Demetrius Arturo's debut EP, ‘Caligula’, arrives as a raw, unfiltered expression of a mind teeming with stories and sonic ambition. Named after the notorious Roman emperor, the EP serves as a conduit for Arturo's alter ego, reflected freely amidst a sprawling cast of figures that populate his lyrical landscape.

Demetrius Arturo readily admits, "I’m not the best singer, I’m not even in the top 1,000." However, what he lacks in technical vocal prowess, he compensates for with a fervent commitment to narrative and individuality. His influences, a heady mix of Courtney Love's raw energy, Marilyn Manson's theatrical darkness, and Lana Del Rey's melancholic storytelling, are evident in the EP's eclectic soundscape. He emphasises, "What I care about is lyrics. Meaning. The surface level, the middle and the deep dive."

This focus on narrative leads to a world populated by characters, some reflective of himself, like The Gypsy and The Prince, and others built on people from his life, like The Queen and Marilyn, Throughout the EP, each contributes to Arturo's autobiographical tales of "the wild, the crazy, and even the montane."

The EP's nine tracks are a testament to this belief. Opening with the bold swarm of ‘I Am the Goat's Head’, Demetrius Arturo weaves together audio snippets and news headlines, creating a disorienting yet compelling introduction. ‘Sunday's Clown’ shifts gears, with a Southern-tinged guitar riff providing a backdrop for Demetrius Arturo's distinctive vocal delivery, a dark, almost spoken-word style that cuts through the music.

‘Freak Show’ embraces its title, delivering a chaotic, kaleidoscopic soundscape, while ‘Painslut’ dips into more atmospheric, static-laden territory. Each track has a fine interplay between rough and reflective, but also well-curated and neatly orchestrated, never quite settling and always keeping you guessing. Even in the latter part of the EP, the final one-two hits of ‘Before The War’ and ‘Black Fox’, showcase the EP's blend of raw emotion and sonic experimentation.

Speaking further about the EP, Demetrius Arturo added, "I wanted Caligula to have a DIY feel so I trained myself how to mix and master." The result is a sound that is intentionally imperfect, a "broken feel" that adds to the EP's raw charm. "Not to say that it came out very good lol but I wanted it to have that imperfect/broken feel. So, by that standard, I think it came out alright."

Looking ahead, Demetrius Arturo plans to release a remix EP, ‘the odds are not in my favor’, featuring collaborations with various producers, each offering their unique interpretations of his tracks. Following that, he will begin work on his debut album, keeping the title under wraps for now.

At its core, ‘Caligula’ is a bold, if at times uneven, introduction to an artist with a clear vision and a wealth of stories to tell. For more from Demetrius Arturo, be sure to connect on Facebook and Instagram.