Dear Insanity… by DPR IAN

Review written by BlueMoonMusic

Dear Insanity… is the third album/EP by Korean-Australian singer songwriter DPR IAN, released in 2023. DPR IAN is part of the Dream Perfect Regime, a Seoul based record label that features a collection of artists fully in control of their work, creating, directing, producing, and editing all their music and videos personally. In running with this theme, DPR IAN’s Dear Insanity… is an emotional and complex album paired with stunning music videos and a storyline inseparable from the artist. It takes you on a journey that goes far beyond just listening to the music.

To even scratch the surface of Dear Insanity… would be impossible without delving into DPR IAN’s previous discography, most notably his first EP and studio album Moodswings in This Order and Moodswings in to Order. Both of these works are integral to the storyline of Dear Insanity… and the overarching plot of DPR IAN’s work as a whole. The artist has bipolar disorder, and explores his experiences with it through his music, creating characters/alter egos that represent his different mental states. MITO, both the name of the character and an acronym for DPR IAN’s first two major works, represents the artist’s manic lows. MITO serves as a character who is integral to DPR IAN’s identity while also being a constant threat. The other major figure in these works is Mr. Insanity, who is the focus of the album Dear Insanity… and represents the artist’s manic highs. These characters are the main driving force in DPR IAN’s work, and are given their own motifs/symbolism in both the music as well as accompanying music videos. Listening to Dear Insanity… without this knowledge is fine, but knowing it and understanding it only enriches the tracks the more you hear.

Dear Insanity…’s storyline is about Mr. Insanity coming into power as DPR IAN goes from a state of manic low to manic high. This is best seen in the first track, “Famous Last Words.” Spoken rather than sung, MITO narrates a letter to Mr. Insanity, describing his power slipping away but that he will always return. The background track transitions from chaotic and almost overwhelming to tranquil and calm, blending hard guitar, synth, and strings. These are instruments/musical themes that DPR IAN uses throughout all his work, his songs utilizing many genres–from R&B to k-pop–while still feeling incredibly cohesive.

The prevalence of non-instrumental sounds in Dear Insanity… help push the themes of the work and add a rich layer of symbolism throughout. Most prevalent, heard in over half the songs on the album, is two sounds: thunder and wolves howling. Thunder is meant to represent MITO’s character, illustrating his constant presence in Dear Insanity… despite the album largely being about Mr. Insanity. In turn, wolves howling represents Mr. Insanity. These sounds, often used together in songs, are meant to represent the constant battle between Mr. Insanity and MITO. This can be seen in songs such as “Don’t Go Insane” and “So I Danced,” both about the titular characters fighting for control, therefore a reflection of DPR IAN fighting for a semblance of consistency and equilibrium in his daily life. Once you pick up on these themes, it can be heard in the entirety of DPR IAN’s work, showing how the artist is creating a saga with his albums rather than standalone pieces.

Another notable quality found in Dear Insanity… is the use of voice, both within and outside of the lyrics. DPR IAN sings with clear but raw vocals that are hypnotizing to listen to. At various points his voice is pitched down, another theme he’s used throughout his discography, to denote that MITO is speaking. In addition, he uses his voice as an instrument just as much as he does for vocals. He blends these sounds seamlessly with the background music, adding another layer of depth and to the work. One noticeable use of this is the heavy breathing that creates the beat during the bridge of “Don’t Go Insane.” All of these are paired with DPR IAN’s playful but loaded lyricism, with lines like “flamingos are turning into giant pink rats” from “So I Danced.” He’s able to perfectly walk the line of songs that are loaded with metaphors of personal struggles, but don’t feel heavy to listen to. The depth he creates in his music is something that will have you returning again and again, seeing how songs play together both within the album and his entire discography.

Dear Insanity… is an album that will have you bobbing your head on your drive to work, while still being rife with the personal story of its creator. It’s lively and humorous, while also being introspective and thought provoking. But most of all, it’s clear from the first track how much love and patience DPR IAN has put into it, both in the music itself, and the visuals that accompany it in the music videos. You don’t need to have bipolar disorder to relate and sympathize with the artist, striking a balance in the work that’s both deeply personal, but also universal. It’s a fun album to listen to, whether you just want to hear something compelling, or if you delve into the lore and characters that DPR IAN crafts. Either way, it is bound to leave you delving into more of DPR IAN’s work and the passion he creates with.