Princess Goes | The “Beyond Dexter” Music Review
Princess Goes
Princess Goes (originally Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum) is an avant-rock/electro-pop trio based in New York City.
Princess Goes:
The “Beyond Dexter” Music Review
For those of you who don’t know me well, when I get into a band, I love to soak them up! I listen to every song, try to make every show, and do a deep dive into learning about them as much as possible. If you don't believe me, just ask Thunders of Wrath; I've been following them since their debut and still do my best to catch each of their shows. Then came Kitty Junk, Digging For Change, Fifteen Stitches and so many that I not able to mention. Later, the talented musicians in these groups became good friends of mine, but I am still a fangirl all the way. So it is with Princess Goes—if I’m raving about them, it’s because I have immersed myself in their music.
I came across Princess Goes in an unusual way: I had never seen them on stage, and they had never reached out to me. (In fact, before I could write this review, I had to go down a rabbit hole to make sure this band falls under the niche of Let’s Talk About The Music, as we only cover independent musicians, DIY, no labels. To my surprise, they fit!)
I had just finished watching Dexter: New Blood, and I knew the new Dexter series was coming out soon. The actor Michael C. Hall kept popping up on my YouTube feed when I was working on my computer. I was like, ok, it’s just a Dexter promotion. Then later he popped up on my feed again with an interview highlighting how he got to sing in front of the legendary David Bowie. My first reaction was, “He sings?!?" Then the following day, the Princess Goes video for "Come of Age" popped up and I couldn’t help but watch it. Let me tell you, this band is GOOD! I have been listening to them since I found them on Amazon Music and have already watched many of their music videos.
So, who is Princess Goes?
Princess Goes (originally Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum) is an avant-rock/electro-pop trio based in New York City. Their music blends experimental synth, glam, new wave, and theatrical rock. They are known for their genre-bending, cinematic, and emotional soundscapes. Let’s meet the musicians:
Michael C. Hall – Vocals
Yes, the actor on Dexter (Dexter Morgan) and Six Feet Under (David Fisher). Yes, he can really sing! Michael’s vocals bring a theatrical, emotional range to the lyrics.
Matt Katz-Bohen – Keyboards & Synths
A longtime member of Blondie, Matt provides a lush and synth-heavy texture to the band’s sound.
Peter Yanowitz – Drums
Formerly with The Wallflowers and Morningwood, his drumming and production give the band a punchy, alternative feel.
Again, their music style is an eclectic blend of electro-rock, synth-pop, glam rock, and art rock, with lots of experimentation. Think: David Bowie meets Nine Inch Nails, with hints of Gary Numan and Depeche Mode. Their moody, layered tracks blend darkness with groove and feel like you are stepping into a neon-laced dream. It’s a fantastic sound but difficult to describe in words, so please check out their tracks yourself—you won’t be disappointed.
Discography:
1. Thanks for Coming (2021 – debut album)
Including standout tracks like “Ketamine” and “Eat An Eraser,” the album was critically praised for its bold blend of glam and synth rock.
2. Come of Age (2023)
A more polished and emotionally rich follow-up, Come of Age features songs like “Shimmer,” “Beija,” and “Let It Go,” and brilliantly showcases the band’s evolution. It was self-released on SO In De Goot Recordings, a boutique indie label.
3. Singles & EPs
“Cruel World,” “Airhead,” and “Love American Style” are all from their self-titled EP Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum (2020)
Micheal C. Hall vs. Dexter Morgan—How He Started Singing with Princess Goes
Michael met Matt and Peter during the Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Their on‑stage chemistry sparked a friendship, and after the stage tour ended, they continued hanging out and started making music together. Michael has stated that he had “no aspiration to be in a band” initially. It was just casual—a fun offer to sing over some tracks his friends had been working on. The chemistry clicked and led to writing lyrics and doing vocals. The trio realized after a while that they had enough songs for an EP, so they should really choose a name and probably book a gig or two!
So in short, Michael’s move into music was an extension of his theater work, not a break from it or a planned career pivot. Hedwig gave him his first legit experience in fronting a rock band, and afterwards, Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum grew organically out of friendship, creative joy, and casual jam sessions. Now that sounds like an amazing way to form a band to me.
My (Enthusiastic) Review
I am indulging in a never-ending loop of their incredible music right now, but if forced to choose, my (current) favorite songs from their albums are “Beija” and “Let it Go.” They have a smooth, hypnotic vibe with emotionally-laden tunes that have burrowed into my brain—I really cannot get enough of them, and that’s OK with me!
But, what about a tour where you can rock out to a live show? Well, Dexter is in production, so no current tour (I think), but they made the European circuit back in 2023. They’ve promoted their music on different TV shows, there are links on their Facebook to podcast interviews and live promos, and some great music articles on the band. See all their online social media and music sharing platforms highlighted in this post.
What Makes Them Independent Musicians?
Despite their big names and being heavy influences in the music industry, Princess Goes fronts everything on their own: self-released albums, and merch is available from a self-administered storefront. Michael C. Hall can be found on Facebook or TikTok promoting the group (and maybe a little bit of Dexter). In retrospect, I can see how these guys popped up onto my feed, and I am so thankful they did.
Will they come onto Let's Talk About The Music? Obviously, I would be thrilled if the stars aligned and the members agreed to join the podcast. Hopefully, when the time is right, they can select a favorite topic or two and charm us all in person. They are the real deal when it comes to indie artistry—and that’s exactly why they belong on Let’s Talk About The Music.
Now if you will excuse me, I have some more Princess Goes in the queue….
Until next time,
Let's Talk About The Music, Music is Eveywhere!
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Hedwig and the Angry Inch
It wasn’t their own production, but overall,
it was still a pretty good show to watch.
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