EP Review: Dylan Brady - "Needle Guy"

Needle Guy is a clubby highlight reel of Dylan Brady's abilities to make oddball bangers, more or less. It's a fun hang.

Dog Show - 2026

When it comes to all things hyperpop or anything remotely interesting within the realm of electronic, hip hop, and pop music, Dylan Brady might be involved in some capacity. He formed the duo 100 gecs with Laura Les in 2015, popularizing the hyperpop genre. They released albums like 1,000 gecs and arguably the best album of the decade so far, 10,000 gecs. (Trust me on this one. I gave it a 10/10.) He's also produced and written songs for artists like Charli XCX, Dorian Electra, Injury Reserve, Skrillex, Rebecca Black, and many more. He releases music under his own label, Dog Show. There has been a certain lack of 100 gecs activity outside of their last album, which was back in 2023, and has been quiet outside of appearing on certain songs for other artists. He's released solo material in the past and while I'm sure they would be interesting to check out, I'll admit that I'm not at all familiar with it.

He recently released a new single, titled "Needle Guy," and released an EP with the same name, his first new music under his own name in awhile (since 2019 I believe, unless I'm doing my fact checking incorrectly). Needle Guy is short, sweet, and consists of four songs. He even released a DJ mix before the EP's release (which you can find here) that incorporates these new songs in a fun and vibrant way. And did I mention it's a video of him playing a DJ set in an aisle within a piñata shop?

As an EP, Needle Guy showcases exactly what makes Brady such a unique, exciting, and fun producer to listen to. "Throat Song" features these dizzying, throaty vocal sounding sampling that bumps heavily under a bustling groove. It's colorful, infectiously catchy, and above all, weird as hell. Depending on the listener, these effects might either make you intrigued to continue or make you wanna hit skip. If you do, I don't blame you at all, but it's oddly fun to me and I've never heard anything like it. "Stay High" features rapid and choppy percussion that sounds like a laser marching band, some autotuned moaned vocals, and abrasive synths. There's also a chirpy lead melody that flies in like a cute little bird from a classic NES game. "Ashley" features production from acclaimed DJ Afrojack and has a minimalist, eerie display of whirring electronics. "Needle Guy," previously released as a single, also incorporates these throaty effects from "Throat Song" but in a more tangible way, meaning you can hear Brady repeatedly saying the song's title. But it's still all the more wild, psychedelic, and trippy with its high pitched vocal alterations.

Needle Guy is a clubby highlight reel of Brady's abilities to make oddball bangers, more or less. As an EP, it's pretty quick at four songs and fourteen minutes in length and the EP's songs flow into one another nicely. I wouldn't say this is a full on necessity to check out but if you're interested in the genre or at least a 100 gecs and Dylan Brady fan, then Needle Guy is quite a fun hang.

My Rating: 7 / 10

Favorite Songs: "Needle Guy," "Throat Song"