Friends of Dean Martinez

Friends of Dean Martinez is an instrumental rock band known for their atmospheric blend of surf rock, Americana, ambient, and lounge music. Originally formed in the mid-1990s in Tucson, Arizona, the group began as an offshoot of the alternative rock band Naked Prey and featured members who had also been associated with Giant Sand and Calexico. Their sound is characterized by the pedal steel guitar, cinematic arrangements, and a laid-back desert vibe that evokes wide open spaces and sun-drenched landscapes.

The band’s music has often drawn comparisons to spaghetti western soundtracks and is well-suited for film and television scoring. Over the years, Friends of Dean Martinez has gone through several lineup changes, but their signature sound has remained consistent—moody, layered, and beautifully evocative. Albums like Random Harvest and Retrograde showcase their ability to move between hauntingly ambient compositions and twangy, melodic grooves, creating a unique niche within the instrumental music world.