🎵 Track Review: “Rebel in the Mirror” – Dean R. Chandler

Sometimes a song needs time to ferment — to sit quietly in the shadows until it’s ready to bare its teeth. “Rebel in the Mirror” is exactly that. Written around six years ago and tucked away under the humble working title “Ant”, Dean R. Chandler’s latest resurrection is a spirited nod to one of his early heroes — the one and only Adam Ant.

From the opening line “They stack the walls with mirrors tall / A thousand faces I don’t recall”, the track dives headfirst into a world of identity, rebellion, and self-reflection. It’s an anthem for those who refuse to shrink to fit — a battle cry for the outsiders who colour outside the lines. The pre-chorus slashes through conformity: “My stripes are sharp, my colours loud / I won’t kneel to the grey-washed crowd” — a lyrical swagger that would’ve felt right at home on Kings of the Wild Frontier.

Musically, it channels that vintage Ant energy — tribal drums, snarling guitars, and a vocal that dances between defiance and theatrical flair. You can almost see the face paint glinting under the lights. But beneath the bravado, there’s a deeper theme — a man confronting his own reflection, questioning who he’s become in a world that constantly tries to repaint him in grey.

Chandler describes this one as “a tune I’ve been chipping away at for years” — and that makes sense. “Rebel in the Mirror” feels lived-in, weathered, and real. It’s not nostalgia for the sake of it; it’s evolution — an echo of Ant’s flamboyant rebellion, reframed for the introspective age.

When finished, this could easily stand as one of the defining moments in Chandler’s Human Odyssey — a reminder that rebellion isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s the quiet act of refusing to forget who you are.

REBEL IN THE MIRROR

[Verse]
They stack the walls with mirrors tall
A thousand faces I don't recall
They want me to fit
To shrink
To crawl

[Prechorus]
But my stripes are sharp
My colors loud
I won't kneel to the grey-washed crowd

[Chorus]
Rebel in the mirror
Who do you see
A ghost of the past or a king breaking free
No chains
No leash
Just wild and free
Rebel in the mirror
That’s me
That's me

[Verse 2]
They sell the rules like cheap perfume
Try to mask the stink of a shrinking room
But my style's a sword
It cuts the gloom

[Chant – Crew] Hey-ho! Raise the flag!
[Lead – Snarl] No crown, no chain, no drag!

[Chant – Crew] Boom-boom! Beat that drum!
[Lead] Style’s the sword — here we come!

[Chant – Crew] Oi-oi! Paint your pride!
[Lead] Wild hearts never hide!

[Chant – Crew] Stand and deliver — loud and free!
[All – Shout] We’re the kings of anarchy!

(End chant – crowd fades under tom rolls and electric guitars)

[Prechorus]
The mask I wear
It’s my battle cry
I’ll dance till the stars fall out the sky

[Chorus]
Rebel in the mirror
Who do you see
A ghost of the past or a king breaking free
No chains
No leash
Just wild and free
Rebel in the mirror
That’s me
That's me

Rebel in the Mirror

About

I’m Dean R. Chandler — a London based songwriter, recording artist, and storyteller. My music is rooted in a lifelong search for meaning, weaving together themes of love, loss, faith, alien contact, and humanity’s future.

My upcoming double concept album Human Odyssey (set for release in January 2027) is the culmination of decades of writing and reflection. It’s a narrative journey that begins with a search for God and ends with an encounter with extraterrestrial intelligence — exploring not only what it means to be human, but also where we might be heading as a species. Musically, it draws inspiration from the epic storytelling of Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds, the synth-driven edge of Gary Numan, and the emotional depth of artists like Tori Amos and Chris de Burgh.

I previously released Time Machine – Reflecting Shattered Dreams (2014) and continue to revisit my archive of songs written across 35 years, reimagining them with today’s tools and sounds. Some pieces remain intimate and acoustic, while others expand into dark rock, industrial, or orchestral landscapes — but all are connected by a focus on emotional honesty and cinematic storytelling.

Beyond music, I’m fascinated by the intersection of creativity and technology. I’ve been experimenting with AI-driven composition and production to bring old demos to life and to spark entirely new works. For me, these tools are not replacements for human artistry but extensions of it — ways of unlocking stories and emotions that otherwise might have remained hidden.

At its heart, my work is about connection: to the past, to the future, and to the unseen mysteries of existence. Music, for me, isn’t just entertainment — it’s a chronicle of transformation, a conversation between spirit, science, and sound.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-r-chandler-b19715382/
www.deanrchandler.co.uk