‘Dystopian Days’ is a fitting soundtrack for our decadent, gloomy times. It’s no secret that society isn’t really at its peak at the moment, with the global political landscape becoming increasingly divisive and belligerent. Living in the US in 2026 is bound to greatly amplify such worries, especially within a number of vulnerable communities that have become the target of hate-filled rhetoric. ‘Dystopian Days’ seeks to provide a musical answer to all of that, a cathartic body of work that particularly resonates with its author, Detroit-based Trans creative Hey Look Listen.
The artistic moniker of Gwen Ketherine, Hey Look Listen indulges in gritty and sharp guitar-coded matter, oscillating between lighter indie cuts and noisier alternative and shoegaze efforts. Opening with ‘Doomsday Clock’, ‘Dystopian Days’ immediately showcases its larger thematic imprint, announcing the anthemic sombre energy that propels the whole record. ‘Country of Fear’ follows up with a grittier character reminiscent of the 90s, also sporting a title that sums up the current state of the United States.
Delving deeper into the inspiration behind ‘Dystopian Days’, Katherine explains: “I’ve always dealt with anxiety, but a few years ago I really started to lose control of it, with multiple panic attacks a day that left me dazed and unable to do much other than sit on the couch and disassociate. I became obsessed with the end of the world and disgusted by the apparent apathy and denial around me. Working on these songs helped me process all the crap that comes with being a human with a conscience”
Recommended! Discover ‘Dystopian Days’ now: