Why Mitch Dean Needed A 'Soft Spot' On His Album

From playing acoustic guitar in a shed with his father on the Mornington Peninsula to joining garage rock band The Marzies and then, in 2005, heading off on a ten-year stint with country rockers The Distance, Mitch Dean has finally begun his solo journey into alt-country territory, "stepp[ing] out on my own to forge a new sound and identity as a solo artist."

His debut EP Suburban Speakeasy "was recorded at Tender Trap Studio in Melbourne. The whole EP was recorded, produced and mixed by long time friend Colin Leadbetter who has worked with artists such as Katie Noonan and Whitley. There was over 20 songs we had to choose from when I had finished recording demos. After listening to them all we leaned towards choosing some darker songs. Certainly different topics in the songs, but all of a general darker nature," he explains. "There was one song, Something To You, that was basically an afterthought when we decided the EP was getting 'too big' in sound and needed a soft spot. So I recorded an acoustic and vocal track that was the most simple yet rewarding thing I had ever done... As time has gone on I've moved towards the feeling and vibe mentality. It's the ethos of all the acts I listen to — [Neil] Young, [Ryan] Adams etc — there is something special about hearing music that was caught in the moment."