By: Alison Holst
New York, NY (LyricalXMagazine) 04/18/2023 – An irreplaceable quality an artist possesses is their ability to connect with people through their music. In “PTSD,” Dax proves that he can not only do this, but he does it well. “PTSD” is a single off Dax’s remarkable album, “Pain Paints Paintings.” This album reveals that Dax not only has a talent for creating music, but for writing in a way that is both poetic and vulnerable. This ability of Dax’s can be shown through his various past releases where he has used his personal experience to write catchy and vulnerable songs. In his popular single, “Dear Alcohol,” Dax uses his talent firsthand to create an infectious song surrounded by personal insights about his relationship to alcohol. Likewise, in “Dear God,” Dax vulnerably describes his relationship to God while supported by catchy rhythms and instrumentals. His ability to draw from all of these different, but personal parts of his life, and create something refreshing and unique is a testament to Dax’s ability as a musician and songwriter.
In Dax’s single, “PTSD,” he opens up revealing the various emotions that come with having PTSD from abusive and traumatic life events. One of these emotions Dax so well describes is the feeling of being stuck after such an event, essentially feeling paralyzed. He writes, “And I’m not lookin’ back/But I’m not looking forward,” where he describes this feeling of being stuck and unable to move beyond a situation that often stays on his mind. Dax adds another layer of depth in “PTSD” through incorporating some of his existential thoughts surrounding such events: “God, I wanna know why You even let that man on Earth.”
Although Dax’s lyrics come alive just from merely listening to them, the music video adds another layer of understanding and an emotional impact. The video portrays Dax trying to find his way and make sense of things. His vulnerability translates through the video so much so that listeners are impacted and feel that they can relate to the pain Dax speaks about. Various fans were so moved that they left comments under the “PTSD” music video to share their own stories of trauma and abuse. This is remarkable as Dax was able to create a channel in which listeners are able to feel seen and heard.
All in all, Dax is a one of a kind artist, using his abilities as a poet to write lyrics that are both vulnerable and validating. With this, Dax has created a relationship with his audience through his songs, such as “PTSD,” that serves as an outlet for others to feel understood and acknowledged. Dax accomplishes all of this while still creating captivating melodies and always leaving listeners wanting to come back for more.
