Prepare to be hit with a major wave of nostalgia listening to dœgægé. The 21-year-old new kid on the block, Caleb Doe, has released his debut EP: eight tracks of pop-punk 'goblin bliss'. The Melbourne-based, New Zealand-born artist has spent the last two years expertly crafting his sound for the release of GOBLIN BLISS ETERNAL RELIEF, in all it's angsty glory and urgent emotion. "This project has been the most challenging, teaching, frustrating, beautiful experience I have ever had," he says. "This was a two year process to finish, I grew in so many ways as it was happening. Nothing was forced, every song had to feel like it needed to be made. It tortures feelings of madness & ecstasy and the way they can’t exist without each other. Loss & love, ignorance & bliss. I wrote and recorded everything myself, I made all the artwork and visuals myself. It showed me how much I love to make music, I know for certain this is just what I do." We spoke to dœgægé about the project and what's next:

We really love your project. Congratulations. You’ve said this was a two-year-long project. Do you remember when you began creating it? What was your intention with this project when you set out on creating it?

I remember I freshly moved to Melbourne with only a suitcase, It took me a few months to finally buy a guitar. I started this project as soon as I got this shitty blue mustang, all of the guitar on this project was recorded with this, even all the bass is just the mustang pitched down. Tbh I didn’t have any intention with the project, the songs came out organically and naturally fit well together. 

Tell us about the title ‘GOBLIN BLISS ETERNAL RELIEF’?!

It’s about being dead and how I think it would look like. It also reflects the themes of the songs. 

What did you learn about yourself while making it? How did you grow personally?

At the time of making this I was so happy, life was less complicated and I wasn’t concerned about pleasing or catering for others with my art. I’ve learnt how important that mindset is. 

How do you think you grew sonically? What did you learn through writing and producing these songs by yourself?

I think vocally I have been improving :) I still am not great but I’m becoming more confident with using my voice. I learnt that producing rock music in your bedroom is actually very possible and limitless. 

You’ve also made all the visuals yourself which must be so rewarding. Why did you decide to take everything into your own hands?

I have the skills to visually create the idea I see in my head pretty much exactly. Also it’s fun, another way to add my personal expression to this project. 

Can you pinpoint any inspirations for your visuals? How did you dream up the world of dœgægé?

The visuals are inspired by medieval paintings, dantes inferno and dorohedoro. 

You’ve been compared to The 1975 - do you agree with this comparison? Who are some artists who you believe have directly inspired your writing?

I partly agree, they definitely are huge inspirations for me, and in some ways I can hear their influence on this project but I think Smashing Pumpkins and Elliot Smith are even more prominent influences here, that being said … I don’t want to be compared to anyone else.

Is there a song you are most proud of on the project? We especially love ‘A DYING GNOME’.

I think BINGO WITH THOSE DEAD GUYS is my proudest, but I don’t have favourites. 

Do you have a North Star in your life - someone who is a guiding force for you, perhaps another artist or a mentor?

Not sure, I’m kind of walking in the dark a lot of the time. There are alot of artists I look up to, but nobody hugely in particular. 

What’s something that you’re passionate about aside from music?

Designing clothing, or painting, or sculpture, or film. 

What’s next?

I aim to put out new music rapidly, new music before the year is over I hope. I’m eager to show what I’ve been making in the last year since this project has been finalised.

Listen to GOBLIN BLISS ETERNAL RELIEF here.

@dœgægé