Ascendant singer-songwriter Dean Johnson offers a sharp-witted look at social exhaustion with his new single, “Death of the Party”. The track is the latest preview of his highly anticipated debut for Saddle Creek, I Hope We Can Still Be Friends, set for release on August 22, 2025.
“Death of the Party” is a masterful slice of bittersweet commentary, born from the frustration of being trapped in endless, one-sided conversations. Over a backdrop of brushed drums, bright acoustic strumming, and expansive keys, Johnson’s gentle voice delivers a devastatingly wry blow. “I’m polite, I look you in the eye / And take the wind that never ever dies / Blowing out your contradictions / You’re the hero and eternal victim,” he sings, perfectly capturing the experience of dealing with an “energy vampire.”
Johnson describes the song as “arguably the most prickly of the album’s handful of prickish songs,” and a direct inspiration for the album’s title. “This song is dedicated to all the energy vampires I’ve ever known,” he shares, referring to those who drain the life from a room, blissfully unaware. The track embodies the solitary, obliquely funny feeling of a late night spent navigating strangers, a skill Johnson no doubt honed during his years as a bartender.
With its clever lyricism and charming, country-adjacent sound reminiscent of John Prine, it’s another powerful taster to an album that promises both biting social observation and heartfelt tenderness.
Johnson will be touring extensively across the US this year, with dates supporting Rilo Kiley, Esther Rose, and Erin Rae.
