Dead Defined is the Industrial Rock solo project of Canadian musician Craig Ewan whose five word Insta reads “Dogs. Aviation. Mental Health. Humour. Weather.” (although for the pedantic we know that’s actually six…). Drawing on influences like Filter, Creed, Nine Inch Nails, Alter Bridge, and Filter, Craig’s sound weaves industrial pop/rock elements with anthem‑driven choruses.

His most recent single released in June 2025, Better Off Alone, underscores personal resilience and emotional confrontation – all in the key of catharsis and connection. Though predominantly studio‑based, Craig works with session musicians for live shows with the goal to headline venues like Red Rocks and Download Festival.

Craig joins us for a Why I Love on one of those influences, Alter Bridge.

When people ask me who’s had the biggest impact on my music, the answer is always the same: Alter Bridge. There’s something about the way they balance heaviness with vulnerability that struck a chord with me from the very first listen. I discovered them not long after falling into the world of Creed. Mark Tremonti’s guitar work was already a major influence on me. So when I found out he had a new project with Myles Kennedy on vocals, I had to check it out. I remember pressing play on Blackbird, and everything changed.

personal and inspiring

That was the moment it clicked. The title track in particular hit me hard. The emotion in Myles’ voice, the sheer weight behind Tremonti’s solo; it was more than just a song. It felt like a personal story being told right to me. That’s when I realized music could do more than just sound good. It could be honest. It could heal. That’s the approach I’ve taken into my own songwriting ever since.

What sets Alter Bridge apart for me is the intention behind everything they do. Myles Kennedy’s ability to sing with both power and pain taught me that vocals don’t need to be perfect, they need to be real. And Mark Tremonti showed me how to channel aggression through melody, how to make riffs that hit hard but still carry emotion. His work in Creed laid the groundwork for how I structure and feel out my own songs, but Alter Bridge refined that influence into something even more personal and inspiring.

a depth beyond rock songwriting

Songs like Blackbird and Watch Over You have stayed with me for years. There’s a depth to them that goes beyond typical rock songwriting. They speak to grief, resilience, and growth. These are all things I’ve experienced, and all things I’ve tried to express through my own music. Albums like AB III don’t just sound good they feel like chapters in a journey I’ve walked myself. Even the album art and themes resonated on a personal level, reflecting a darker, introspective space I knew all too well.

I’ve had the chance to see Alter Bridge live, and it only cemented everything I already believed. The energy, the connection, the musicianship, it’s unmatched. I haven’t had the chance to work with them directly, but their fingerprint is on everything I create. They didn’t just shape my sound but they shaped the way I approach music as a form of expression, therapy, and truth.

Our thanks to Craig for a WIL we can empathise with – both Myles K and Mark T have been on our gig schedules in the recent past, so good that we’re on the same page and can appreciate the words.

Here’s the latest single:

Dead Defined online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Youtube

Dead Defined photo by Tim Deegan

You can read more from our extensive archive of Why I Love pieces from a wide array of artists on an even wider array of subjects, here.

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