Dempsey

Born Geoff McIntire in California, USA, the London, England-based artist adopted his grandfather’s surname as Dempsey for his recording alias. Having grown up on the West Coast, McIntire first established himself across the American music centers of Texas, New York City and Tennessee prior to settling in London. Issued in June 2002 on Output Recordings, his self-titled debut album reflected a wide array of influences, particularly Bob Dylan and Beck. The record began with the wryly named track ‘ODB On The Run’, which recounts the fugitive exploits of Wu-Tang Clan maverick Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Split across two discs, the project featured Sunset as its opening half; produced and mixed by Kieran Hebden of Four Tet and Fridge, that portion delivered a lysergic acid-rock atmosphere suited to McIntire’s unhurried vocal style. Its counterpart, Sunrise, was shaped by Output founder Trevor Jackson into a more expansive psychedelic sound through layered electronic textures. To promote the album, Dempsey joined the Libertines for their UK dates and accompanied Trash Palace across Europe, thereby introducing his introspective sound to fresh listeners.