Shine On, Dexter Freebish’s first full length album in over six years, explores new sonic territory and builds on the hook laden songs of previous releases. While creating Shine On, the band was inspired by 808 drum machines, beat up synths, and their I-phone apps. Produced by The Singularity, the album ranges from the dance, heavy beat influenced “Wide Awake,” to the rock anthem “Do You Want To.” They also collaborated with Greg Wells (Katy Perry, One Republic) on the song “Save the Last Dance.”
Dexter Freebish acknowledges the power of predestination and how it had a hand in them becoming a band. “I was just looking in the Austin Chronicle and had never been in a band or called an ad,” recalls lead singer Kyle. “At the time I wasn’t really a singer except for in school chorus, though I kept notebooks of lyrics. I saw an ad that read: “Singer Wanted. Influences Bono and Sting,” and I said, “what the heck and called, and because of reading the ad I met Chris Lowe (bass, keyboards, programming) and Scott Romig (guitars, programming) and Rob Schilz (drums.) It was the first ad I ever called and it’s still the only band I’ve ever been in.”
Their determination led to “Leaving Town,” Dexter Freebish’s 1999 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year (picked from 27,000 entries), which led to a record deal with Capitol Records for the band’s 2000 full-length debut A Life of Saturdays. After exuberantly received radio play (for “Leaving Town” and “My Madonna”), heavy video play on VH1 and MTV2, and enthusiastic tours both domestic and abroad, Dexter Freebish and Capitol Records experienced a regime change that would not allow the band to obtain the attention they deserved and both parties decided to part ways.
This set-back proved to strengthen Dexter Freebish’s resolve, and the believed this was fate’s way of telling them to independently release their 2004 sophomore album, Tripped Into Divine. Pressed by producer Matthew Wilder (No Doubt) Tripped Into Divine bridged the gap between the wide-eyed wonder of unbridled youth and the contemplative fortitude of experience. The single on this album was the fan-favorite, “Prozak,” which went on to win Rock Song of the Year in 2004 in the John Lennon Songwriting contest.
After touring the world to promote Tripped Into Divine, the band decided to go on permanent hiatus in 2005. “We all needed to do other things for a while,” says Lowe. He adds, “We never officially broke up and have all remained friends. But I can honestly say, there was never any hint that we would ever put out another Dexter Freebish record. We were pretty much done.”
In early 2008, the band decided, on a whim, to play a couple of shows throughout Texas. “It just felt right playing together again,” says Romig. “Soon after that, we started writing and recording some new songs.” One of those new songs captured the attention of Electronic Arts, garnering the band’s song “The Other Side,” a spot in the Sims 3 video game.
Steve Schnur, President of Electronic Art’s Publishing Company, Artwerk, comments, “I was in awe of the talent that Dexter Freebish exemplified when I first signed them to a record deal and these feelings have not changed. Ten years ago, I signed them to Capitol Records because of their incredible songwriting and performance abilities and ten years later I’m still working with them for the exact same reasons. The songs that they write are timeless.”
Lowe comments, “It’s crazy to look back to the days when we were on Capitol and how much money the labels would waste to record albums. With modern technology, it is so much easier and cheaper to record an album these days.” Romig adds, “We laugh because recording and mixing this new album cost less than 1/2% of our budget for the albums we made on Capitol. This is a great thing for independent artists and brings power to the people.”
Prozak
Dexter Freebish Lyrics
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Like a loser on the outside looking in
No one cares if I disappear and don't come back
Cause the only friends I have are in my head
And I know that I'm alive but I feel dead
I want to be that guy that gets the girl and saves the world
Then everyone would want to be like me, be like me
Then everyone would want to be like me, be like me
Confidence and ego trips I never took
You'll never know the places that I've been
Who is gonna sell me a miracle
Cause every star I've wished on fades away
And my universe gets dimmer every day
I want to be that guy that gets the girl and saves the world
Then everyone would want to be like me, be like me
I want to be that guy that's got it made gets overpaid
Then everyone would want to be like me, be like me
Who am I to blame
There's nothing I can change
Everything's the same
The song "Prozak" by Dexter Freebish is a melancholic exploration of isolation and the futile pursuit of external validation. The first verse paints a picture of the singer spending yet another night alone, feeling like a misfit looking in from the outside. He expresses the sense that nobody would care if he disappeared, as his only companions are the imaginary friends in his own mind. Despite being technically alive, he feels dead inside.
The chorus is a fantasy of sorts, a yearning to be someone else entirely. The singer longs to be the kind of person who can effortlessly attract attention, admiration, and romantic interest. He imagines himself as a hero that can save the world or a successful individual who is overpaid for his achievements. He wants to be someone that everyone wants to be like.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's insecurities, highlighting the lack of confidence and missed opportunities that have led him to where he is now. He feels a sense of hopelessness, believing that even the wishes he makes on stars are worthless, leading to a gradual decline in his universe. In the final refrain, the singer acknowledges his powerlessness, admitting that he cannot change anything, yet still yearns to be somebody else.
Overall, "Prozak" is a moving commentary on the human condition, exploring the deep-seated desire for validation and the sense of emptiness that accompanies its absence.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna spend another night all by myself
I'm going to be alone again tonight.
Like a loser on the outside looking in
I feel like a loser who is not a part of any group.
No one cares if I disappear and don't come back
I don't have anyone who would miss or look for me if I didn't return.
Cause the only friends I have are in my head
I don't have any real-life friends, so I talk to myself to get through the day.
And I know that I'm alive but I feel dead
I'm not dead, but I feel like a lifeless ghost.
I want to be that guy that gets the girl and saves the world
I wish I could be the hero who gets the girl and saves the day.
Then everyone would want to be like me, be like me
If I were that guy, I'd be popular and everyone would want to be like me.
Confidence and ego trips I never took
I never had the confidence or arrogance to try big things.
You'll never know the places that I've been
Nobody knows about the struggles and hardships I've faced.
Who is gonna sell me a miracle
I'm looking for someone or something that can give me hope.
Cause every star I've wished on fades away
All my dreams have been crushed and my wishes never come true.
And my universe gets dimmer every day
I feel more and more hopeless with each passing day.
Who am I to blame
I don't know who to blame for my problems.
There's nothing I can change
I feel powerless and unable to make any changes in my life.
Everything's the same
My life is stagnant and nothing ever changes.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRIS DALE LOWE, ROB SCHILZ, ROB MICHAEL KYLE, SCOTT E ROMIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind