Dale Jr. - "The Great Mistake"

“How long can you do this? How long will you keep selling your soul?” It’s a question you've probably asked yourself many times. Well, maybe not exactly in that phrasing, but it’s one of those existential questions that many of us in the throes of late-stage capitalism ask ourselves. DJ O’Loane, who performs under the moniker Dale Jr., seems to pose the question to himself and those around him on “The Great Mistake,” one of the standout tracks from his new record, Telenovela. The answer to his query (at least as Dale sees it) is one of optimism and resilience.

O’Loane contrasts the frustrations described in the opening verse (and those that follow) with a bit of a rallying cry/pick me up in the chorus, singing “Nobody could deny you what you’re after. You’re the master of whatever you could manifest. And if you throw that away, you fail the test.” The light and airy-sounding track is flush with warm guitar tones to match its uplifting message. O’Loane injects micro-doses of sunshine in the form of brisk, meandering riffs that he peppers across “The Great Mistake.” If you need a little nudge to help you move, the song’s combination of sepia-toned sonics and comforting messaging is sure to get you over the hump.

Stream the track below!

“The Great Mistake” appears on Dale Jr.’s brand new album, Telenovela. You can purchase Telenovela on limited edition cassette via Bandcamp. The album is also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with Dale Jr. by following them on Instagram.

Dale Jr. is performing live tomorrow night (Fri. 5/19) at Gold Sounds in Bushwick. They’ll be performing alongside Hot Tea, Hit, and DJs Jonesin’ For Cookies. Get your tickets now via Dice.FM.