You’re Secretly Obsessed With Them (and you know it): a catch-up with dœgægé and fauna

“To me, it [my music] stands in its own untitled category,” says dœgægé.

21-year-old Melbourne/Naarm-based artist Caleb Doe, who performs under the name dœgægé (pronounced doe-gah-gay) began uploading his own tunes to Soundcloud amid the pandemic two years ago. Doe’s connection to other Melbourne artists who continue to amass a following online, such as hijackk and fauna, led him en route to opening Brisbane and Melbourne shows for American artists glaive and ericdoa.

What you can expect from dœgægé is beyond conventions and genres. His music twists the forms of experimental, indie, and Hyperpop conventions (sped-up, pixelated sound bites infused with overblown bass, nihilistic vocals with a touch of detachment), transcending into a concept that has to be experienced to be understood. 

When I sit down and correspond with Caleb, he is still buzzing with energy from the aftermath of Sewerfest. It has been less than two months since his debut single ‘A HEADACHE & A BLACK EYE’ was released - an exciting track debut with that classic 1975-esque rock intro fused with clear pop-punk sounding vocals. His sophomore single ‘A DYING GNOME’ was released two days ago, yet the artist is already keen to get stuck into producing more material.

“I got to play lots and lots of unreleased music I’ve been quietly working on, and I’m planning a special show for the release of my EP ‘GOBLIN BLISS ETERNAL RELIEF’ in August!”

Tell me, Caleb, what does your production process look like? Where do all your ideas come from?

I get inspired by listening to music, watching films, or interviews. Sometimes I have ideas in my head that I can hear really clearly - i’m very dyslexic and I struggle with describing my thoughts, so I often write about emotional moments in my life as a way to express them. Somehow it’s easier.

What are you hoping to accomplish or achieve from your music in the future? Even if it seems outlandish, or you think it’s a farfetched dream, spill the beans!

My big thing this year is putting out my first project, I’ve been working on it for nearly 2 years. I have really big dreams for the future - I want to travel the world and make music with my heroes, and I want to make clothing and sculptures and direct movies or TV shows.

Would you describe your sound as one that fits into the ‘Hyperpop’ genre or somewhat under that umbrella? Otherwise, would you describe it as experimental/indie?

My genre of music is easiest described as alternative rock with Hyperpop influences. It’s annoying there isn’t a better way to sum it up. To me it stands in its own untitled category. Experimental and indie also work, though.

How was it opening for glaive and ericdoa? Do you often take inspiration from these similar artists and implement their ideas into your own music and projects? How do you go about sourcing other artists or connections when it comes to collaborations?

I was only originally meant to DJ for Perto, but literally 15 minutes before doors opened, glaive’s tour manager called me and asked for me to open.

I loved the ericdoa and glaive show so much! They have both been big heroes to me, Eric especially. I’m so glad we did that show together. I will love them forever. I am so thankful to Perto too. It was also my first taste at performing to a crowd like that!

I’m not sure how but all the connections I’ve made in music have come so naturally - my best friends are all incredibly talented, and we gravitated towards each other. I deeply believe in destiny and think it plays a huge part in the people I connect with.

Fellow artist and friend of Doe, Luke - who goes by the pseudonym fauna - released his most popular single ‘gutter’ in February 2022. The song features a sped and looped trap beat that bears a sort of  angst (for being left in the gutter, obviously) imbued with witty lyricism: “My bro keep the iron, he anemic.”

To music connoisseurs, the production behind fauna’s music may appear haphazard in the grand scheme of things. It may also encapsulate just how accessible music production has become in mobilising young music curators.

fauna (right), instagram.com/pleatful

Talk me through your recording workflow - have you had stints where you’ve produced music in less than an hour? In what ways have other artists inspired your music?

I kind of just open up FL Studio and press buttons until I find something I like, or go on Ableton and play the guitar until something clicks. Most of my songs are made in under one to two hours. If I don’t find a word or a flow on a beat I’ve made I just make another one until something works.

I didn’t grow up making music or really in a creative household, per se, but my parents are really big fans of music, and I think that’s how I was exposed to so many genres I still listen to now.

I don’t really collaborate with many people, but the few people I have made stuff with are just found through Instagram, Soundcloud-related tracks, or seeing people live and being like, “They're really good!” I would rather work with someone who I’m friends with first, and let the music just come naturally after that.

Taking heavy influence from alternative genres and “even country artists”, fauna admires country-shoegaze band Wednesday and R&B act Dijon, alongside rap acts such as Earl Sweatshirt, Destroy Lonely and Playboi Carti. Even so, fauna doesn’t have a complete grip on genre names.

Doe told me you’re more experimental or indie with elements of Hyperpop, similar to his music. I am curious to see how you’d describe your own music.

I can make a heavy rap beat inspired by Carti and in the same night make an indie country song like MJ Lenderman. But I’d say my genre is more like indie rap I guess.

Have you performed at any festivals this year, or are there any you’re hoping to be a part of in the future? What can we see on the horizon?

I haven’t played at any festivals this year yet, and of course, I would love to if given the chance. I’m not too sure what type of festival or audience my music would cater to if I’m being honest. But festivals like Primavera or Laneway would be something I definitely want to play in the future!

Do you think festivals aren’t catering to the growing Hyperpop scene in Australia, and perhaps they should be? What would you like to see more of at festivals?

Nah, I don’t think the festivals are catering towards Hyperpop acts just because it isn’t as big here yet, so it hasn’t really solidified itself as a “genre” yet. Laneway putting 100 gecs on their lineup this year was definitely a step in the right direction as they are one of the most palatable Hyperpop acts - and they may have used them as a test to see how people would react to an act like that. I would definitely love to see more artists from our scene in the lineups and I hope they will reach that point soon.

With facilities like Sewerfest and Nocturne mobilising Hyperpop and experimental artists, it’s only natural to wonder if we’ll see them in upcoming festival lineups. Will there be a time when we see organisers eager to lay all their cards on the table and maybe stray away from the traditional metrics of lineup arrangement?

dœgægé’s newest EP ‘GOBLIN BLISS ETERNAL RELIEF’ is set for release in August. You can keep up with his whereabouts here, and his music here.