Jelle Denturck is best known as the frontman of DIRK., a band he describes as having “made a lot of noise these past few years.” But deep down, he considers himself a bit of a softie, with a record collection full of melancholic indie pop and rock: Bowie, The Beatles, Lou Reed, Elton John, Nina Simone, Anohni & The Johnsons, Sufjan Stevens, Perfume Genius, Wilco, Tobias Jesso Jr. There’s clearly a side of Denturck that doesn’t easily surface in DIRK.
Now, he felt it was time to let that side show. Under the name Dressed Like Boys, he wanted to write songs and make an album that would be entirely his own—not for an ego trip, but as a form of self-discovery. Denturck sings about his search for personal freedom, his closest friends, his sexuality and relationship, and confronts darker themes like gay-bashing. The result is deeply personal and vulnerable.
Musically, his record collection unmistakably shines through, and Dressed Like Boys has a distinct 1970s sound. Denturck brings this into the 21st century using tape recorders, (real!) strings, Wurlitzers, Rhodes, boxy drum sounds, and a warm reunion with the grand piano, the first instrument he learned to play as a child.
Though Denturck loves making noise with DIRK., Dressed Like Boys lets him turn the volume down, offering an intimate glimpse into his soul.