Experimental musician Dean Roberts has died aged 49

Experimental composer and multi-instrumentalist Dean Roberts has died aged 49, his label Erstwhile has confirmed. His cause of death is currently unknown.

In a statement posted on Wednesday, August 14, Erstwhile confirmed that the New Zealand-born musician had passed away in his sleep on August 10 in Lisbon, Portugal.

“Devastating news to wake up to, RIP to my friend the very talented Dean Roberts,” reads the post, adding that his sister had relayed the news.

In light of his death, Erstwhile has now made Roberts’ 2020 record, ‘Not Fire’, available to stream for free. “Anyone who hasn’t heard it should check it,” they said. “It came out in March 2020 and got a bit lost amidst COVID quarantines.”

Dean Roberts’ career in music spanned more than 30 years, first as part of the experimental noise group Thela in the early ‘90s where he worked alongside Dion Workman and Rosy Parlane, together pioneering a new sound of rock.

After the group disbanded, Roberts took on solo projects and launched his own record label, Formacentric Disk, before joining the trio Autistic Daughters while living in Italy.

Roberts’ style combined electroacoustic elements with noise and prog rock. His other projects included releases under the name White Winged Moth, and several under his own name.

Tributes for the late composer and musician are pouring in. US composer and vocalist David Grubbs said in tribute: “Waking to the heartbreaking news that Dean Roberts has passed away. Just crushingly sad.”

“I can hear the song of his voice and the physicality of his mischievous, soulful laugh. RIP Dean, and sending love to all whose lives he touched.”

Read some more tributes below, and listen to Roberts’ 2020 record ‘Not Fire’ here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter.

Waking to the heartbreaking news that Dean Roberts has passed away. Just crushingly sad. I can hear the song of his voice and the physicality of his mischievous, soulful laugh. RIP Dean, and sending love to all whose lives he touched. pic.twitter.com/XRAE31SBtR

— David Grubbs (@blackfaurest) August" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/blackfaurest/status/1823693432... 14, 2024

Rest in Peace Dean Roberts pic.twitter.com/lOpLhvzLrH

— krankyltd (@krankyltd) August" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/krankyltd/status/1823736441140... 14, 2024

Dear Dean
I am going to deeply miss you.
Your way of transposing the world into song.
Your way of finding the hidden voices in the instrument you played.
Your smile & that laugh…always that laugh.
To future ballads in future places.
RIP Dean Roberts
Love
+l
pic by bryan spencer pic.twitter.com/8MysHs1AGp

— lawrence english (@room40speaks) August" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/room40speaks/status/1823639490... 14, 2024

RIP to Dean Roberts. His early work—in the group Thela, and then solo as White Winged Moth—left a lasting mark on me. Lonely and atmospheric and enveloping all at once https://t.co/7a1MfInG0o

— Philip Sherburne (@PhilipSherburne) August" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/PhilipSherburne/status/1823969... 15, 2024

rip dean roberts. one of my absolute favorite musicians and total hero/inspiration to me. this album, all cracked medias, not fire, and his run on kranky are some of my favorite music ever madehttps://t.co/XkTHzReROM

— more eaze (@more_eaze) August" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/more_eaze/status/1823717159169... 14, 2024