cassette, and a 40-page glossy photo & lyric art book
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Photo Credit: The Secret Bureau of Art & Design
PRE-ORDER: Gene Dante’s ‘DL/UX’ double vinyl LP via H1 Massive
BOSTON, MA [October 15, 2021] -- There are three simple rules for proper living, pulled fresh from the gospel of Gene Dante: Release the toxic people from your life; accept yourself no matter what; and move forward, forever and always, regardless of what life throws at you. Those are also the three basic tenets that shape DL/UX, the explosive new rock and roll record from the noted glam rock aesthete, set for release on Friday, October 15 though independent Massachusetts-based record label H1 Massive.
It’s this state of mind that permeates through DL/UX’s 15 tracks like the drinks we pour when no one’s looking; it’s an album for the age of single, a tailored suit in the era of sweatpants, and a call back to revitalize a lifestyle we’ve lost over the past two years. Musically, DL/UX harkens back to rock’s most ambitious eras, but it’s a record rooted deep in the now, a journey through a modern-day mental speakeasy where the rules are what you make of them and the glitz and glamour of life is what’s carried in pocket. True to its name, DL/UX will be released in a series of formats, including double-vinyl LP, compact disc, cassette, and digitally, alongside a glossy 40-page photo and lyric artbook curated by The Secret Bureau of Art & Design.
“The vision for DL/UX was always a slow burn,” says Dante. “From the get-go, we set out to make an album experience, not a reproduction of a live show. I always had the flow of the album in mind; the song sequence as a listening experience as well as a storytelling method. As we slowly emerge from this pandemic (thanks anti-science idiots and assholes), the themes of asserting oneself, recognizing one’s worth, releasing the damaging people and draining forces, and venturing forward into the unknown resonate. It’s a time for re-invention, strengthening, becoming.”
And that is illustrated through the tales and tribulations of DL/UX, like the flick of the wrist or the pull of an eyeliner pen, it’s acronym title extended to reveal a bit of a secret identity kept close behind the veil, but one that reflects the journey we all embark on from birth to the present day -- the Down Low User eXperience.
“I see my life until now as the Down Low User eXperience: progressing privately; waiting in the wings; stepping aside to make way; observing; studying; learning,” Dante admits. “It’s DL/UX because my life has also been ‘deluxe’ which means served with lettuce, tomatoes, and french fries. Seriously though, ‘extra’ was a bit too on-the-nose, ya know?”
Subtlety was never one of Dante’s strong points anyway, and he’s made quite a racket in the ultra-quiet year of 2021. The songwriter and artist kicked down the door of the DL/UX era with this summer’s scorching single “She’s Outside,” a blitz of a tune that sparkled all the way to the good graces of Rodney Bingenheimer’s show on SiriusXM. Dante followed that up with the cruising “High Time,” a new anthem of self-worth glitz that kicked the bad seeds out to the curb, catching indie radio play around the world and back. Most recently, in September, he unleashed “L.I.E. (Do You Wanna)”, a seductive wink-and-nod of theatrical bombast that embraced the little white lies we tell to make it through the day.
“Musically, the trio of singles reflect my love of the three-minute, upbeat, left-of-center song; showcase the power of simplicity in composition; and pay tribute to my influences,” Dante says. “Each of them embody recurring themes on the album.”
Turns out the troika of tunes was just the beginning, a mere peek behind the curtain of Dante’s DL/UX world. Together with producer John Eye and H1 Massive, the dynamo squad unveil 12 new compositions that take these themes to greater sonic heights; it’s storyteller vision where Gene Dante The Artist and Gene Dante The Person twirl across the dance floor as the strobe light flickers into morning. It’s Gene Dante embracing maturity as a songwriter, a greater nuance as a singer, and a more informed ear for production.
“The 15 tracks stand on their own. However, the goal was a true album listening experience,” Dante asserts. “There’s definitely a flow; an introduction, peaks, valleys, and a conclusion. For years I believed the album was dead, and I just released singles. As these songs were being recorded, I saw a coherence. With John Eye at the helm, I knew we could truly make a fully-realized album listening experience, start to finish.”
Please direct press inquiries to Gene Dante at info@genedante.com or Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co.
