By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – London, nearly a full calendar year has passed since the release of Time Flies, the critically acclaimed debut mixtape from the South London-based polymath known as Dexter in the Newsagent. In the intervening months, the singer, songwriter, and producer has transitioned from a rising bedroom-pop sensation into a formidable presence on the international circuit, bolstered by a string of European festival appearances and a visual campaign that has cemented her aesthetic as one of the most distinctive in the contemporary British indie-pop landscape. Now, as the industry turns its eyes toward the creative output of 2026, Dexter has returned with her first offering of the year: a lush, introspective, yet sonically expansive track titled “Fantasy.”
The release of “Fantasy” marks a significant pivot point for an artist who has spent much of her early career navigating the nuances of coming-of-age in a bustling urban environment. While her previous work often leaned into the grounded, sometimes gritty realities of youth and romance—exemplified by the bittersweet resonance of her previous single “Stranger to Love”—this new chapter finds her leaning into the surreal. The track is accompanied by a striking music video directed by the visionary Iris Luz, which places Dexter within the confines of a neon-drenched phone box. The imagery serves as a metaphor for the isolation of modern aspiration, a glowing sanctuary where the mundane world is momentarily replaced by the vivid colors of a daydream.
The genesis of “Fantasy” is rooted in a moment of personal and financial vulnerability. In a press statement accompanying the release, Dexter was remarkably candid about the circumstances that led to the song’s creation. She revealed that the track was penned during a period earlier this year when she found herself grappling with the loss of a significant sum of money, an experience that left her feeling untethered and “lost.” In the vacuum of that uncertainty, she found an unlikely source of inspiration: the voyeuristic world of high-end real estate and luxury lifestyle content on YouTube.
“I was watching random car drive-through videos of rich areas on YouTube,” Dexter explained, describing a digital rabbit hole that many in the modern era will find relatable. “I wanted to write a song about money from the perspective we all have when you’re a kid and you just wonder what it’s like to have a big fancy car, a walk-in wardrobe, or a chef. That’s where the song came from, and I love everything about how fancy and dreamy it feels. It’s like my own fantasy world where I am a millionaire.”
This thematic core elevates “Fantasy” from a simple pop song into a poignant commentary on class, aspiration, and the digital age’s influence on the human psyche. By framing the desire for wealth through the lens of childhood wonder rather than adult greed, Dexter taps into a universal sentiment. The song captures that specific brand of escapism that occurs when reality becomes too heavy to bear; instead of dwelling on the loss of funds or the stress of the grind, she chooses to inhabit a sonic landscape where every luxury is within reach.
The production of the track mirrors this "dreamy" quality. Known for her hands-on approach to her music, Dexter’s skills as a producer have clearly evolved since the lo-fi charm of her early SoundCloud uploads. “Fantasy” is characterized by a shimmering, ethereal texture—lush synthesizers that swell and recede like a tide, underpinned by a rhythmic foundation that feels both steady and weightless. Her vocal delivery remains her greatest asset: a soulful, slightly husky alto that manages to sound both intimate and authoritative. There is a newfound confidence in her performance here, a sense that she is fully in control of the world she has built within the four minutes of the track.
The collaboration with Iris Luz for the music video further enhances this sense of controlled artifice. Luz, known for her ability to blend high-fashion aesthetics with a sense of the uncanny, creates a visual environment that perfectly complements the song’s themes. The neon phone box acts as a portal, a glowing relic of a pre-digital age repurposed as a vessel for futuristic dreaming. It is a masterclass in minimalist storytelling, focusing on the atmosphere and the artist’s presence to convey the "millionaire fantasy" without needing to rely on literal depictions of wealth.
To understand the weight of “Fantasy,” one must look back at the trajectory Dexter in the Newsagent has mapped out since she first emerged. Her debut mixtape, Time Flies, was a sprawling introduction that showcased her ability to blend elements of R&B, indie-rock, and electronic pop. It was a record defined by its honesty, capturing the frantic energy of London life and the quiet moments of reflection that happen in between. The success of that project led to a busy 2025, where she spent much of her time on the road. Her performances at various European festivals allowed her to translate her studio-bound introspections into communal experiences, proving that her music had the legs to carry across borders and languages.
The promotional tail for Time Flies was long and fruitful, culminating in the release of the “Stranger to Love” video, which further explored her interest in cinematic, mood-driven visuals. However, with “Fantasy,” there is a sense of a clean slate. It is not just a continuation of the Time Flies era, but the beginning of something more conceptually ambitious. By tackling the subject of money—a topic often considered taboo or gauche in indie circles—Dexter is engaging with the reality of being a young creative in 2026. The economic landscape for artists has never been more complex, and by turning her own financial "lostness" into a glittering pop anthem, she is reclaiming agency over her narrative.
The South London music scene has long been a crucible for innovative talent, and Dexter in the Newsagent is firmly entrenched in that lineage. Like many of her peers, she possesses a DIY spirit that is tempered by a sophisticated understanding of pop melody. Yet, there is a specific brand of vulnerability in her work that sets her apart. She doesn’t shy away from the unglamorous aspects of her life; instead, she uses them as the raw material for her art. Whether she is singing about the confusion of a failing relationship or the simple desire for a personal chef, there is an underlying sense of truth that resonates with her audience.
As 2026 unfolds, “Fantasy” serves as a bold opening statement. It suggests an artist who is no longer content to just document her life as it is, but who is interested in exploring the lives she might lead in her imagination. The song’s "fancy" feel is a deliberate choice, a sonic armor against the hardships of the real world. In creating her own "fantasy world," Dexter invites her listeners to do the same, providing a much-needed moment of levity and beauty in a world that can often feel monochromatic.
For those who have followed her journey from the beginning, “Fantasy” is a rewarding evolution. It retains the heart that made Time Flies so compelling while introducing a level of polish and conceptual depth that hints at a major sophomore project on the horizon. For new listeners, it is an ideal entry point—a track that is as catchy as it is thoughtful, and as stylish as it is sincere.
The neon lights of the phone box may eventually fade, and the YouTube videos of mansions and supercars may end, but with “Fantasy,” Dexter in the Newsagent has captured the feeling of that dream and turned it into something permanent. As she continues to navigate the highs and lows of her career, one thing is certain: her ability to find magic in the mundane remains her most potent gift. Whether she is a millionaire in reality or only in the confines of her music, Dexter has proven that the richness of one’s imagination is a currency all its own.
