Dean Griffin
Anaheim, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2019
Music
Press
KIERAN ROGERS4TH MAY 20230
THE TRACK CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE THE ARTIST’S LAID-BACK, TIMELESS APPEAL.
With the release of his latest single ‘Hey Girl’, rising 19-year-old alternative pop artist Dean Griffin seems to be really coming into his own, showcasing a slickness and charm to his sound that feels effortless in its execution.
The track’s engaging beats and the thoughtful soundscape make for a perfectly poised backdrop for the artist’s immersive, laid-back vocal performance. The track balances indie pop and R&B with a deftness and precision that drips with coolness and a feel-good, measured appeal. ‘Hey Girl’ is a track that doesn’t rush in or explode, it just marinates softly and allows its good vibes and atmospheric charm to wash over you in danceable and charismatic fashion. The track continues to showcase the immense appeal and upside that Dean Griffin has as an artist, and leaves us waiting to hear more from him. - Clout
Southern Californian Dean Griffin is a rising nineteen-year-old artist who’s been making waves in the USA and beyond with his own style of vibrant pop music. Working with his producer and lead guitarist Joseph Guadiana for the last six years, he’s earned his place on the map of exciting pop artists with his songs such as “WTF” and “RENT FREE”.
Linking up with his exceptional live band, he’s brought his music alive on stage, playing venues including The House of Blues Anaheim and The Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where he opened for iconic Californian rock outfit Alien Ant Farm.
Going from strength-to-strength with each new release, whether that’s threading his storytelling lyricism into his songs like on his EP titled 4 or simply bringing the good vibes with upbeat singles like “Waitin’ 4 Ya”, his sound oozes passion and originality.
Now after sharing a string of successful tracks this year, he brings us his latest release with his brand new single “After Hours”. Spinning a breezy melodic pop outing, with his new single Dean Griffin offers an instantly catchy hit sound full of blissful vocal leads and a gently grooving rhythm.
Commenting on the single, he shares, “After Hours is a groovy dance song about falling in love unexpectedly with someone you’ve known for a while. This song is one of my most exciting releases yet! It’s smooth but it also makes you want to dance! I can’t wait for everybody to hear it.” - Plastic
Southern California’s Dean Griffin released his pop R&B vibe dreamy-retro dance song “After Hours”. There is a lot of talent here from this 19-year-old singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and dancer. We loved the stylish vibe with his soothing vocal delivery, soft feeling synth and percussion. “This song is one of my most exciting releases yet! It’s smooth but it also makes you want to dance! I can’t wait for everybody to hear it,” Griffin adds.
The one thing Griffin doesn’t tell us is that it’s a love song. His heart is longing for a special girl and his lyrics don’t hold back.
Now you’re the one that I’m craving
Gotta make you mine
“After Hours” release was followed by a music video that gets you out of your seat. Griffin’s dance moves with a roomful of stylish dancers steers him away from the typical indie scene. The throwback disco vibe of this video is nothing less than cool and sexy.
You would think he would be worried about winning this girls heart, but this multi-talented artist exudes confidence with an effortless performance that says otherwise.
Griffin has been making music for the past 6 years with his Producer and lead guitarist, Joseph Guadiana. He’s a standout performer playing stages such as the House of Blues. We would love to see him on stage with this dance moves because it will get the audience hyped.
Check out the video and make sure you have the room to dance along. - Vents Magazine
Dean Griffin will be a welcome discovery for many out there. Part of the new generational change taking place in the music industry – bringing new talent, styles and ideas to the forefront of the scene – the 19 years old Californian seems to have clear ideas about where he’s headed. Or at least, he’s got a clear sound in mind. Already boasting a productive catalogue of releases at such a young age, Griffin managed to attract a buzzy hype around him, perhaps thanks to his eclectic RnB outlook, balanced over psych, lo-fi tones and soulful lyricism.
‘Hey Girl’ is the project’s latest effort, and the first release by Dean in the new year. The track resonates with us greatly, thanks to a nostalgic and refined arrangement, enhanced by charged minimalism and a rather ethereal sound design. Developed in collaboration with longtime producer Joseph Guadiana, ‘Hey Girl’ is a frankly irresistible track, perfectly fitting the modern music landscape. We are confident it will go a long way in bringing Griffin’s music to a wider audience.
Lyrically, the song explores the excitement around new relationships, even when past broken hearts cause trust issues and dubious approaches. As Dean explains: “This single is sexy and vulnerable at the same time. Encapsulating the feeling of wanting love but being scared of what love can do to a person at the same time”. - Mesmerized
LA-based artist Dean Griffin has crafted a soothing and enchanting experience with his single "Hey Girl," which masterfully blends old-school boom bap and soulful vocals to create a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshing. From the moment it begins, the lingering keys cast a synth-infused bubble wrap around your soul, providing a sense of comfort and warmth that's hard to find in today's fast-paced world.
As you sink deeper into the layers of this mesmerizing piece, Griffin's soulful vocals take centre stage, reminiscent of the enchanting voice of Sam Smith. These smooth, heartfelt vocals further enhance the calming atmosphere, drawing you further into the track and creating a truly immersive experience.
Dean Griffin's talent for blending old-school vibes with modern soulful elements is showcased beautifully in "Hey Girl." As you listen, it's hard not to feel transported to a simpler, more carefree time, making the track a perfect escape from the stresses of everyday life.
