ArtistDirect News
UCLA Student Dea Unveils Shoegaze EP SeeYouSoon After Two Years of Production
Dice Tam—known on the record‑label circuit as Dea—released his debut EP SeeYouSoon in March 2026, marking the first time the second‑year UCLA music‑industry major stepped into the public eye as a recording artist. The six‑track collection emerged from almost two years of meticulous crafting, a period that saw Dea turn Polaroid snapshots taken since his sophomore year of high school into the EP’s striking artwork and single covers.
From the outset, Dea approached SeeYouSoon as a single, cohesive story. He began by writing a series of instrumental pieces, and, according to him, "the more I wrote, the more the concept formed in my mind." The result is a cinematic soundscape that blends obscured vocals, melancholic instrumentation, and purposeful lyricism—elements that echo the shoegaze tradition of prioritizing atmosphere and texture over overt hooks.
One of the EP’s standout tracks, "Carla," features a collaboration with fellow UCLA student Nora Weatherfield. Weatherfield explained that the song was conceived as a narrative, while Dea’s contribution—"the spooky instrumentals"—was inspired by the view outside his Airbnb window in Amsterdam. She noted that the partnership "tied it together" with the EP’s overarching narrative.
Dea’s production process was exhaustive. He rewrote most tracks multiple times, with "StaringContest" undergoing eight revisions before reaching its final form. Eva Kroz, a rising second‑year cognitive science and music‑industry student, highlighted Dea’s persistence: "That’s what distinguishes him as a person who’s able to bring his visions to life." Kroz also pointed to Dea’s background as a producer at an Oakland record label during high school, which gave him a "production‑first" approach that remains evident in his alternative‑rock songs.
The EP’s release coincided with Dea’s first live performance at UCLA’s "Concerts on the Hill" in spring 2026. With only two days’ notice, he assembled a group of instrumentalists to translate his studio‑heavy sound to the stage. He described the experience as validating and said it gave him confidence that he could deliver his music in one take. Kroz, who attended the show, praised Dea’s calm stage presence and noted that his jitters did not interfere with his meticulous musical habits.
Looking ahead, Dea has expressed interest in performing at Bay Area venues such as Brick & Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco. He is also working on a new EP that will explore the thoughts people have alone after spending time with others. "As I started making the project, it became my whole life, and I fell in love with the process," he said.
SeeYouSoon represents Dea’s transition from high‑school producer to college‑level recording artist, blending shoegaze aesthetics with a production‑centric mindset rooted in Oakland’s hip‑hop scene. The EP’s narrative structure, collaborative elements, and rigorous production process signal a thoughtful entry into the genre, while his upcoming live plans and new project suggest a continued trajectory of artistic development.
From the outset, Dea approached SeeYouSoon as a single, cohesive story. He began by writing a series of instrumental pieces, and, according to him, "the more I wrote, the more the concept formed in my mind." The result is a cinematic soundscape that blends obscured vocals, melancholic instrumentation, and purposeful lyricism—elements that echo the shoegaze tradition of prioritizing atmosphere and texture over overt hooks.
One of the EP’s standout tracks, "Carla," features a collaboration with fellow UCLA student Nora Weatherfield. Weatherfield explained that the song was conceived as a narrative, while Dea’s contribution—"the spooky instrumentals"—was inspired by the view outside his Airbnb window in Amsterdam. She noted that the partnership "tied it together" with the EP’s overarching narrative.
Dea’s production process was exhaustive. He rewrote most tracks multiple times, with "StaringContest" undergoing eight revisions before reaching its final form. Eva Kroz, a rising second‑year cognitive science and music‑industry student, highlighted Dea’s persistence: "That’s what distinguishes him as a person who’s able to bring his visions to life." Kroz also pointed to Dea’s background as a producer at an Oakland record label during high school, which gave him a "production‑first" approach that remains evident in his alternative‑rock songs.
The EP’s release coincided with Dea’s first live performance at UCLA’s "Concerts on the Hill" in spring 2026. With only two days’ notice, he assembled a group of instrumentalists to translate his studio‑heavy sound to the stage. He described the experience as validating and said it gave him confidence that he could deliver his music in one take. Kroz, who attended the show, praised Dea’s calm stage presence and noted that his jitters did not interfere with his meticulous musical habits.
Looking ahead, Dea has expressed interest in performing at Bay Area venues such as Brick & Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco. He is also working on a new EP that will explore the thoughts people have alone after spending time with others. "As I started making the project, it became my whole life, and I fell in love with the process," he said.
SeeYouSoon represents Dea’s transition from high‑school producer to college‑level recording artist, blending shoegaze aesthetics with a production‑centric mindset rooted in Oakland’s hip‑hop scene. The EP’s narrative structure, collaborative elements, and rigorous production process signal a thoughtful entry into the genre, while his upcoming live plans and new project suggest a continued trajectory of artistic development.