“Blinded by Fame” by Dutch Interior

Release Date: May 26, 2023

Length: 38 minutes

Blinded by Fame, Dutch Interior’s second album, resembles a hazy snapshot of a young person becoming disillusioned with the world. Rooted in warm indie rock and soft folk textures, the record is absolutely lovely to listen to. On Spotify, the album’s video cover for each song features trail cams of deer, which adds to the whimsicality of the album.

The track that brought this album to my attention was “I’ll Be Damned”, which defiantly starts by saying, “Don’t give me no Bible to put my face in…’cuz I’ll eat the pages up, just to clear an indigestion.” These lyrics are powerfully constrasted by the chill guitar strums in the background, making the track palatable to casual listeners as well. “Be Intense” is reminiscent of the math-rock genre and relies on the synthesizer, which does most of the instrumental heavy lifting. It’s a dreamy-sounding track that discusses insecurity with a soft-spoken tone: “My body shows all its weight in this glow”. The track ends with a long stretch of low hum, then featuring capella vocals which wrap the song up nicely.

“In Dodge” is similar to “Be Intense” in its dreaminess and whimsicality, with a droning hum wiping away any thoughts the listener might have. The guitar is simple, but it works very well with this sort of liminal instrumentation. “The Man Can Dance” is a more typical indie-folk tune, but it’s beautiful regardless; nostalgic, free, and childlike. At its best, Blinded by Fame feels inward-looking and like anyone could’ve written it, capturing a universal experience, inviting the listener to sit down, listen, and relate. The record doesn’t build toward a dramatic climax or offer easy answers; instead, it fades out slowly. In doing so, Dutch Interior captures something deeply familiar—the feeling of standing on the edge of a forest and wondering if you should venture in further.