London-based singer-songwriter Dean Longden returns with his deeply personal new EP Still, It Grows, a project shaped by vulnerability, reflection, and emotional growth. Built from real-life experiences and crafted initially in the intimacy of his bedroom before being refined at the iconic Roundhouse in Camden, the EP captures a journey through pain, healing, and self-discovery.
Across the project, Dean transforms moments of heartbreak, loss, and uncertainty into honest, immersive songwriting that feels both personal and universally relatable. With standout tracks like “Cleansed” and “He Loves,” Still, It Grows stands as a powerful reflection of an artist learning, evolving, and finding light through difficult times.
In this conversation, Dean opens up about the meaning behind the EP, his creative process, live performances, influences, and what’s next for him as an artist on the rise.
Congrats on your new EP Still, It Grows. First of all, who is Dean Longden?
DL: Thank you, I appreciate that. Dean Longden is someone who’s still figuring life out, but luckily makes music about it along the way. I’m a singer-songwriter from London and most of what I write comes from real experiences — the good bits, the rough bits, and all the confusion in between. I’ve always found music easier than trying to explain myself normally, so songs have become my way of making sense of things. I’m also someone who loves performing live, connecting with people, and giving everything I’ve got on stage.
The title Still, It Grows feels very symbolic. What does it represent to you personally?
DL: To me, it represents myself still growing despite everything that’s been thrown at me. There were a lot of difficult moments during the time these songs were written, and at points it would’ve been easy to feel stuck in all of that.
But the title is a reminder that even through the hard times, I was still moving forward, still learning, and still becoming a stronger version of myself without always realising it at the time.
I think growth is often seen as this big dramatic change, but sometimes it’s much quieter than that. Sometimes it’s just surviving something, getting back up, and continuing on. That’s what Still, It Grows means to me.
This EP took over a year to complete. How did your perspective on the songs evolve during that time?
DL: My perspective on the songs changed a lot over that time. At the beginning of recording the EP, I was in quite a low place, so a lot of the songs came from pain, confusion, and trying to make sense of everything.
But by the end of the process, I felt like I’d changed alongside them. I was in a much better place mentally, and the songs almost felt like healed versions of themselves too. What started as songs written from a hole ended up sounding like songs that had climbed out of one.
Strangely, it felt like writing and recording them helped draw a lot of the bad parts out of me. By the time the EP was finished, it wasn’t just the songs that had grown — I had as well.
Which song on the project holds the strongest memory or moment for you personally?
DL: I’d definitely say “Cleansed”. That song holds the strongest memory for me because it was really the starting point for everything that followed. I recorded the original takes and demos by myself before it was later developed further, so it always feels very personal to me.
It was the song that first made me feel inspired to properly write an EP, and it gave me a sense of direction at a time when I really needed one. More than that, it’s probably the song on the project that I connect with most emotionally.
It means a lot to me because without that song, I’m not sure the EP would have happened in the same way.
You’ve already performed at O2 Academy Islington and are building a strong live presence. How important is live performance to your artistic identity?
DL: Live performance is incredibly important to my artistic identity. As much as I love writing and recording, I think the most powerful way people can truly feel the songs is in person. There’s something different about sharing that moment live — people can connect with the music, the lyrics, and with me on a much more personal level.
It’s also where people get to see me doing what I love most. Being on stage brings a different energy out of me, and I always want to give everything I’ve got when I perform.
More than anything, I hope people leave having felt something real and with a moment that stays with them long after the show has finished.
Compared to your previous releases, how does Still, It Grows reflect your growth as an artist?
DL: I think the growth is quite clear in both the sound and the writing. The overall quality and production has improved a lot compared to my earlier releases, which has helped bring the songs to life in a bigger way.
But more importantly, it feels a lot more personal. I was more open with what I was writing about and didn’t really hold anything back, which makes the songs feel more honest and direct.
I think this EP shows a step forward not just in how the music sounds, but in how comfortable I’ve become with expressing myself through it.
