Gregory Dillon’s New Donnie Darko-Inspired Synthpop Track “Catatonic”

Introducing the latest single “Catatonic” from electropop, new wave, & post-punk artist Gregory Dillon who turns up the volume on existential dread with a track that feels like a fever dream you can’t wake up from. 

Paying homage to the cult classic film Donnie Darko, Dillon opens with the cryptic line “28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes,” setting the stage for a track that delves into the shadowy corners of teenage angst and doomed romance.

Gregory is known for his cinematic and genre-bending sound, which layers 80’s synth nostalgia with glam guitars and gang vocals, crafting a sound that feels both haunting and hypnotic. The track’s eerie energy channels the melancholy of Tears For Fears, yet it pulsates with a modern alt-pop flair tailor-made for late-night drives through lonely streets or echoing in the dimly lit basements of your youth.

Lyrically, “Catatonic” captures the isolation of suburban life and the haunting grip of sleepless nights—a relatable narrative for a generation stuck in a digital limbo. In his own words, he reveals the personal stakes behind the song: an eerie mix of paranormal experiences and the very real terror of facing life—and love—alone.

“Send ‘Catatonic’ to the crush that keeps you up all night,” he suggests, though the track does more than just soundtrack your latest infatuation. It plunges you into a surreal world where the lines between reality and nightmare blur, much like the cinematic chaos of the films it draws inspiration from.

Gregory’s evolution from the “internet sad boy icon” to the rebellious spirit of suburbia is evident here, with “Catatonic” serving to resonate with those who feel trapped in their own liminal spaces. It’s a song for anyone who’s ever felt caught between the past and the present, the real and the surreal. 

Photos by Robert Riese