Dear met Sam Valenti IV at a party while attending the University of Michigan, after which the two started the record label, Ghostly International, based on a shared love of electronic music.

Dear's first album Leave Luck to Heaven appeared in 2003 and was praised widely as a seminal fusion of pop and minimal techno.

The album's single "Dog Days" became one of Spectral's best sellers and a favorite of international DJs like Richie Hawtin.

[1] Dear followed the album with Backstroke in 2004 and has also begun working under the harder-edged Audion alias, apart from additional monikers False and Jabberjaw.

In June, he released "Modafinil Blues",[8][9] the first single from his upcoming album,[10] and announced tour dates, where he will be performing without a band for the first time.

Dear has listed Talking Heads, David Bowie, Adonis, Nitzer Ebb, and Roman Flügel as inspirations.