In Conversation With - Dream Nails
Photo Credit: Laura Palmer
London’s feminist punk witches Dream Nails have released “accidental” acoustic album named ‘Take Up Space’ this week. We had a chat with them about the new tracks and the reason why they have chosen to only release it on Bandcamp.
How is this an 'accidental' acoustic album? Where was it recorded and any behind the scenes stories?
In September 2018, we held a secret hundred-person show in Housman’s bookshop - one of the first radical political bookshops in London. It was our first unplugged show, which we decided to because we spend so much energy creating detailed harmonies and song structures that often get lost under fuzzy PA systems in basement punk shows!
We were super excited about the show and doing something completely different, but we had played a show in Norwich the night before, got home at 3am, done a full days work and then turned up to Housman’s running on vapours. Four lucozades later however, our lil power bars were refilled and we were ready to go.
As you’ll hear, the album itself is pretty behind-the-scenes. The songs are interspersed with chat and laughter and us taking audience questions – from our favourite star signs to to the things we dislike most about white cis men – and it was so much fun. The atmosphere of the show was so special and intimate, and the recordings turned out well, we decided to release them for everyone to enjoy!
Can we expect any new songs that you haven't released before? What are they about?
Yes!!! Lots! Our latest song is called ‘Jillian’ and it’s about the cult fitness coach Jillian Michaels. She’s a queer icon and the song is about feeling sexually confused whilst doing an exercise DVD, it’s raucous and catchy and silly and already a show-stealer at our live gigs.
We’ve also got ‘Chirpse Degree Burns’, which is about the agony when someone you fancy just suddenly ignores your messages and ghosts you. It’s very, very uncool. But also very catchy. It’s also accompanied by this hilarious video.
There’s also a gentle, harmonised folk-y song called ‘Time Ain’t No Healer’ about trauma healing, ‘Swimming Pool’ about being bisexual, and ‘Landlady’ about trying to rid your mind of someone you should have left in the past a long time ago. At the live show, someone commented that “our show was the soundtrack to her life” - so although we’re goofy as hell, that resonates with a lot of people!
What was the setup of this acoustic show like?
It was a very intimate setting, there was no stage and we were all very cozy. There were a lot of people sitting on the floor around us, and some on little shelves and some on the same kinds of chairs we were sitting on. It was definitely very different to the usual settings, in a well lit place, and everyone listening very attentively. It made it that much better, we could all see each other and talk and laugh, it was a really special show.
Even though the album is acoustic, does it still have that punk vibe?
Yes! All our songs are still fast as fuck and have our raucous punk energy. Anyway, if punk is standing up and being your most authentic yourself without wanting to appeal to anyone, that’s exactly what we specialise in. Who says it has to come through fuzzy PA systems in beer-stained venues to be “punk”, in fact, we had more disabled, muslim and under-18 fans at this show than ever before, and it’s really led to us questioning the exclusivity of “punk” as it is. We want to bend those rules.
You are releasing the album only on Bandcamp, what led to that choice?
Right now, both musicians and music-lovers alike are tired of our broken world and its faceless capitalism. And the music industry is just as broken and faceless. Bandcamp offers something really special for us all: actual community. As DIY musicians, Bandcamp has helped us build a great community - you can review our music, see our merch, and we can contact you with tour updates when we’re in your town!
Releasing music exclusively through Bandcamp is a really fun way for us all to change the undisputed music industry rules that say you need exposure above all else (even above money that pays for your rehearsal studio that you write the music in…). We’re punks after all, and our fans are doing something really cool when they use Bandcamp: they’re actively putting their money where their mouths are and challenging the state of things.
Bandcamp as a platform also lets you discover new music in a way that feels more organic than other streaming services, where your listening choices and taste are reduced to algorithms that tend to send me in circles when I’m trying to explore different artists. It feels more fitting for us and we hope our fans can agree.
This is a really intimate release. It doesn’t seem right to just throw it out to the faceless, soulless streaming platforms - we want to reward the people who care about our music, care about community, and care about actively doing something positive to change in this shitty world!
The album is available via Bandcamp, with a download and t-shirt for £15.
Upcoming live show dates-
26th January 2019 - Sheffield, UK
6th February - Geneva, Switzerland
7th February - Bern, Switzerland
8th February - Baden, Switzerland
9th February - Schaffhausen, Switzerland
16th February - London, UK
1st March - Manchester, UK
2nd March - Leeds, UK
9th March - Canterbury, UK
7th April - London, UK