“I definitely need a creative outlet to portray my emotion, let the weight off my shoulders. I wouldn’t have a good state of mind if I didn’t have something like that to release my creative energy into” Gus tells The FADER in an interview. For Dapperton, creating indie bedroom pop is just this creative outlet. Releasing his first song in 2016, Gus has now become prominent in his own genre. While he is not quite in the music industry’s spotlight, he is certainly a face of the new funk/synth bedroom pop genre of music. Known for his zany style (dyed bowl cut, makeup, retro glasses), Dapperton has certainly created a persona for himself, one that is nearly as influential as his music. Gus mixes synth keys, flanger guitar chords, snare drums, and even cowbells to produce a vintage feeling unlike any other current artist. Gus tops this sound with vocals ranging from calm, floaty delivery to scratchy and passionate belting that will make you want to sing along at the top of your lungs in the shower. Below are the indie artist’s projects, best to worst.

 

#1 – Where Polly People Go to Read (2019)

Gus’ first attempt at a full length project, Where Polly People Go to Read was an incredible success. After releasing several unique singles and EP’s, it was questionable as to whether or not Dapperton would be able to hold his own when it came to a full length album. As it turns out, Polly People is a manifestation of the young artist’s passion for his creation. Leading off with a very strong track, “Verdigris” is Gus explaining a toxic attraction he has. This track relies heavily on synth keys and a hint of cowbell. Gus’s delivery on the track slowly escalates in intensity, eventually climaxing with the scratchy delivery mentioned earlier. Gus has stated in interviews that the first four tracks of the album were written while in an unhealthy relationship. This can be seen not only in “Verdigris“, but also on “Nomadicon“, in which Gus takes us for a painful ride discussing the manipulative relationship he was involved in, singing “‘Cause I’m completed when you bruise above / Abusive, I love the use of you”. One of the project’s most popular tracks, “Coax & Botany” is a celebration of meeting someone who completes you, as he exclaims “I could die with your eyes open at me”. This track is classic Gus: heavenly synth beats paired with spaced out snare kicks and hi-hats. The ambiguous lyrics only add to the mystique of both the song and its creator. Near the end of the album, Gus hits us with “My Favorite Fish“, a cheery track with an especially catchy hook paying homage to his current girlfriend, who is Gus’ “favorite fish”. Regarding the title, Gus has explained that Polly People are people who have a similar mindset to himself, people with similar goals and a comparable outlook on life. If this album is where Polly People go to read, the things they reading are revealing of Dapperton’s ability to carry his funky sound across a full length project, and to be exceptional at it.

 

#2 – Yellow and Such – EP (2017)

Gus’ earliest collection of songs put out as one unit, Yellow and Such is a four-track EP. Nonetheless, it is absolutely crucial to his discography, as well as being a project that many of his early fans hold close to their hearts. Opening up with “I’m Just Snacking” (a single that was released before the release of the EP), Gus tells an intricate story of two lovers with a similar view of the world, but with different views of their relationship. This story is told over an 80’s keyboard and guitar chords drenched in reverb. The second track takes an alternate route, on “Miss Glum & the Pursuit of Falling“, Gus plays keys that loosely sound like bell chimes, and puts them next to occasional violin chords. The hook is preceded by a very low-key guitar solo. In the last third of the song, Gus pumps emotion into the track with his vocals. After this track is “Gum, Toe and Sole“, perhaps the quintessential Gus Dapperton track. Beginning with an unorthodox series of “da’s”, the melody slowly develops. As cowbells, a bass guitar, and a snare drum all enter, Gus soothes the audience with calmly delivered lyrics. Halfway into the song, spacey synth keys make their way to the forefront, complimenting Gus’ voice. The project culminates with the fourth and final track, “The Fool“. This track is less “weird” than the others, relying heavily on guitar chords and traditional drum kicks. However, it does include the signature techno keys that Gus has learned to bring into play so masterfully. While Yellow and Such is only four songs, it is extremely powerful and a very quick and fun adventure of a listen.

 

#3 – You Think You’re a Comic! – EP (2018)

Another four song EP, You Think You’re a Comic! contains some of Gus’ most heartfelt songs, as well as one of his most recognizable songs. You Think You’re a Comic! has a much more somber tone than any of the projects ranked above it, yet it still maintains Gus’ unique style. The first track “Prune, You Talk Funny” is another instance of  every element of Dapperton being packed into one track (and also has a super iconic music video to go along with it). As one of Gus’ most popular early tracks, it includes fast paced guitar chords as well as Gus’ trademark quirky lyrics, one of them being “I’m jelly in my shoes”. This track is followed up by one with a very different tone. While “Prune, You Talk Funny” is upbeat and fun, “I Have Lost My Pearls” is a painful meditation on the loss of purity. We are brought back up with “Amadelle With Love“, a heavily techno track, centered around Gus’ younger sister, Ruby Amadelle. The project ends on a low note, “Beyond Amends“, a lengthy and melancholy ballad about being left out to dry by a lover. The track consists primarily of a somber, repeating piano melody, with Gus solemnly proclaiming his pain. The emotional rollercoaster of a project, You Think You’re a Comic! goes in many different directions, but at the same time stays true to Gus’ original sound.

 

#4 – Orca (2020)

Gus’ most recent project, Orca is ten track, full length album. The style of this album is much different from any of his other projects. While it is still a good album, Gus is better at his traditional style. Orca contains mostly acoustic sounds, contrary to his classic electronic synth beats. One example of this is the track “Post Humorous“, which revolves around a mellow acoustic fingerstyle melody. It is not a traditional Gus Dapperton track. We see more of the original Gus on opening track “Bottle Opener“, but it still has acoustic tones and an earthy sound. The two most typical Gus songs are “Bluebird” and “Palms“. Both of these tracks are more techno. “Bluebird” is Gus delivering choppy rhymes over a funky bass line, which then develops into a series of piano keys. “Palms” is reminiscent of “Eyes for Ellis” off of Polly People, as the primary melody consists of a mellow guitar and punchy hi-hats. Orca is Gus stepping out of his comfort zone and handling more acoustic instruments and organic tones. While he does a good job of this, he is far better at wrapping synth keys and distorted guitar into a retro style track.

 

Bonus Track – “Moodna, Once With Grace” (2016)

Arguably one of Gus’ best songs, “Moodna, Once With Grace” is one of his earliest tracks. It is standalone and is not featured on any of his projects, but the song is a masterpiece. The track opens with a simple, low resonance, guitar chord progression. Gus’ voice soon comes in, at which the same time the chord progression is brought to the front of the melody. Shortly after, synth notes compliment the chorus. To top it all off, the lyrics are incredibly deep, as Gus walks the listener through his first love — and how nothing can last forever.