“DRUG DEALER” By Dmitri Zouchinski

Dmitri “Dima” Zouchinski goes back to his roots with the 90s grunge-inspired song “Drug Dealer,” which has now been released on all major platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer. Zouchinski tells a story filled with experience in a cathartic and gritty way that has now become a part of his identity. “Drug Dealer” tries to relive and bring forth the modern grunge Zouchinski embodies with his relentless attitude, deeply emotional voice, and chaotic instrument mix.

Zouchinski builds the energy of the song by adding a powerful bass line, which already pumps up the mood. The song indeed gives an unsettling and uneasy feeling at first, but Zouchinski manages to build the energy with powerful riffs on the guitar while combining it with hard-hitting percussion instruments to create that celebration of chaos, mixed with a spoken word style reminiscent of Nirvana’s 90s singer. With everything said, Zouchinski keeps it real, at times brutal. Each shout, each misplaced harmony, echoes with truth.

“Drug Dealer” is an emotionally charged song rooted in personal trauma that emerged from a confronting ordeal with a dealer. Zouchinski does not shy away from the discomforting currents of chaos; instead, he dives headfirst into the aftermath. The verses resemble a blend of bitter acceptance and sorrowful spoken word, which culminates in a frenzied chorus that crashes with the intensity of anger and betrayal. In the clash of telling and sonic violence is where “Drug Dealer” flourishes best; it is deeply immersive and overwhelming at the same time, allowing listeners to hold onto remnants of the song long after its final note.

The production is very striking. Within the genre’s lo-fi, pride-filled, DIY roots, chaos reigns supreme, spray paint imagery, but there is clear intent obscured within the noise. The rhythm shuffles and swings, providing the track with some strut. A psychedelic pause right in the middle grants the ears some contemplation before the final, fury-filled chorus bursts the door down again. Striking a balance between the swagger of a lo-fi garage band and meticulous studio artistry is where Zouchinski differentiates himself; this is what sets him apart from many of his contemporaries.

“Drug Dealer” resonates with my inner guitarist, considering how deeply it embraces the guitar’s emotional spectrum. The guitar, with its grungy crunches and swirling feedback, captures the essence of the turmoil encapsulated in the lyrics. The complementary outro, hypnotic in its fuzz and reverb, welcomes listeners into a spiraling descent that reflects the emotional unraveling within the song. The very track that kept its source material unflinchingly raw caps itself in an outro so fitting, it’s astounding.

Contrary to the over-polished pop world we live in, Zouchinski’s “Drug Dealer” comes with an electrifying punch. The past is indeed scarred and oft-told, yet Zouchinski emboldens it in “Drug Dealer,” almost reclaiming it. This is grunge in all its intended glory: powerful, passionate, and profoundly intimate. Instead of describing the experience, “Drug Dealer” single-handedly illustrates the unrestrained limb and duality of expression we so desperately long for. And in light of future releases, Zouchinski seems to aim not to revisit but rather to redefine who we perceive the grunge era as.