Building on the vividly vulnerable sonic themes covered in his recent Popstar album, alternative recording artist dog returns with his new emotionally smoldering offering, “Within.”
Arriving via Cleopatra Records, “Within” details dog’s internal battle with his mental health. This ultimately motivated his uncertain journey to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music.
In an exclusive statement to Respect My Region, dog explains how he captures the moody frequency of “Within” by fusing elements of his signature raw, emo indie-pop style with an electric guitar riff and hip-hop inspired drums.
“I thought it would be cool to have a shoegaze-sounding, explosions in the sky-type melody with hip-hop-inspired machine drums,” dog said.
dog joined forces with director Internet Girlfriend and artist Coco Paluck. Together they created an animated 3D music video for “Within” that further expands on themes of childhood and self-exploration.
How dog Aims to Find Himself with His Follow-Up to Popstar
Serving as the initial release from his upcoming Monster album, “Within” introduces a new perspective lens on the type of songwriting dog conquered on his 2021 Popstar album, which is home to his fan-favorite “Thinking Too Much.”
Growing up in Oklahoma, dog, whose real name is Samuel Wilton, actually spent a great majority of his childhood working on music. From the age of 14-years-old, dog spent hours on end crafting beats in his bedroom; which provided an escape from the personal challenges he faced due to his learning differences.
Popstar by dog
The adversities dog overcame in his youth inspired his upcoming Monster project. He says it represents the best qualities about himself and people like him who struggle with their identities.
“I want the listeners to know that having qualities that make you out to be a monster to some people, are qualities that people who actually love you will find most charming,” dog said. “It’s okay to be different and misunderstood and finding a way to properly channel how you feel. It will help others understand what it’s like to walk a mile in your shit.”
Watch the full video for “Within” below.
