Alex Dezen is perhaps best known for his work as lead singer and songwriter for the Damnwells, who released a wonderful self-titled record just last year. Now, he’s issuing a solo LP on February 12. Today, MAGNET is premiering new track “This Is The Last Song (I’ll Ever Write On This Guitar),” and it’s a refinement of what we’ve come to expect. A narrative-heavy acoustic rock track with a ton of heart, “This Is The Last Song” can be downloaded below. A Q&A with Dezen after the jump.
“This Is The Last Song” (download):
What was the inspiration for “This Is The Last Song”?
I had to sell my Martin D-35 to pay some bills, so I wrote a song about it as a kind of ode. It was literally the last song I wrote on that guitar. I get attached to things. I didn’t cry when my parents got divorced, but I did when they sold our first car.
How quickly did you write it?
Pretty quickly. The buyer had sent the money, so I knew it needed to ship out that week. I sequestered myself with it for one last song. Probably wrote it in a day or so.
How was it to record? Any great stories about recording that song in particular?
This whole album was recorded on a laptop in my apartment over the course of about a month and a half, so the whole experience is kind of a blur. I do remember sitting down to play one last song on it before I packed it up and mailed it off. The song was “The Great Unknown,” a tune from a record I put out in 2011. When the song was done, I cried a little.
Why do you think this song makes a good first single for your first solo album?
I have no idea. I gave up picking singles about 13 years ago.
How do you feel about the way the song turned out?
I’m pretty excited about it, actually. And I can’t say that I normally retain that excitement once an album is done. But I’m still excited about this whole record. There are moments, especially lyrically, that are crude and bruised and messy. I like that. I like when things are slightly out of control.
