Gene Dante re-emerges with supercharged single ‘She’s Outside’
Streaming July 9, Boston glam rock troubadour kicks down the door of post-pandemic life
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Photo Credit: The Secret Bureau of Art & Design
BOSTON, MA [July 9, 2021] -- Through music and in life, Gene Dante has always danced with the dangers of seduction. But now he’s about to enter an arena quite suddenly forbidden over the past year or so, one that glows with the blinding brightness of the day and howls under shadowy moonlight: The outside.
Long known as Boston’s glam rock dynamo, Dante and his band The Future Starlets kickstart a new era on July 9 with the release of a supercharged new single titled “She’s Outside,” a raucous rock and roll powderkeg of a tune that lets loose a primal scream heard to the heavens. “She’s Outside” serves as the first intoxicating single from Dante’s forthcoming album, DL/UX, set for release this fall through H1 Massive. After the year we’ve all had, we can use this shot of sonic adrenaline.
“In the simplest of terms, ‘She’s Outside’ is sung from the perspective of someone on the verge of being seduced -- possibly overcome -- by a bemusing force,” Dante says. “Lyrically, I wanted to create a simple chorus anyone could sing, and verses that work both literally and metaphorically. ‘She’ can be an external character, an internal identity, and/or a car (sometimes personified as ‘she’ with female names). I wanted the lyrics to reside in that intersection. Every lyric I write is at minimum semi-biographical; while not necessarily play-by-play true stories, they all begin somewhere real.”
And that dose of realness is where Dante emerges with his first larger body of work since 2009’s The Romantic Lead, which was followed by a string of singles that dotted the 2010s in a glittery zig-zag of stylistic outbursts. Built upon the rousing guitar riff that bolsters the track through its tireless three minutes of revved-up ambition, “She’s Outside” is the song we need this summer as we all venture out of our domiciles.
“It violently kicks open the post-pandemic door; a release of pent-up energy,” Dante admits. “It’s a rally call. It says ‘come out and play,’ but also ‘leap afraid.’ I absolutely loathe hermitizing: endlessly doting over our domestic creatures, remaining glued to screens, only interacting via text, email, social media, and never leaving your private living space. It’s that kind of anti-social spiral that contributes to ignorance of the outside world, and creation/fear of ‘the other.’ While human beings are capable of unspeakable horrors, as a species we also have the ability to perform miracles if and when we socialize in peace.”
For a man who comes alive on stage and across the venues where a performing art is its own currency, Dante and the quarantine age did not particularly mix very well. With DL/UX and its 15 tracks weaved together through a tale of a fictional modern speakeasy, he begins the process of social, mental, and physical re-emergence, all while removing the toxicity from his surroundings.
“On DL/UX there's a recurring lyrical theme of pruning certain people from my social tree; call it their pop requiem", Dante affirms. "Please know I say 'pruning' as in they HAD a place in my life but for whatever reason no longer do.’ I do not mean ‘excluding’ as in I’m not open to new awesome people… who still have an opportunity to NOT let me down, fuck up, piss me off, screw me over, or whatever other directional disappointment I’ve experienced. ‘She’s Outside’ represents the next new thing -- good or bad -- waiting just beyond the door. Stylistically, this song signals the beginning of my music exploring instrumentation beyond two guitars, bass, drums.”
It also marks his directorial debut, as the accompanying visual to “She’s Outside” finds Dante in a familiar spot, on stage and communicating directly into the camera as vibrant colors and bisexual lighting cascade through a sea of orbs glowing in the distance. The clip was filmed at Starlet HQ, with drummer Tamora Gooding flexing her skills as an editor and color grader.
“Generally, I’m not a fan of music videos that strive to literally interpret the lyrics,” says Dante. “I wanted a cool look that wouldn’t bulldoze the listeners’ own internal picture of the song. Since I equate vintage analog synths with old school sci-fi, I set the band adrift in a purple/fuschia starscape juxtaposed with the urgency of the chorus’ blinding ‘burning up on reentry’ white light. ‘She’ is intentionally unseen, but our reactions are captured on camera.”
Like stepping outside, for the first time in a long time.
Direct all 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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‘She’s Outside’ single artwork:
Art Credit: The Secret Bureau of Art & Design
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‘She’s Outside’ production credits:
All songs 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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Media praise for Gene Dante:
“Boston's favorite glam dynamo.” _Boston Phoenix
“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
“In concert, Gene Dante is the Chiseled White Duke. Leading his Future Starlets, Dante mixes Bowie's makeup, Iggy Pop's shirtless-ness, and Freddie Mercury's theatrics into a glammy groove.” _Boston Herald
“A renaissance man [who] may have come up with a new style: streamlined theatrical rock.” _All Music Guide
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Press Contact: Gene Dante at info@genedante.com or Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co.
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