19 May 15-21, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Texas Screamo Fort Worth student band Dead Butterflies survives off loaning and borrowing instruments. BY DIEGO HERNANDEZ D ead Butterflies fuse breakcore, brass and teenage angst into one of Texas screamo’s most streamed acts—before adult- hood even kicks in. Somewhere in Fort Worth, seven musi- cians in their late teens, some fresh out of high school and others about to graduate, are screaming into borrowed microphones and patching together synthesizers with thrifted cables. Their band, Dead Butterflies, is not old enough to rent a van without a parent’s sig- nature, but they have already surpassed some of the most prominent names in Texas screamo. As of May, they are drawing over 32,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. That is more than bulletsbetweentongues, a well-estab- lished Texas screamo group that Dead But- terflies recently opened in early March. However, the group does not measure their worth in numbers alone. For them, the point has always been the music, the community it fosters and their passion for the craft. “Seeing this band grow into what it is now is literally a childhood dream come true,” Mi- cah Zimmer, founder and vocalist, says. Dead Butterflies began in August 2023, when songwriter Micah Zimmer, now 18, discovered bands like Your Arms Are My Cocoon and felt inspired to experiment with a style known online as bedroom skramz. A blend of emotionally raw screamo and lo-fi production, bedroom skramz emerged from online DIY communities where artists recorded intense, often cathartic songs us- ing limited equipment in bedrooms, closets and dorm rooms. For Zimmer, the genre ini- tially seemed inaccessible and chaotic, but it became a challenge worth exploring. Zimmer’s passion for music began well before Dead Butterflies, shaped by years of electronic production and deep involvement in marching band. The spark that set every- thing in motion came when he first heard his high school band perform pep tunes. That path led him to trumpet, then guitar, and eventually the EDM software that pow- ered the first Dead Butterflies recordings. “I never had the funds to afford a studio or any fancy recording equipment,” Zimmer said. “I just said, ‘whatever’ and used the gear I had collected making EDM songs and used that to record everything.” The first EP was recorded in his room, di- rect into a Focusrite interface, without amps or reverb. Zimmer describes the sound as “awful,” but said it felt honest. A trickle of attention soon turned into a wave. Friends and fellow musicians ex- pressed interest and the solo project evolved into a full band. The current lineup includes Micah Zim- mer on vocals and songwriting, Stella Prewitt on trombone and vocals, Yair Guillen on bass, Josue Hernandez on drums and co-writing, Kai Lathpakdy on guitar, Jonathan Macias on guitar and Tyler Bautista on trombone and keyboard. The members’ ages range from 17 to 19. Nearly all seven members of Dead But- terflies received structured music education in jazz, marching band and orchestra. Five of them play brass instruments. Their rehearsals take place at Guillen’s house and feature an array of instruments, including guitars, trombones, trumpets and synthesizers. Hernandez, who once had am- bitions of performing at jazz festivals, now tracks blast beats from a laptop recording rig set up in his room. They have described their setup as make- shift. Much of their equipment is borrowed. “Dead Butterflies survives off of loans and borrowing,” Zimmer says. Despite these limitations, the band has continued to gain traction. Their music is re- corded using home setups and digital audio workstations like Ableton. The band writes collaboratively, often starting with riffs or looped samples. Their lyrics, written mostly by Zimmer, are introspective and emotional, reflective of the genre’s traditions. “I initially started Dead Butterflies as a way to aggressively get out my sadness,” Zimmer says. “It evolved into diving deeper into my personal life and letting myself open up to not only the audience but to myself.” The band’s music evolved into a platform for exploring themes of self-hatred, grief and healing. Zimmer noted that their recent work carries a more hopeful tone, with upbeat in- strumentals and lyrics that, though melan- cholic at first glance, ultimately convey a narrative of progress and moving forward. Dead Butterflies are managing academic responsibilities, the transition to adulthood and the increasing attention their music is re- ceiving. Balancing schoolwork with the de- mands of the band has created a hectic but rewarding routine. “We’re figuring it out, taking it day by day. But we know that this moment is something special, and we’re all giving it everything we’ve got,” Prewitt says. Despite their online success, Dead But- terflies are not exactly household names within their own schools. The band mem- bers are not among the popular crowd at school, and many of their peers remain un- aware of their growing Spotify following. “We do not really get any special treat- ment or anything,” says Macias. “At school, we are just regular students. Our music life exists separate from our school life.” Dead Butterflies is part of a broader re- surgence in the North Texas emo and screamo scenes. Cities like Fort Worth and Denton have long supported underground music, with venues such as Rubber Gloves and a network of house shows contributing to a strong DIY culture. Bands from the region, including Record Setter and Teethe, have built loyal follow- ings and encouraged experimentation. The group does not shy away from incor- porating elements not traditionally associ- ated with screamo, including brass arrangements and IDM-inspired beats. “I had my hands in various genres before even thinking about doing screamo. Whether it is marching band brass, break- core drums, or Latin jazz, Dead Butterflies is just a big pot of sound that I love,” Zimmer says. Not all members of Dead Butterflies are graduating this spring. Some already have, and others are wrapping up their senior year. Their plans for the future vary. Some will attend college or trade school. One member will enlist in the National Guard. While the future of the band in its current form is un- certain, all members have expressed a desire to continue making music together . “I always have, and still do, see Dead But- terflies as a really fun group of friends,” he says. “Making music on a stage, hanging out and eating Waffle House afterward.” ▼ Music Diego Hernandez Dead Butterflies has recently opened for bulletsbetweentongues. Hand built not bougHt. Franklins TaTToo and supply 469-904-2665 • 4910 Columbia ave, dallas, TX 75214 proFessional TaTToo supply For pros only Call for your appointment or design commissions today!
