SPILL FEATURE: FIGURING IT ALL OUT – A CONVERSATION WITH DYING IN DESIGNER (BOBBY O’BRIEN)

FIGURING IT ALL OUT

A CONVERSATION WITH DYING IN DESIGNER (BOBBY O’BRIEN)

Growing up on the south side of Chicago imbues an artist with a distinctive, raw energy that reflects the struggles and vibrancy of the community. For solo alternative metal artist dying in designer, this authentic aesthetic permeates not only his music but also his presentation as an artist. The gritty undertones of his upbringing manifest in powerful, emotive lyrics and dynamic soundscapes, creating a compelling fusion of personal expression and musical artistry that resonates deeply with his audience. His presence is a bold statement, echoing the resilience and creativity that thrive in the heart of the city. However, for vocalist Bobby O’Brien, diving into such raw emotions has been both cathartic, and at the same time, some of the most painful years the artist has experienced in his life. Yet, despite the journey, his connection to his roots and his influences has not only given him a musical career, but a lifeline.

“Yeah, definitely. So, being from Chicago, I think that plays a factor in a lot of it. I’ve been to a lot of places in the world, and Chicago is its own kind of thing, the city, the music scene, the people here, and, yeah, like the kind of grittiness of it all. A lot of music has come out of here. You think of bands like, you know, Smashing Pumpkins, or like you got people like, Chance The Rapper, Chief Keef, or Disturbed, there’s just something different about Chicago. I guess that’s kind of how we express ourselves, there’s no like glam and glory here like in LA or New York, you know what I mean. Even like Rise Against, people love them so much because they’re just so authentic, and they tell their stories, and there’s just no BS there. We just kind of get to the point,” says O’Brien. “And something about the rock culture, I guess, in this space, it’s more expressive and vulnerable. But it’s also, you know, it’s still a major city. Technically, a concrete jungle, in a sense. I mean, there’s so much going on, and I think because of that, it created cultures in these music scenes for people to come out and feel stuff. But yeah, being here, I think, shaped my sound, in a sense, you know, the earlier stuff, a lot of the trap drums and stuff like Chief Keef, he’s like one of the best in that, you know, space who came up and started the whole wave. So, I think that’s where the early influence comes from, and just having a tougher upbringing. Playing in hardcore bands and playing VFW and basement shows and things like that, I think helped shape, you know, a different type of sound. My upbringing and going through a lot of hardships have helped me become extremely vulnerable. So, I think it’s just more second nature for us, as opposed to trying to be cool, or, you know, trying to do shit that’s trendy. Because, you know, when you think of a lot of the bands that come out of Chicago, it changed metal. And it’s like, pretty badass.”

Since “Nobody’s Happy” parts one and two, dying in designer has solidified a glitchy, aggressive style that blends pop punk, emo, rap, and trap, all while incorporating a healthy dose of nostalgia from bands like Blink-182 and Silverstein. This creates a sound that not only resembles a chaotic fever dream of the early 2000s but also serves as a source of catharsis, tapping into the lawlessness and corrupt nature of pain. While 2018 was a period of immense pain and dark thoughts for the artist, dying in designer has taken every ounce of that pain and survival to create music that pulls listeners back into this space, time and again. The result of that journey is executed on his latest upcoming album, LimeWire. While LimeWire is coming from a place of survival this time around, dying in designer has never been louder, darker, transparent, and deeply personal. LimeWire draws a lot from personal struggle and these vulnerable spaces that creep through when one is on the verge of psychological collapse.

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‘So growing up, I played in hardcore bands, and the basement shows and the VFW and the like, that was us back in the day, so a lot of the heavier sound just came second nature. That’s the first style of music I played outside of, like, cover stuff with kids from, you know, school, right? I’ve also been going through EMDR therapy. It’s stuff you suppress to and try to get through, and weirdly, you’re looking at a green light, and it’s going back and forth, and you’re reliving moments: trauma, pain, and stuff,” admits O’Brien. When I was a kid, like my room was in the basement, and I had all these posters on the wall, and I had the family desktop. I had all my favorite bands, but I would always download music illegally, as most of us did, you know, haha. I will admit this, come sue me if you want,” he jokes. I think we’ve all done it. But I was down there and I was downloading a bunch of music, and, you know, you discover so much cool stuff that way. I was using LimeWire, I was young and messing my family’s desktop up. Burning it on CDs, giving it to friends, giving it to, you know, cousins, things like that. And it was a way for me to, you know, escape like the hard shit going on in my life. So that sound is very raw and vulnerable. That’s where this sonic space of glitchiness and all the interesting shit that you’re hearing on this new album comes from. It all comes from how I felt then. Reliving it now as an adult who’s been through, you know, life and things like that, it’s kind of just putting it on paper, putting it into songs, and then, you know, building out production to make it really give you that feeling. It’s all about a feeling of nostalgia, yet still modern at the same time. I think with it being a bit more aggressive, facing the trauma and demons and the challenges that I’ve suppressed for so long, there’s a source of, like, empowerment, conquering, getting over that, and just becoming a better person, and learning and growing. It’s like being in the gym, you know what I mean? Like the sound of music, it just feels big, strong, and powerful. It used to feel like, ‘Hey, I’m sadder than the listener.’ Now it feels like, ‘Hey, we’re getting through this together.’ I’m kind of a therapist, in a sense, throughout this stuff, and talking through stuff that so many people have been through. But there is this feeling that you’re gonna get through it. I got through it, so we’re getting through this together. So, I think that’s kind of how the sound was shaped for this album. I’m really, really excited for the album, the world’s gonna hear it and understand, when it’s a full body. Honestly, it’s perfect front to back. I’m excited about it all.

As LimeWire approaches its final chapter, with its release just two months away, dying in designer is fervently immersed in the creative process of crafting a new album. This relentless artist embodies the spirit of innovation, consistently seeking inspiration from life and the transformative experiences that surround him. With each note and lyric, his metamorphosis of past struggles and pain has created powerful narratives, ready to captivate and change the world as a rejuvenated individual. His journey is one of resilience and artistry, and he stands poised to share a fresh perspective that reflects his growth and renewed vision.

“I think the thing is, when you look at your place in life and stuff, as you get older and stuff, you’re more mature. A lot of mental health stuff in Nobody’s Happy was about relationship stuff, feeling hopeless and doubt about yourself, you know what I mean, and I guess, feeling kind of lost, in a sense. I think a lot of people could relate to that. I think the album did so well because I was in that place of life, now I’m like, no problem’s too big anymore. I can figure it out,” smiles O’Brien. “I have outlets, you know, luckily: music, the gym, or spending quality time with people who love me instead of feeling so alone all the time. I think at the time, I was young, I was like, ‘Damn, you know the world’s scary!’ Now I’m not scared of the world. It’s like, ‘All right, come on, bring on more. I can take it!’ You know what I mean? Like, give it to me. God puts the most on his strongest soldier. So, this is me embracing that. It’s like, nothing can stop me, because I’m gonna figure it out, and I’ll be alright in the end.”

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Photo Credit: Alex Zarek