DEZ BOHEME is a Kiwi-American singer-songwriter, composer, and visual artist based in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, USA. Blending cinematic indie folk, alt-pop, and acoustic storytelling, DEZ BOHEME explores the complexities of the human condition through emotionally reflective songwriting, atmospheric soundscapes, and visual narratives.
His work centers on the unspoken tensions within relationships, memories that haunt us,
and the contradictions of modern life—all viewed through the lens of the spirit and its resilience, recognizing the irony and sometimes humor of it all.
Known for soulful vocals, rich acoustic guitar textures, and emotionally immersive production, DEZ BOHEME creates a cinematic songwriter experience that resonates across indie folk, singer-songwriter, and alternative pop landscapes.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, and later becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States, DEZ BOHEME was previously known as the emerging neo-folk artist Anton Ryan. During the late 1990s, he performed and recorded indie rock music with various line-ups throughout Sydney, Australia's inner-city music scene, gaining local press attention and attracting the interest of veteran music manager John Woodruff (Savage Garden, Icehouse, Cold Chisel, The Angels).
After relocating to the United States, he continued performing both solo acoustic sets and acoustic performances with supporting musicians throughout Minneapolis–Saint Paul
and the Midwest, appearing regularly at venues including the Turf Club and Ginkgo's Coffeehouse. Between 2007 and 2009, after moving to Hollywood, Los Angeles, he performed at venues including the Rainbow Bar & Grill, the Viper Room, Kibitz Room, and Harvard & Stone.
Following a lengthy hiatus from recording and live performance, bootleg recordings from his SBS sessions in Sydney resurfaced in 2018, reigniting his passion for songwriting and performance. Those sessions featured veteran Australian musicians Mark Kennedy (Men at Work, Jimmy Barnes, Marcia Hines) and Chris Bailey (The Angels, GANGgajang), reconnecting DEZ BOHEME with the raw emotional core that would shape his later work.
He resumed live performance between 2018 and 2019, playing at Los Angeles venues including the Silverlake Lounge, Bar 20 on Sunset, and the Falls lounge. During this period,
he also began developing a new body of work rooted in cinematic storytelling, emotional atmosphere, and reflective songwriting.
During the COVID era, he moved back to Minneapolis-St Paul and began producing and recording from his home studio, “The Alcove Room,” where he developed the intimate visual and sonic aesthetic that now defines much of his work — blending atmospheric visuals, acoustic textures, and emotionally grounded storytelling.
Coming fully into his own artistically later in life, DEZ BOHEME is now creating what he considers his most meaningful body of work to date, The Naked Finch—through music, writing, and visual art. His work continues to evolve across disciplines while remaining rooted in a singular artistic voice.