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Gene Dante & The Future Starlets are:
Gene Dante: Lead Vocals, Guitar
Jim Collins: Bass, Harmony Vocals
Scott Patalano: Guitar
Tamora Gooding: Drums
Erik Andersen: Guitar, Keys, Harmony Vocals
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‘DL/UX’ album artwork:
Please Credit: The Secret Bureau of Art & Design
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‘DL/UX’ production credits:
Recorded, engineered, produced, mixed, and mastered by John Eye at Beach House Studios, except where some drums were recorded at Barefoot Studios or The Record Co.
Assistant Engineers: Chris Lynch, Bradley Robertson, Taylor Barefoot, Alison Ma, Charlie Ji.
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Welcome to Gene Dante’s ‘DL/UX’ 10/15/21
Gene Dante and the Future Starlets have made a career out of picking glitter from the gutter and wearing it to their black-tie affairs. Shuffling down the sordid streets of Boston, the indie rock rat pack travel shoulder-to-shoulder with the deviants and debutantes about town, stepping out to the beat of their own banged-up drum kit.
In 2021, their waltz kicks down the door to DL/UX, the group’s forthcoming full-length album, due out October 15, 2021. The 15-track record pulls back the velvet curtain on a modern speakeasy, the fabrication of lead singer Gene Dante. But little beyond the concept itself is made-up; beneath the group’s jewel-encrusted facade are the lyrics that Dante writes -- and later, croons -- entirely captured from his own experiences. Elegance, debauchery, and sweaty tales from New York and Los Angeles stages come perfectly preserved in the headspace of DL/UX, wrapped up in risqué realism.
“It crashes through the wall of pop,” Dante explains. And once that wall’s in pieces, DL/UX takes the sledgehammer to all of mainstream music’s formalities.
DL/UX builds upon the group’s past successes, which began with their previous opus The Romantic Lead, released via Omnirox Entertainment. Produced by Peter Lubin, the record’s single "A Madness To His Method'' made its way into rotation at MTV's LOGO Network. Follow-up single "The Love Letter Is Dead" peaked at number 2 on local radio airplay charts, and remained on the charts for 16 consecutive months. Most recently, Gene Dante nabbed a Boston Music Award nomination for “Best Male Vocalist'' (now simply titled “Vocalist of the Year”) in 2014.
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The music of Gene Dante’s has been heard and featured on:
The Rodney Bingenheimer Show on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage, Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood, Bay State Rock, Bumblebee Radio, WZBC’s Fuzzed Out, Spain’s Only Rock Radio, Steve Garnett’s New Music Radio on Revival Radio (UK), Citywide Blackout, Blood Makes Noise, Christian’s Cosmic Corner and Original Music Showcase on Mark Skin Radio, Worcester Magazine, Drop The Spotlight, Radio Candy Indie Show, Your First Listen on KNNZ Fargo, Everything You Know Is Wrong on Salem State Radio, Rising With Skybar on WMFO Tufts University, Lonely Oak Radio, Ricky’s Daily Bangers, Tinnitist, Volatile Weekly, and other fine radio stations, blogs, and programs.
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Media praise for Gene Dante:
"‘L.I.E. (Do You Wanna)’ is the perfect party song for any rock lover. We’ve had this track on a loop since our first listen, it’s unlike anything else we’re hearing right now." _The Honey Pop
“[‘She’s Outside’ is] a gothy Brit-rock dance tune with driving synth and excited screams... a fun, energetic track.” _Blood Makes Noise
“This is a beauty.” _Bay State Rock
“Boston's favorite glam dynamo.” _Boston Phoenix
“With ‘She’s Outside,’ Gene Dante and the Future Starlets delivers a blistering, unrepentant rocker of a song. It's driven by wildfire guitars... a thick wall of sound that you can hear revving in the song;’s first few notes, and which then soars at a breakneck pace until the song's tire-squeal conclusion.” _Worcester Magazine
“When sex gets drunk, sex calls up Gene Dante. If you maintain eye contact with Gene Dante for longer than 15 seconds, you will become pregnant. Period. If Gene Dante’s erection persists for longer than four hours, that’s called a Tuesday. Gene Dante has been known to sweat entire olives. Gene Dante doesn’t apply eyeshadow to his eyes—he applies eyes to his shadow.” _DigBoston
“Dante is an anomaly in Boston's music scene: an artist who has refused to pigeonhole his talents. Yes, he's a singer -- and quite a good one, with a laconic croon reminiscent of Bryan Ferry and Lou Reed -- who fronts a glam-rock band called Gene Dante & The Future Starlets. And yes, he's an actor, but he's never defined himself strictly as one or the other.” _Boston Globe
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Press Contact: Gene Dante at info@genedante.com or Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co.
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