Band Of The Week #223 - Dream State
This week’s Band of the Week is Dream State - who have just released new EP ‘Untethered’ - the bands first collection of music since their line up change.
Speaking about the new EP founding member guitarist Aled Evans said "No words can express how excited we are to finally be releasing new music again! Our new EP 'Untethered' marks the first release of this new chapter of Dream State. The words on these songs are an encapsulation of new singer Jessie's previous struggles as she becomes untethered from her former worst self. Whilst this EP may be a little short, it's just a small taste of what's to come, as we're already well ahead with the next release after this one!
The luxury of doing this EP was that it was a much quicker process to release, when compared to doing an album. Whilst there inevitably will be an album down the line, for now we just want to get as much new music out there as possible, as fans have waited so long already! This EP has also given us a bit more freedom to experiment with new sounds and direction that we haven’t tried before. Whilst we’ve played around with subtle electronic elements on the album Primrose Path, on this EP they have become a much more prominent feature, and feel like a natural progression and evolution towards where our music is going next."
DREAM STATE will be playing a full headline tour starting the 20th February 2023. The summer will also be filled with a string of festivals including 2000trees and Burn It Down Festival.
They took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Dream State - how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
We’re doing great thanks! It feels like a huge relief to finally have a complete body of work out, even if it is a short EP. We’re just glad that people have something to listen to after having not released any new music for a few years.
It is called ‘Untethered’ - what is the meaning behind that?
When we started writing these 3 songs they were originally intended to be 3 stand alone singles, however as we progressed we started to see a theme in the lyrics - they were about Jessie’s past experiences dealing with haunting feelings, insecurities, and dealing with pent- up anger. These songs are an encapsulation of those emotions, and are about letting go of previous struggles, about becoming untethered from your former self becoming a better version of yourself.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
It was recorded with Oz Craggs at Hidden Track Studios in Folkestone. Aled had demoed the instrumentals for the songs during lockdown, and Jessie had lyrics from during lockdown. We were able to piece both together in just one weekend, it came together quite naturally and fairly easy! With this EP we wanted to try new sounds and branch out in different directions, experiment a little more with stuff the band hasn’t done yet. There’s a lot more electronic elements and heavy riffs that haven’t been as prominent before.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
The key theme of the EP’s lyrics were overcoming personal dark times and finding the strength to carry on. They relate to previously having to deal with depression, feeling overwhelmed, and dealing with anxiety. As mentioned before, the songs are about overcoming these feelings and coming out stronger, becoming untethered from your former worst self.
Instrumentally there’s a lot of different influences, such as Architects, linkin Park, Northlane, to name a few.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Shrek - because we couldn’t think of a better answer. (and it’s Tom’s favorite film, potentially the only film he’s ever watched).
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
“I find comfort in chaos it’s all that I’ve ever known”
Now the EP is out there - what next?
We’re doing a headline tour across the UK in February to support the EP, and playing a bunch of festivals throughout the rest of the year. Dates/info can all be found on our website! There’s also new music already in the works, gearing up for our next release later in the year!
