He Studied with Philip Dadson (From Scratch) at the University of Auckland in 1994. During this period he began developing his work primarily with the electric guitar, employing preparations and extended techniques. In early 1992 Dean began playing guitar in the rhythmic, free-noise trio Thela until it disbanded in 1996. He then started the solo project White Winged Moth – electroacoustic compositions of extended techniques on guitar, piano and percussion, et al., as well as founding the label Formacentric Disk to release his recordings.

He participated on records by the [a=Sunburned Hand of the Man] collective, was a member of The Tower Recordings, and collaborated with Werner Dafeldecker and Martin Brandlmayr in the experimental deconstructed-pop band Autistic Daughters.