Following a string of acclaimed singles including ‘Fade Into Me’, ‘Bohemia’, ‘Afrodesia’, and his latest release ‘Weightless’, Belfast-born DJ, producer and Futurescope label boss Dee Montero officially unveils his second studio album, ‘Stay Fiction’, landing 1st May 2025.
STREAM ‘STAY FICTION’ HERE
A follow-up to his 2022 debut album ‘Artifacts’, the new LP sees Montero deepening the sonic and thematic vision of Futurescope. At the heart of ‘Stay Fiction’ is a poignant reflection on the digital age— identity, autonomy, and connection in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. The concept was born from a moment in 2023, just before his Robot Heart set in Oakland, when Montero heard a talk between OpenAI’s Sam Altman and a digital artist at The Loom.
“Their conversation sparked a thought that stayed with me: science fiction is no longer fiction – it’s becoming our reality. It reminded me of Neuromancer, the eighties sci-fi novel where artificial intelligence seamlessly intertwines with everyday life. That vision isn’t distant anymore; we’re living it,” Montero explains.
“It’s easy to get swept up in the rapid evolution of technology. Our devices, once tools for connection, have become the very distractions pulling us away from ourselves. A.I. is constantly learning, redesigning itself, analysing our behaviours, and quietly shaping the way we think and interact. It captures our data and reflects it back to us, blurring the line between autonomy and algorithm. ‘Stay Fiction’ is about resisting that pull to disconnect in order to reconnect, finding an escape route, a sanctuary beyond the noise, where we can rediscover our sense of self. In a world flirting with the metaverse matrix, this album is a reminder to stay grounded and stay human.”
Musically, ‘Stay Fiction’ is a cinematic and immersive journey through melodic house, electronica and ambient textures—both club-ready and emotionally resonant. Long-time fans will recognise Montero’s hallmark precision and depth, while new listeners will find an artist unafraid to explore the tension between man and machine, memory and future, fiction and fact. The perfect example of this can be found within the title track, where Montero contrasts warped, robotic vocals providing sinister warnings with sweeping synths and ever-evolving soundscapes, tumbling down a rabbit hole of sonics.
Standout singles ‘Fade Into Me’ and ‘Weightless’—featuring Elu on vocals—reveal Montero’s evolving melodic sensibility, weaving poignant lyrics through lush synthscapes. Elsewhere, previously released tracks ‘Afrodesia’ and ‘Bohemia’ explore warmer, groove-driven palettes, while unreleased cuts like ‘Mystica’, ‘Forget The Fear’ lean into the moody atmospheres and introspective narratives that shape the core of the album. Closing the record, Montero links with Laura Freedland on ‘Bridges’— a blooming journey through rich soundscapes that perfectly concludes the release while opening the door for what’s to come next from the label boss.
To mark the release, Dee Montero will host a special ‘Stay Fiction’ album party at Bergerac in San Francisco on 2nd May 2025, a nod to the city that played a pivotal role in the album’s inception.
A compelling artistic statement, ‘Stay Fiction’ expands on the retro-futurist world introduced in ‘Artifacts’, while carving out its own place in the modern electronic landscape and Montero’s ongoing journey. In a time when digital culture threatens to outpace our humanity, Montero’s latest work offers a timely reminder: to remain present, and to stay fiction.
Dee Montero ‘Stay Fiction’ LP drops via Futurescope on 1st May 2025.
Tracklist:
1) Beauty Analysis
2) Lost Souls
3) Fade Into Me feat. Elu
4) Mystica
5) Afrodesia
6) Weightless feat. Elu
7) Stay Fiction
8) Bohemia
9) Forget The Fear
10) Rituals
11) Bridges feat. Laura Freedland
Dee Montero
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