An independent musician from Melbourne, who has DIY recorded-released five albums and five EPs since 2018, Chase Mantel commences his 2026 with an ode to 2000s pop-punk.
'Dictionary' evokes the sounds of The Veronicas and Avril Lavigne in this compact, three-minute time warp.
Mellow, warm pop-punk meanders at a cruisy speed, Chase singing about being undecided metaphorically yet owning the space leaning into himself rather than stressing the optics of what other's think.
The song swings between melodic breakdowns that bring tactile feels and bruising, chugging riffage that allows the cathartic release of pent-up emotions.
By the song's end, there's a refreshed energy that permeates a sense of cleansing. As Chase declares, 'when your decision is to remain undecided, this is the song to play'.
"The song draws its instrumental roots from early 2000s pop-punk," shares Chase. "It wants to be a b-side on the first Veronicas record so badly!
"I've made a lot of heavy music and will continue to, but this one is just fun. It lulls you in with bouncy verses and then ambushes you with a noisy punk riff in the chorus."
Ahead of the song's release tomorrow (28 April), today scenestr is thrilled to premiere the music video for 'Dictionary'. Enjoy.
"The song was spawned from trying to sneak a bad word out of the word 'dictionary'. It tickled me that if you change how you say the word (and put some choice words around it) then you could change its meaning," Chase says.
"I've spent the last couple years doing a lot of gender-bending stuff, both onstage and off, and I don't know why I'm compelled to do any of it. This song was me saying that I don't know why I'm doing it and that I shouldn't have to explain myself anyways.
"It's for the undecided, it's for people in the space before certainty, and it's a reminder that you can live in that space if you want, it's up to you."
The song also marks the first time that Mantel's live band, The Supervoids, contributed their own parts to the songwriting process.
"I started a live band last year to promote my studio work, and this release marks the first song where everyone in the band wrote their parts. It was so rewarding having the band involved in the recording process.
"It was scary handing over some control, but the boys undoubtedly made the song better. It improved me as a muso too. I like to do everything rigidly, but collaborating so closely like this forced me to adapt and flex and learn how cool the result of that can be."
Another collaborative process was the filming of the song's music video, Mantel working with another of Melbourne's underground creative forces.
"The music video was filmed and edited by Millie from MOUK. MEDIA. I met Millie at an open mic years ago and she's always understood my songs easily. I gave her full control of the video and her first idea for it was perfect."
Chase also offers advice for anyone contemplating following their music dreams. "I recorded everything out of my home studio. So if you like the sound, let this be your sign that you can make cool stuff too, even if you can't get into a big studio!
"It's more about what you've got to say anyway, and less about how close to perfect it sounds, especially in rock."
A band who play regularly, there are no live shows planned currently, but Mantel is actively looking to gig more often.
"No live shows coming up unfortunately, we're trying to play a gig each month but nothing's confirmed for May yet.
"However, I've been making studio releases since 2018 and I've got a big back catalogue, so if people want more music from me, I've made heaps. But be warned, my discography is very eclectic, but it's mostly rock and metal cuts."
