Naarm-based indie folk and dream-pop singer-songwriter Dean Luke continues a busy 2025 with his fifth single release of the year.
An artist who only recently turned to solo creative endeavours, releasing his debut single ('What Do I Know?') last year, after many years playing guitar in bands, Dean brings a host of songwriting influences to his own compositions – from Wilco, Phoebe Bridgers, Paul Dempsey, and Yo La Tengo, to Pavement, Lucinda Williams and The Beatles.
By pairing introspective lyrics to emotive melodies (that give you all the feels – from heartache to joy), Luke showcases an ability to weave a storyteller focus into tangible pieces of music.
This talent continues with 'Beloved', another song rooted in themes of love but written from a positive viewpoint (a point of different to his usual anti love song mantra).
A peacefully powerful yet fragile acoustic guitar takes centre stage, before Dean introduces his delicately husky vocals that offer a fragility that seeps into the marrow while also harnessing an inner strength by highlighting a vulnerable state of mind.
The lyrics also paint a portrait of acceptance, bypassing feelings of sentimentally to spotlight an honest love rooted in a warts and all mentality. 'In those moments there's a fact that pulls me through; you love me and I love you.'
"'Beloved' is a bittersweet indie folk song about how much easier life can be when you have someone to love and to love you back," Dean says. "It's for people who have a loving relationship with someone and want a song to celebrate it, or people who aspire to have a loving relationship with someone."
Released last week, today scenestr is stoked to premiere the 'Beloved' music video. Enjoy.
"'Beloved' is about how love can make the inevitable challenges of life easier to face. It's what I call a 'realistic love song'; it's not all giddiness and infatuation – it touches on the hardships of life that can be soothed or alleviated by love.
"Things like depression and tragedy that the love of a caring partner can be an antidote for. I'm known for writing a lot of 'anti love songs', so I thought I should write an actual love song to balance things out a bit."
With no live shows planned, Dean remains in songwriting mode as he continues working on new recordings.
