Ten years of The Age of Adz, Sufjan Stevens’ embrace of the unexpectedWhen first faced with his own celebrity, Sufjan Stevens responded with a left-field masterclass that today turns ten years old.
Meet Dreamer Boy, who makes aching nostalgia with his new song, Crybaby
The Nashville-based musician specialises in low-strung, washed-out bursts of 60s / 70s nostalgia, and he's quickly becoming one to watch.
Posted By Hayden Davies
4 years ago
We've spoken endlessly about the next generation of musicians - both Australian and international - and one area that's seemingly offering its fair share of fresh faces is this lo-fi, washed-out 'bedroom pop' sound. It's one of music's most exciting genristic trends, offering some of the best new artists of the last few years - Clairo, beabadoobee, Wallows, Steve Lacy - through many of the genre's wide-ranging pockets; each offering this hazy, DIY-esque edge that music is seemingly moving towards as the streaming age progresses.
Someone that's amongst the most exciting of this next generation is Nashville-based musician Dreamer Boy, and people are starting to catch on. Since introducing himself with his 2018 release Love Nostalgia, Dreamer Boy has blossomed into one of hazy pop's most brilliant, whether that be on the string of guitar-backed singles that have come out since, or on the live stage, where he's supported names including Clairo and Omar Apollo - and no doubt plenty more to come, once live music begins to eye a safe return once again.
In terms of recorded material, Dreamer Boy's 2020 thus far has proved why he's quickly blossomed into such an exciting force. Arriving a few weeks back, Know You commenced Dreamer Boy's 2020 with a haze of zoned-out guitars and rich vocals that felt like a peak within his work to-date; a subtle blend of sounds that span decades worth of nostalgia brought forward with a 2020 sheen that really gives Dreamer Boy's music a unique edge, and allows him to stand tall amongst the saturated lo-fi indie-pop space.
It's something that his new single Crybaby doubles down upon, making it two-for-two in regards to the musician's 2020 output, all while further reinforcing him as one teetering on the edge of his sound's peaks. It's a washed-out, three-minute-journey of his influences that spans from current-day pop through to romanticism for the 60s and 70s, bringing together these subtle touches of musical brilliance with a rich sense of nostalgia that together, creates a soft psychedelic richness that really pulls you away from the current-day and transports you somewhere else.
It's quite blissful and almost trippy-like, and while that's something that feels like a common thread between all his music, is particularly heightened on Crybaby - and maybe the song's inspiration is the reason for that. "This song is about friendships, courage, and love," he says on the single. "I wrote it after a psychedelic experience that led to an outpouring of emotions that were bottled up for a long time. This song is meant to be that release."
Both Crybaby and Know You are brilliant tracks that introduce you to an artist whose latter end to 2020 is feeling particularly exciting, so do exactly that and meet the artist behind the music as you dive into his two new tracks below.
Tell us about yourself?
I am a 24-year-old artist and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. I’m an avid runner, and I love to be outdoors. I am inspired by my best friends and by great songwriters like George Harrison, James Taylor and Bob Dylan. I look for beauty in everything, and I am trying to spread light and joy with my music.
What’s the ‘vibe’ music-wise?
Definitely a lot of themes of relationships, romantic and friendships. My influences sound-wise come from all over the place but some of my favourite music is the folk of the 60s & 70s, psychedelic rock, pop music, and country-inspired elements like slide and steel pedal guitar. I just want to connect with the energy of people and bring something out of them.
What are your production and writing processes usually like?
I work with my producer, Bobby Knepper, on all my music. The process is different every time but it is always intentional in terms of what I am trying to communicate. We have a great chemistry creatively and can work very fast and focused in the studio. I write vocal parts at the same time he's laying down instrumentation, I am dancing in the background while he's laying down drums. He's mixing my vocals while I'm writing the next verse.
Can you tell us a bit about your song Know You, and its video?
Know You is the beginning of something new. It is a really exciting rush of emotions and I wanted the video to portray a bunch of different friendships. We asked our friends and fans to submit videos of their favourite memories with their friends and included them in the video. It was really special to make and represents the message of the song.
What does the rest of 2020 have in store for you?
I will be releasing more music, making more videos, telling stories and building out more of the Dreamer Boy universe. There is a lot to be thankful and excited about.
What do you want people to take away from the project?
I feeling of peace, gratitude and presence about where they currently are in life. Encouragement as well.
Where can we find more of your music?
Any streaming service, really! Or watch my music videos on YouTube!
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