Be sure to keep an eye on this rare gem. With such a captivating sound, there's no doubt that Dean Griffin will continue to make waves and delight fans of soulful, nostalgic tunes. - TJP News
An agent of groove, Dean Griffin has always boasted a kaleidoscopic and uplifting artistry. Lately, though, his artistic output has been shifting more and more towards disco, funk and soul territories, even sharing a certain retro quality. It’s all part of the Californian talent’s personal evolution, a journey that started in indie pop and electronic settings in 2019.
Griffin’s latest single will surprise you positively: ‘GET DOWN’ is a euphoric, dancy disco gem, directly drawing on the staple formulas of the genre in order to create a listening experience that feels contemporary yet authentic.
Simple drums are layered by artificial claps, further complemented by the eclectic bassline, taking centre stage and driving the song forward. Vintage disco vocals and harmonies are the finishing touches, really pushing the record into Saturday Night Fever territory. Of course, the overall structure is still based on modern pop, with the song letting a charming synth solo kickstart the last chorus, packed with hits and hooks. What more could you want?
Describing the inspiration behind GET DOWN. Griffin explains: “GET DOWN’ is simply a track for people to dance to. It’s about just letting loose and grooving with however the music makes you feel.”
Recommended! Discover ‘GET DOWN’ on Spotify: - Mesmerized
The young pop singer-songwriter from Southern California, Dean Griffin, released a chill disco vibe track called “After Hours” and he really caught our eye. We decided to catch up with him and learn more about his music.
Hey Dean, thanks for chatting with us today. We really enjoyed listening through your music and find that you have a unique sound. Your latest release “After Hours” really gave us that retro vibe we love to dance to. We would love to hear more about your writing process, production and how we are dying to see more of your dancing!
Your lyrics really flow, and you give the listener the opportunity to sing along which we love. What brought the story of “After Hours” to mind? We are all wondering is there a special girl out there.
So I wrote this song about that moment when you start to realize someone you’ve known for a while who’s always kind of been just a friend means a lot more to you than you thought. That moment when it all finally clicks into place and you become something more with that person. I’ve been fortunate to experience moments like that in the past and I think that’s something a lot of people can relate too.
Although we found your music to be sorted in the pop genre, we find that “After Hours” spills over to more of a “post-genre” pop because we hear some influences from jazz and R&B. Is there any artist or era that you were drawing inspiration from? What lead you to the production and vibe of this song?
I have a huge love for funk and R&B music. Lately I’ve been listening to a ton of Jungle, Durand Jones & the Indications, and Steve Lacy. Those guys definitely had a huge impact on this song in terms of making old school music with a modern production style. I just love when music makes you feel good, and I feel like we did a good job of making a song that can make you feel good.
Okay, let’s get to it. Where did you learn to dance like that? You’ve really got some moves there! Watching the video as you come into the shot dancing only made us hope there was more. And sure enough, there you were front and center of the dancers, but we aren’t going to lie…we wanted more! We are curious, do you see yourself on stage with back up dancers? We certainly think the crowd would be missing something special if you don’t.
I’ve been training as a dancer for almost 10 years now, I’ve trained in pretty much every style of dance. From Jazz to contemporary I’ve done it all… but hip-hop dancing is home for me and it always has been. When I’m not working on music, I am a professional dancer, which has brought me some pretty cool opportunities. I feel like dancing will always be a part of what I do… on stage or in my music videos, dance will always be a part of who I am as an artist.
Tell us a little more about who you are as a songwriter. Do your lyrics come from the heart, or do you have a specific method to your writing?
Every song I write pulls from actual experiences I’ve had. Whether it’s past or present feelings, or I’m writing about something that happened from another person’s perspective, it all comes from a place of truth.
Introduce us to your producer. How did you meet? How long have you two been working together? What is the ingredient you two have when it comes to creating music?
My partner and producer is Joseph Guadiana, who has been my best friend since we were in middle school. We’ve been working on music together for about 5 years now. We started by making beats in my bedroom and have just been working together since. My music really wouldn’t be possible without all the work he does. The way he can invoke emotions through music never ceases to amaze me.
Thanks again for taking to the time to share your musical journey with us!
Thank you guys for this!!!!
(Photos by: Erin Cherry)
Listen to Dean Griffin on all music platforms:
https://cageriot.ffm.to/dean_griffin - CaliPost
Discography
2024 -
- Satisfyed
- How I Fell
2023 - Shinin'
- A Look Into My Heart (Intro)
- Get Down
- Waitin' For Ya
- After Hours
- Cry On My Own
- II. Karma
- Shinin'
- Hey Girl
- Fantasy (Float)
- Sunshine
2021 - EP "4"
- October (Got Me Like)
- Rosalina
- Lyin' To Yourself
- One Last Kiss
- Wanderlust
- What We Thought
- White Lie
- Stuck On You
- Joseph's Interlude
- Rent Free
- Young Man (featuring Soulucien)
- Wildflower
- Real World/The End
Photos
Bio
TikTok - Over 1,000,000 Likes and 32,400 Followers
Spotify - 7,000 monthly listeners
Instagram - 11,800 Followers
YouTube - 1,000 Followers
An agent of groove, Dean Griffin has always boasted a kaleidoscopic and uplifting artistry. Lately though, his artistic output has been shifting more and more towards disco, funk and soul territories, even sharing a certain retro quality. It’s all part of the Californian talent’s personal evolution, a journey that started in indie pop and electronic settings in 2019.
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