The enigmatic polymath Jean Dawson is undeniably one of today’s most essential artists with a one-a-kind sound that is deeply unbound and not beholden to a specific genre. Equal parts musician and visual artist, the young artist who is both Mexican and Black was raised in Tijuana and San Diego near the border. His love for music was ignited during his daily five-hour treks across the border to attend school in the US. He came up listening to the rock and rap that his parents loved, in addition to the Latin sounds that lined his home and everything in between that lined his youth in America.
His singular sound and impact on the current music landscape have caught the attention of notable artists such as SZA, A$AP Rocky, Earl Sweatshirt, Miguel, Isaiah Rashad, and Mac DeMarco, all of whom have collaborated with Jean. He is also signed by Rick Rubin for publishing via American Recordings.
A lyrical Loki with a Melvins tattoo, flashing a grill with a rosary, while referring to himself as "Black Bjork" or "Bowie with a lil Kobe," Jean represents more than a genreless musical movement. He's a leader of a generation straddling cultures and worlds, without easy categorization or classification. His music serves as a score for the life-and-times of kids like him (us). He’s already received critical acclaim from W Magazine, The Needle Drop, NPR, i-D, The Fader, Paper Magazine, Pigeons & Planes, NME, MTV News, Remezcla, Hypebeast, Essence, Nylon, GRAMMY and performed alongside Lil Yatchy and Interpol.
Jean’s art provides a space that is both open and fluid, allowing listeners to exist sans labels, binaries, and expectations, ultimately finding belonging for many, which has led to a global cult following.
Raised by a single working class Mexican mother, listening to rock and rap alongside the Latin sounds enveloping him, Jean Dawson began recording and performing at the age of 14, inspired by Nirvana, Mike Jones, Beach Fossils, Kanye West, The Smiths, Outkast, N.E.R.D. and 50 Cent alike. Attending college for directorial studies, Jean leaned further into art and exploration in his work, challenging the notions of hyper-masculinity underpinning his Mexican and Black cultures. His 2019 EP 'Bad Sports' discussed these concepts, touching on intimacy, discussing depression and heavily pushing back against social norms.
An extremely ambitious album for an exquisitely anxious era, Jean's 2020 debut album 'Pixel Bath' pilots listeners to wild and dizzying heights, crafting a sonic dreamscape whose singles, "Bruiseboy," "Power Freaks," "Clear Bones" and "Starface*" have, without exaggeration, already inspired a generation of young artists and musicians. On 'Pixel Bath,' Jean Dawson melds aggression and emotion into a blistering score for our modern era, delivering diabolically catchy hooks with loving care, viciously poignant, cradled in digital melancholy. Each song is awash in guitars and synths, a gut-punch with a digital flourish, while Jean spits euphoric fractals, composed with the intention of creating "soundtrack for a black coming-of-age film that never ends." On 'Pixel Bath,' expect thugged-out punk anthems, love songs and anti-cop ballads, towering, soaring, crashing infernos from the experimental pop titan Jean Dawson.
In 2022, Jean Dawson independently released one of the year’s most critically acclaimed and groundbreaking albums, ‘CHAOS NOW*’. The album debuted in the top 10 on both Spotify and Apple charts, is currently charting on radio, has amassed millions of streams, and received monumental praise from press in the US, UK, Latin America, and beyond. The release was followed by a completely sold out debut headlining +30 date tour around the United States. Additionally, the project was lauded by Billboard, Variety, The Fader, BET, Clash Magazine, Teen Vogue, Entertainment Tonight and many others. The year also included an earth-shattering debut performance from Jean at the Coachella Music Festival of whichVariety crowned one of the festival’s standout artists.
Jean Dawson made his explosive return in 2023 with a series of titillating new songs helmed by a striking trilogy that showcased his unparalleled sonic versatility. The first installment, “XCAPE”, PT. 1 JEAN DAWSON AS “PHOENIX” introduced the series which is deeply conceptual while profoundly confessional and reveals the various congruent and juxtaposing facets that make up the multifaceted visionary and often mystifying Jean Dawson - both the artist and the human. Sonically, the new body of work will extend into new realms that will not be linear in sound, serving as a canvas for Jean’s exploration.
In 2023, Jean released one of his most explosive collaborations yet with his song “NO SZNS” featuring the global pop artist SZA. It received large critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Hypebeast, Alternative Press, Wonderland, Flood Magazine, Uproxx and many more. The release catapulted Jean into a new league of artists that is both revered as a visionary genius but also a major force in the larger music arena with a commercial sensibility.
In 2024, Jean made a deeper entry into the Latin music scene with his first full-length Spanish language track “Divino Desmadre” that was part of his Boohoo project. Along with tracks “New Age Crisis” and “Taste Like Metal”.
Most recently, Jean made his Mexico City debut at the Ceremonia Music Festival where he delivered an electrifying set to thousands of attendees. Jean was also a part of celebrated projects with Trent Reznor and Talking heads earlier in 2024. Additionally, Jean wrote an original track for the horror film, Abigail, which also featured his track “3 Heads.”
