On My Radar: Dexter and the Moonrocks – “Freakin’ Out”

Sometimes On My Radar is about introducing you to an artist you’ve never heard of. Other times, it’s about looking at a song that’s already getting attention and asking, “Why does this work so well?”

That’s what caught my attention about this week’s pick: Dexter and the Moonrocks‘ “Freakin’ Out.”

If you’ve heard the song, you already know it doesn’t exactly sound like your typical pop-radio record. Dexter and the Moonrocks come from the world of alternative rock, with a sound they’ve described as “Western space grunge”—a mix of rock, country and grunge influences.

And yet, somehow, “Freakin’ Out” has crossed over into the mainstream in a pretty big way. The song became the band’s first Billboard Hot 100 entry, eventually reaching the Top 40.

That’s what makes this one interesting to me.

Pop music has never really been just one sound, and right now we’re hearing more artists pull from different genres and find audiences outside of the lane you’d expect them to be in. “Freakin’ Out” is a great example: big guitars, alternative-rock energy and a chorus that somehow feels right at home next to the pop records we’re playing.

It’s not necessarily a song that needs help getting recognized. I just think it’s interesting.

And that’s exactly why Dexter and the Moonrocks are On My Radar.