In an industry filled with cookie-cutter artists and manufactured pop stars, Dexter Krenal stands out as a beacon of authenticity. As he puts it, “THERE are a lot of quite false and fake artists playing at the minute…that all sound alike. So many musicians are playing very samey and uninspired sounds- that clone others and show such little personality.”
Krenal is involved in a few bands – PREGOBLIN, Red Peril, Drowse Plaza, and Recovery Business. With PREGOBLIN, he has recently released an album (PREGOBLIN II) and toured with Pete Doherty and The Libertines, with Doherty joining the band onstage for the song “These Hands” several times. The band also features members of The Fat White Family.
With Red Peril, Krenal has just released 3 singles and is soon to release the band’s debut EP on Blang Records, while also gigging the London circuit. Drowse Plaza is a new band made up of members from Red Peril, featuring an electronic rock sound with spoken word. And with Recovery Business, Krenal works with a band formed of people from the homeless charity he is involved with, providing a safe space for those with mental health and addiction issues to explore music.
For Krenal, music has always been a means of self-expression, a way to cut through the noise and find his own voice. “I was always looking for a way to express myself when I was younger,” he reflects. “I had all sorts of weird hobbies. One was writing poems onto parchment paper with a quill: Dipped in Indian ink and sealing it with wax and a stamp (as if I lived in the early 19th century). A nutter from birth! So lucky I found music (or that it found me).”
This passion and personal investment in his craft is evident in the diverse range of projects Krenal is involved in. From the raw energy of PREGOBLIN to the experimental electronic rock of Drowse Plaza, he has carved out his own path, drawing inspiration from a wide array of influences, from his grandad’s jazz records to the rebellious spirit of the Sex Pistols.
“Too many to mention!” Krenal says when asked about the artists and musicians who were important to him growing up. “The first proper run-in I had with music was my grandad playing his old Jazz records- he mainly got them from New York when he was in the navy. The music would really piss my nan off, which I thought was hilarious! Then in school, I had to sing David Bowie’s Life on Mars in assembly, which I loved too. But what really got the ball rolling was my mate James. We’d skive off school, smoke fags; drink some vodka we’d nick off our parents; listen to Guns N’ Roses and try to play along. Was fucking great! Then, I found the Sex Pistols a bit later on which made me realise you don’t have to be the prettiest player/singer: What REALLY matters is the message and the energy.”
It’s that same unapologetic, DIY-spirited approach that Krenal hopes will inspire the next generation of young artists. “Don’t do it! Save yourselves! Hahaha. No, do it!” he says with a laugh. “If you love making music too; forward march brothers and sisters. Troop on, and shine your light onto the darkness!”
In a music industry often dominated by hollow pretension, Dexter Krenal stands as a refreshing reminder that true creativity and authenticity can still thrive. As he continues to push boundaries and defy expectations, Krenal’s unwavering passion and vision will undoubtedly continue to resonate with those seeking a more genuine musical experience.
Photo credits: The photographs are from the artist’s archive.
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