Electronic Press Kit
Deron Daum blends dark, cinematic production with catchy, danceable hooks. With 700k+ Spotify streams and placements on 4,000+ playlists, his music has found a worldwide audience. Though you won’t find Deron dancing on Tik-Tok, he is known for hiding Tolkien inspired puzzles inside his songs. He’s currently releasing a murder-mystery concept album through 2026.
Who Is Reptyle Brainz? - press release
Deron Daum Unveils New Single "Animals (Night 2: Vinnie)” from Concept Album Who Is Reptyle Brainz?
A dark and gripping character-driven track explores addiction, manipulation, and self-destruction through the eyes of a reluctant witness.
Seattle, WA – Singer-songwriter and storyteller Deron Daum continues to expand the mysterious and immersive world of his concept album Who Is Reptyle Brainz? with the release of his 6th single, "Animals (Night 2: Vinnie)” . Blending alternative rock with a subtle hip-hop influence reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots, the track introduces listeners to two new characters whose lives become entangled in the destructive orbit of a troubled friend.
"Animals" marks the debut of Vinnie O'Brien and Tom Tanner, longtime companions of recurring character Richard Greaves. As Richard wrestles with mounting anxiety, he turns to alcohol and drugs in search of relief, drawing Vinnie and Tom deeper into his increasingly reckless lifestyle. Told from Vinnie's perspective, the song captures the painful realization that Richard's behavior is becoming predatory, forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths about loyalty, friendship, and personal responsibility.
Driven by rhythmic verses, atmospheric production, and emotionally charged storytelling, "Animals" occupies a unique space between alternative rock and modern hip-hop. The track's infectious energy contrasts sharply with its unsettling narrative, creating a compelling listening experience that mirrors the chaos unfolding within its characters' lives.
"Animals" serves as another chapter in the unfolding story of Who Is Reptyle Brainz?, an ambitious album that blends music and narrative to explore complex human behavior, psychological struggles, and the consequences of destructive choices. Through vivid characters and interconnected storylines, Deron Daum invites listeners into a world where personal demons often wear familiar faces.
The song's title reflects the primal instincts and unchecked impulses that emerge as Richard's addiction intensifies, while Vinnie's growing awareness provides the emotional core of the track. As the story unfolds, listeners are left questioning where the line exists between compassion and enabling, and how far friendship can be stretched before it breaks.
With "Animals," Deron Daum delivers a powerful and thought-provoking addition to Who Is Reptyle Brainz?, further establishing his ability to merge cinematic storytelling with contemporary musical influences. Deron is releasing a new single every 2 weeks.
"Animals" is available now on all major streaming platforms.
Press
Hypehub reviews “Animals (Night 2: Vinnie)”
UpHere Magazine reviews “Animals (Night 2: Vinnie)”
Zillions reviews "Parallel Lies (Day 1: Emma)
UpHere Magazine reviews “NatureNurture”
Lyrical Odyssey reviews “NatureNurture”
Phonograph Me reviews “You and I Were Always Meant to Be”
Lyricselect reviews “Things I Don't Want to Know”
Buzz Slayers reviews Password:
review from Dulaxi of "Parallel Lies (Day 1: Emma)"
The track “Parallel Lines (Day 1: Emma)” delivers a tightly controlled noir-inspired narrative driven primarily through its vocal performance and thematic construction. The vocals are delivered in an understated, conversational tone that reflects the psychological weight of a detective operating within a murder investigation, where every spoken detail carries investigative importance rather than emotional excess. This vocal approach establishes a grounded, observational presence, placing emphasis on careful interpretation of events rather than dramatic expression. Thematically, the song centers on the conflict between truth and deception, constructing a narrative world where suspects consistently present conflicting accounts and constructed alibis to obscure reality. A detective stands at the center of this tension, processing layered testimonies while navigating a space defined by moral decay, secrecy, and psychological manipulation. The message of the track is anchored in the difficulty of uncovering truth when every interaction is filtered through self-preservation, highlighting a world where honesty is fragmented and clarity becomes increasingly difficult to obtain.
The structure of “Parallel Lines (Day 1: Emma)” is built on a deliberately restrained, cinematic production framework that reinforces its investigative tone. The instrumentation is minimal yet immersive, relying heavily on deep, resonant bass movement as the primary structural force, while atmospheric synth layers create a cold, suspended sonic environment that mirrors the emotional detachment of a crime scene examination. Rhythmic elements are sparse and pulse-like, functioning as tension markers that guide the narrative pacing without disrupting its controlled intensity. The absence of traditional melodic density places full emphasis on texture and spatial depth, with dampened percussive accents and subtle electronic swells shaping the feeling of controlled pressure throughout the track. The mixing design prioritizes low-end weight and spatial clarity, allowing the soundscape to feel enclosed and investigative, reinforcing the psychological tension embedded in the storyline while maintaining a consistent noir cinematic atmosphere.
On the album Password:
“I'm sure you could find the time to listen to a full record and if you do this is one of the ones that you should start with.”
“Catchy, easygoing, and fun to vibe too. The song is brimming with nice pop textures fused with indietronica hooks. The progression on chorus recalls the likes of Coldplay and Phoenix, but with subtle country sensibilities.”
— UNXIGNED
Bio
Blending catchy hooks with dark, powerful instrumentation, Deron Daum makes music that feels like a thriller you can dance to. With over 700,000 Spotify streams, 180,000+ listeners, and appearances on 4,000+ playlists, his songs have quietly infiltrated headphones across the globe.
Deron grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, starting piano at age 6. At 14 he began writing songs and was in several bands playing keyboards and bass guitar. In 1997 he moved to Seattle and formed the band Bendt which had a #1 song on MP3.com. He worked at Microsoft for 23 years before turning his attention to music full time.
Deron released his first solo album in 2021, an ambitious cocktail of alternative, electronic and art rock. When the world responded with a polite shrug, he did the only reasonable thing: disappeared for a year to rethink everything. The result was a sharper, danceable Indie Pop sound, debuting with the single “Login:”, which still regularly sneaks into his top five Spotify tracks.
Deron’s 2nd album came out in October 2023 building on this indie-pop foundation with broad experimentation. The single “Reptyle Brainz (Enmity)” proved a success with over 125,000 streams on Spotify. In 2024, Daum released 5 singles and his 3rd album “Ondolindë” featuring a live band. In 2025, Daum released several singles including his first cover song, the 1970 classic “Question” by The Moody Blues.
Now Deron is once again mutating. His current project is a serially released murder-mystery concept album, rolling out throughout 2026. Built on the DNA of his two previous “Reptyle Brainz” tracks, the album leans heavily into dark, gritty, dancefloor-friendly chaos. Influences include Nine Inch Nails, Royal Blood, Rezz, and Twenty One Pilots.
When he’s not writing overtly dramatic songs, Deron works as a mixing and recording engineer at MagicMix Studio near Seattle. He is also a huge J.R.R. Tolkien fan and many of his songs are inspired by the stories of Arda. Naturally, he’s hidden puzzles inside some of them (“Login:” and “Password”) for fellow Tolkien nerds to solve.