Drawing us in with a dimensional, rising synth, textured drums and a cerebral energy, Keegan Del Rio opens Dwelling with atmospheric vocals and philosophical, introspective depth as he sings, “Gotta get myself together, always staring at my shoes, years of bathing in the concrete, what a sad little life to choose…”

We immediately connect with the message of the song, and the intricate soundscape that Keegan Del Rio manifests. His lyricism is laced with poetic prowess and metaphorical, yet self-realized constructs. The theme explores the struggle of an individual trying to reconcile with their past and the choices they’ve made.

The imagery of “staring at my shoes” and “bathing in the concrete” suggests a life weighed down by self-doubt and stagnation. Keegan Del Rio reflects on years spent in a monotonous, unfulfilling routine, acknowledging that the life they’ve led has been a sad one. There’s a poignant admission that they are living in a “past life” – a life that, even in retrospect, wasn’t satisfying or happy. This sets a tone of regret and a desire for change, yet a feeling of helplessness prevails.

The lyrics delve deeper into Keegan Del Rio‘s internal conflict and missed opportunities. The mention of wanting to “make it sound right” but feeling incapable highlights a struggle with expressing their emotions and making peace with their past. The sense of everything being “stacked against you” suggests a recognition of external and internal challenges that have hindered progress. The sideways glances and the determination to prove something hint at strained relationships and the pressure to meet expectations, both from others and themselves. The lines about splitting the mind in two and the divergent paths – one falling off the ladder and one holding out for a relationship – underscore a significant moment of indecision and lost potential for a different life.

Ultimately, the repetition of living in a “past life” that never felt good encapsulates a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction. The plea to not “stay afraid” points to the misery that comes from being trapped in this cycle of regret and unfulfilled dreams. There’s a desire for liberation from this past, but the recurring sentiment that they “don’t think I ever could” suggests a deep-seated fear or belief that change is beyond their reach. This emotional turmoil paints a vivid picture of someone grappling with their history and struggling to find a way forward.

We are in awe of the sublime instrumental finale, which funnily enough reminds us of Lana Del Rey‘s Ultraviolence era, with it’s slo-mo tempo shift sending us deep within, to outerspace, and beyond! The overarching tapestry of sound created is luxurious and emotionally adept.

Keegan Del Rio is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and mixing engineer, he showcases a broad musical range in his solo project, from lively psychedelia to stark brutalist post-punk to chilled study beats. We deeply appreciate Dwelling for it’s high emotional quotient, steeped in nostalgia, featuring fuzzy guitars and powerful drums.

We learn that the opus was mastered by Mat Leffler Shulman (known for his work with Beach House and Dan Deacon), tapping into a neo-psychedelic frequency that we cannot get enough of. We have added Dwelling to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Keegan Del Rio, including Moonstone, and Vines.

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