DEXTER STORY PRODUCES ETHIOPIAN LEGEND DR. MULATU ASTATKE’S NEW STRUT RECORDS RELEASE “MULATU PLAYS MULATU” (SEPT 2025)
MERAWI (FEATURING CARLOS NIÑO & FRIENDS)
Merawi (featuring Carlos Niño & Friends) emerges from Dexter Story’s deep archives, a meditation born of curiosity and experimentation. What began as a reach for the unknown becomes an unfolding soundscape—Carlos Niño’s evolving sonic practice interwoven with the quiet brilliance of Jamael Dean and Nate Mercereau. Named after a beloved friend, Merawi is less a song than a tribute: a shimmering ode to multi-dimensional being, where each layer gestures toward new ways of listening, feeling, and becoming. Avail 3-2025
SINESRAT (EP) - UNRELEASED SONGS FROM 2012-2014
Out with the old and in with the… old. In a gesture of reflection and renewal, Dexter Story begins 2025 by revisiting the past—dusting off recordings from over a decade ago to give them a proper release before moving forward. His Sinesrat EP is a 6-song collection composed and recorded between 2012 and 2014, during a period when the Los Angeles-based musician was performing, arranging, and honing his voice with the African music collective Ethio Cali. The title track, previously featured on a Paris DJs compilation in 2014, takes its name from the Amharic word for “etiquette” or “decorum.” The EP also includes tracks like “Berbere,” “New Piazza,” and “Ambasselita,” which showcase the talents of Randal Fisher on tenor saxophone and flute, alongside steel pan musician and longtime collaborator Alan Lightner, Te’Amir Sweeney on drums, and Richard Grant on trumpet. Two of the tracks were originally written as cues for a documentary and feature Los Angeles-based Ethiopian musician Guade Gezachew playing traditional instruments. Throughout the EP, Dexter Story performs most of the rhythm section and keyboard parts, blending his multi-instrumental talents with a rich network of collaborators to create a sound that bridges worlds and traditions.
Artwork by Roland LeFox | Design by Anze Ban V
Roland LeFox IG
Anze Ban V IG
“Sure, there are albums out there that are flashier, more obviously innovative, or aggressively experimental. But "Wenge" doesn’t need to shout to make its point. Instead, it invites you in with quiet authority, offering a deeply rewarding, meditative experience for those patient enough to listen. Just like the Wenge tree itself, this music stands firm, offering shelter, wisdom, and a connection to something larger than ourselves.”
Vito Camarretta for Chain DLK
Wenge Front Cover Art by Or Yogev
Wenge Back Cover Art by Matthew Mallinger
Randal Fisher and Dexter Story Image @ Motherland Music, Inglewood, CA
