Dictator comprise Michael Campbell (vocals, keyboard, guitar), Zach Tarimo Goodhur (guitar), Joe Murty (bass) and Allan Ramsay (drums/percussion), four friends from West Lothian. Their name is partly a reference to the fact that Campbell, in his own words “runs a tight ship by writing all the songs”. They released their debut single, ‘Anthem for a Doomed Youth’ in 2019, the track inspired by a Wilfred Owen poem of the same name, Campbell’s favourite poet. The EP Rubiks Cube followed in 2022, and in January this year they released their second EP Middle of the Road.
The quartet then found themselves in New York in March, the only Scottish band to be at this year’s New Colossus festival on the city’s Lower East Side. They took the opportunity to record a rooftop cover of ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ with a stunning backdrop of the city at night. The Decibel Decoder found out more about the whole experience.
Please can you share your experience of playing at New Colossus festival in New York?
Surreal, chaotic and as cheesy as it sounds – a dream come true. The lineage of all our musical influences can be traced back to the city, particularly the Lower East Side where the festival is held, never in our tiny wee brains did we think our own music would take us to those same streets. Eternally grateful to the organisers of the festival for booking us and to the fans who came out to see us.
Any advise for bands from UK considering applying for 2026 edition?
Start saving now! Just be organised, on time and make the most of your time at the festival and in the city. Building a small fan base in the area definitely helps too.
Any exciting plans for the rest of 2025 we need to know about?
We’re just about to drop a remix EP, just in time for our summer festivals at Paris SuperSonic Block Party, London’s All Your Friends Festival, Glasgow’s TRNSMT and Derbyshires Ynot Festival. Hopefully we’ll be announcing a new single and some UK headline shows for the end of the year too!
The first track from the Middle of the Road Remix EP was dropped at the beginning of May. Macka, a DJ and Producer from Glasgow, remixed ‘Figure It Out‘. Next up was a remix by Irish, London-based band The Clockworks of ‘El Niño‘. The two bands met whilst they were both supporting The Reytons and have remained firm friends ever since.
Dictator are the first to admit they have a myriad of musical influences. Their label, Edinburgh’s Blackhall Records, describes their music as “eclectic indie-electro tunes” to be frank they cannot be put in one box. With more remixes on the way plus those festival appearances throughout the summer, one thing is sure, there will be plenty of opportunities for Dictator to get that Rubiks Cube puzzle solved!
For more information on Dictator please check their facebook and instagram.