Dutch composer and producer DEARDAN returns this autumn with a genuinely intriguing auditory puzzle. Released in late October, his latest single, ‘Ouroboros’, strips back the highly polished veneer of contemporary dance music to examine the raw, foundational energy of Chicago house. Instead of simply paying homage to the genre's earliest iterations, he intentionally deconstructs those defining rhythms and reconstructs them through a modern, experimental lens. The result is an expansive track that balances a familiar, nostalgic club warmth with a forward-thinking electronic edge, refusing to settle neatly into a single commercial category.
Featuring striking vocals and lyrics by Ariel Hill alongside DEARDAN’s own spoken word contributions, the soundscape feels deliberately atmospheric and multi-layered. The song's title draws directly on the ancient emblem of the serpent consuming its own tail, pointing toward weighty themes of destruction, transformation, and perpetual rebirth.
These concepts are woven deep into the fabric of the mix, urging listeners to actively engage with the sound rather than just passively consume it in the background. As the artist himself notes about his creative intent, "Sometimes, moving forward means going back to where it all began. And sometimes, we don't need to explain. We just need to feel." Crucially, in an era increasingly dominated by algorithms and synthesised shortcuts, he firmly states, "No generative A.I. was used in the making of my tracks."
This distinctly human element extends into the visual components of the release, which operate as far more than mere promotional tools. Collaborating with film and photography duo Gabriel Stella and Bruno Tornielli, DEARDAN has art directed and edited an accompanying film that pushes the track into a fully immersive audiovisual realm. While the highly conceptual nature of the project and its dense, overlapping textures might require a few careful and focused listens to fully digest, the layers of hidden meaning provide a rich reward for those willing to invest the time. It is a bold approach that deliberately challenges the standard format of a typical industry release.
By refusing to hand the audience easy answers, ‘Ouroboros’ successfully establishes a distinct atmosphere of curiosity and exploration. Ensure you stay firmly in the loop with his future multidimensional projects by plugging into DEARDAN’s frequency and following his creative manoeuvres on Instagram.
