Dressed Like Boys

DRESSED LIKE BOYS (BE)
May 28, 2026 | 8:30 PM (Doors: 7:45 PM)
Postgarage 2nd Floor, Graz

Dressed Like Boys (BE)
Jelle Denturck is the frontman of the Belgian indie band DIRK., making a fair amount of noise and scoring numerous alternative hits in their home country and the Netherlands. Dressed Like Boys is his first solo project, born out of a time when Denturck felt a bit stuck in life. From his period of self-reflection and his self-acceptance as a gay man, Denturck has created an intimate and beautiful self-titled debut album, which will be released on August 29.

Searching for answers to questions like "Why do I exist?", former philosophy student Denturck suddenly realized: "By asking myself why I exist, I was ignoring the simple fact THAT I exist. Being alive is a miracle, and fully realizing that every day is magic." During that time, a lot of new music emerged, and Denturck discovered a whole new musical palette of his own. "Ironically, most people will associate me with DIRK., but that is actually the exception, the spin-off. In the democracy of the band, I hold back from writing lyrics that are too personal. Dressed Like Boys is the music that is closest to me, and it liberated me as a songwriter. I had all the time in the world to find the perfect melody. Only when everything sounds right in my head will I turn to an instrument and record a demo. I believe that the artists I admire work in the same way: Bowie, Lennon, Nina Simone, Sufjan Stevens, Tobias Jesso Jr: they all write songs that feel as if they’ve existed forever. That is my goal as a songwriter, to write songs that make you think: how has no one ever released this yet?"

Drawing on his self-reflection, Denturck created personal songs like Healing, Pinnacles, and Gregor Samsa: from memories of his warm and safe native village ("but also a golden cage") to his depression following the passing of his mother seven years ago. "I am one of those people who only realize much later how low they felt. I only realized two years ago when the sun was starting to shine in my life again." The album’s inevitable main theme is homosexuality and Denturck’s coming to terms with being gay. "It is one thing to accept yourself; it is another to realize that you don’t need the acceptance of the world." A very personal song is Pride, about Denturck and his boyfriend reacting differently to being physically assaulted. Other songs address queer history in general, like Stonewall Riots Forever (from which he also derived the name ‘Dressed Like Boys’) and Agony Street, about the tumultuous relationship of French writers Rimbaud and Verlaine. "I don’t consider myself an activist, but if I can contribute to the queer struggle through my music, then by all means. But I will always be a musician first and foremost. I want to create things. Beautiful things. That is my purpose in life."