For listeners going through difficult moments, what do you hope they take away from this EP?
DL: I hope they can take some form of comfort from it, even if it’s just a small feeling. If someone’s going through a difficult moment, I’d want them to listen and feel a bit less alone in whatever they’re dealing with.
A lot of these songs came from times where I felt quite isolated, so the idea that someone else could hear them and relate in their own way means a lot to me. It doesn’t have to be exactly how I intended the song to be understood either — I think the best thing about music is that people can take their own meaning from it and apply it to their own lives.
More than anything, I hope it makes people feel understood. Like what they’re feeling is valid, and that they’re not the only one going through it. And even if it doesn’t fix anything, maybe it can at least sit with them for a while and make things feel a little lighter.
If you had to describe Still, It Grows in one sentence to someone who hasn’t heard it yet, what would you say?
DL: Still, It Grows” is what it sounds like trying to pull yourself out of a bad place, and finding a bit of hope along the way
Which song do you think listeners will connect with the most, and why?
DL: I think lyrically, probably “He Loves” or “Cleansed”. Both of those songs touch on things a lot of people have experienced in some form, whether it’s loss, letting go, or trying to make sense of certain emotions.
Each song on the EP has its own little story and meaning behind it, but those two in particular feel quite universal in what they’re saying. I think people can take them and relate them to their own situations in their own way, which is always the most important thing for me.
At the end of the day, I think connection comes from honesty, and those songs are probably the most open and direct in that sense.
Who or what are some of your biggest musical influences?
DL: At the moment, a lot of my influences come from Declan McKenna. He’s been someone I’ve looked up to since I first started making music, and I really like how he’s never been afraid to explore different sounds and evolve with each project.
I also take a lot of inspiration from artists like Hudson Freeman, Spacey Jane, and Catfish and the Bottlemen. I think I’m drawn to music that feels honest but still has energy to it — something you can feel emotionally but also connect with live in a big room.
I guess I’m inspired by artists who don’t stick to just one lane, but still keep a strong sense of identity in what they do.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would be your dream collaboration?
DL: I think my dream collaboration would be Archy Marshall (King Krule). He was one of the first artists who really inspired me to start making music in the first place. I remember when my music taste was shifting from more mainstream radio stuff to indie. He was one of the first artists I properly got into, and it kind of opened up a whole new world for me.
Another artist I’d love to work with is Hudson Freeman. I mentioned him before as an influence, but his musical ability is incredible and really inspiring to me. I feel like he has a really strong creative instinct, and it would be amazing to bounce ideas off someone like that in a studio setting.
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects, shows, or tours we should look out for?
DL: I’ve got a few more gigs lined up across the UK, and I’m really looking forward to my first festival in July. It feels like a big step for me live-wise, especially getting to take the songs out of London and see how they land in different places.
After that, I’m planning on getting back into writing and recording a lot more music. I’ve also been thinking about starting a separate project that leans more into a folk / alt-rock direction, almost like a different creative outlet alongside what I’m doing as a solo artist.
I’ll also be releasing a few more unreleased songs from my solo project, too, so there’s a lot in the pipeline — I’m just excited to keep building and see where it all goes next.
Message to Fans and readers?
DL: Just a massive thank you to everyone who’s been listening, coming to shows, streaming the music, or even just sharing it with someone else. It genuinely means more than I can properly put into words.
This EP came from a pretty personal place, so to see people connect with it in their own way has been amazing. That’s always been the main goal for me with music — just to make something that might help someone else in some way, even if it’s small.
We’re only just getting started, and I’m really excited for what’s next. Hope to see you at a show soon
With Still, It Grows, Dean Longden delivers more than just an EP; he offers a raw and honest snapshot of personal growth in real time. From its emotional writing process to its heartfelt themes of healing and resilience, the project highlights an artist unafraid to confront his experiences and turn them into something meaningful.
As Dean continues to expand his sound, explore new creative directions, and build a growing live presence across the UK, one thing remains clear: his music is rooted in honesty, connection, and emotional truth.
