by mariah estran
photo courtesy of dawson fuss
Movies and TV shows have perfected the romance trope. That love-at-first-sight, meeting your soulmate at a coffee shop type of feeling. Those dreamy scenes, fueling our minds with high expectations. Will we get a kiss in the rain or a room full of flowers? Possibly, but there could be some letdown along the way.
For Pop artist Dawson Fuss, once growing up, he realized the unrealistic nature of how entertainment portrays love. It is an eye-opener, which molded into his latest single, “Hollywood Heartbreak.” Fuss saying about the track: "As I’ve gained more life experience, I realize how untrue and deceptive the concept of a ‘perfect relationship’ actually is. Being young and naïve, I wanted to believe that these fictional stories were true.”
The close to four-minute single describes a longing for a movie-esque scenario, over a bubbly beat complete with a soulful guitar tinge. A cutesy plea for a moment that, at times, feels unattainable but ultimately, eventual.
“Hollywood Heartbreak” is the third single from the upcoming album Edge of Adolescence. An awaited debut, documenting the process of growing up and navigating adulthood. The singer took time to tell us about his latest single, upcoming album, finally releasing music, and what would make his own movie soundtrack.
Music has been a passion of yours since you were a child. But what was it that pushed you to finally release your work to your audience?
Dawson: “I’ve always been incredibly passionate about music and loved the way it made me feel a wide range of emotions. When I was 12 or 13, I began finding songs I liked and recording covers in my bedroom on Garage Band on a $20 mic and uploading them to YouTube. As I got older, I paid more attention to the lyrics and I realized that sometimes I liked the melody, but the lyrics didn’t express where I was in my life at that moment. I knew that the only music that would tell my story 100% was my own. Since then, I’ve written a ton of stuff, but it wasn’t until I was locked in my house during quarantine, and I really had the time to dig deep and explore what I wanted to share.
I was incredibly nervous to put my first song out because I am a perfectionist by nature and wanted my first step into the music world to be the best it could be. I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders hearing that people appreciate my stories and are enjoying my musical choices.”
You recently released “Hollywood Heartbreak.” It depicts a kind of movie-esque romance we all search for. What was it about this specific mix of emotions that made you want to put it in a song?
D: “Growing up watching movies and TV shows, I was fed a constant image of what a ‘perfect relationship’ was supposed to be like in the real world. These idealized relationships are Hollywood's standard of love. I dreamed of experiencing Hollywood’s idealized encounters where my soulmate just happened to walk into my life. But, as I’ve gained more life experience, I realize how untrue and deceptive the concept of a ‘perfect relationship’ actually is. Being young and naive I wanted to believe that these fictional stories were true. Now that I’m a bit older and have had some experiences I have to say I’m a bit frustrated that I’ll never be in a relationship like those I’ve seen on the screen. Ultimately, the way Hollywood portrays relationships is extremely superficial and rarely addresses the messiness that comes with trying to find a relationship that survives over the long haul.
‘Hollywood Heartbreak’ evolved from the raw emotions I explored after binge watching too many romance movies during my Covid lockdown. The song is about love that exists in reality and the myth that Hollywood feeds us that ultimately will leave us disappointed and unfulfilled.”
The track has this captivating sound that heightens the song's emotion-filled lyrics. What inspired you musically while working on the production?
D: “I worked with my amazing producer, Luke Matthew, who lives in Denmark. We met online during the start of Covid, and he is a wizard when it comes to transforming my artistic vision into reality. For this project, we drew inspiration from the feeling of Los Angeles in the summer. The song talks about the movies filmed there, so it made perfect sense for the song to have a summer, beachy vibe to it. I also love my music to express different emotions, like weaving together unhappy and catchy lyrics with an upbeat melody finished off with a moody production to express the range of emotions we feel when we fall in and out of love.”
“Hollywood Heartbreak” follows up your previously released singles, “Right Person, Wrong Time” and “Hey You.” How do these singles set listeners up for what’s to come from your album, Edge of Adolescence?
D: “‘Hollywood Heartbreak,’ ‘Right Person, Wrong Time,’ and ‘Hey You’ depict the confusion and uncertainty that come from the aftermath of big, new decisions. These songs specifically follow a relationship, but they’re true for all aspects of growing older like buying your first car, losing a friendship, or gaining independence. I find that these experiences are opportunities to grow, and although it’s hard, I know I can’t grow if I don’t trip and pick myself up again. This confusion and uncertainty are necessary to move towards being a more responsible and mature adult. There’s lots I’ve learned about growing up and blossoming into an adult and I hope people can share my journey when they listen to Edge of Adolescence.”
In a recent newspaper interview, you mentioned how “everyone has their own inner soundtrack.” At this point in time, who’s on your inner soundtrack?
D: “My inner soundtrack is a collage of sorts! There’s some Harry Styles, Ruel, Rex Orange County, Conan Gray, but also some meditation music to help me relax when I’m stressing out a bit, and there’s some Eric Whitacre (he knows how to milk those harmonies), and some old big band jazz music. I’ll pretty much listen to anything put in my ears! :)”
Lastly, what can you tell us about how your debut album will document the journey of growing up?
D: “Edge of Adolescence is a depiction of the complicated timing between being a kid and being an adult. I’m 17 and have so much freedom. Like being able to drive myself and my friends around whenever I want, but I still live with my parents and rely on their support, which is nice because it means I have a safety net to fall back on, but also means that I can only fly so far out of the nest before I have to come back. I know I am really lucky though because they have been incredibly supportive of my music and for helping me to find my voice. We always want what we don’t have, so I can't wait to have full independence, but I know there are so many things, like stocked fridge and clean clothes in my closet, that I’ll miss when I become an adult. This EP is about the highs and lows of growing up and discovering oneself, but also the desire to see what more is out there.”