Late 2018 release, early 2019 tour, but there's so much more to do. By Deborah Sexton If you live in Chicago, you are already aware it has a well-known shoegaze/dream pop scene, with such mainstays as Airiel, New Canyons, Astrobrite, Whimsical, Panda Riot, Star Tropics, Sleepwalk, and Bliss.City East to name only a few. Among the leading lights of the Chicago scene is Lightfoils. Formed in 2010, this five-piece released […]
We may not have climbed aboard the Somesurprises train when it first departed in 2016. Once a quality solo project from songwriter and and moodmaker Natasha El-Sergany, Somesurprises has since evolved into an expansive dream pop imprint, with the tunes and the chops to grab the attention of anyone who's caught their dynamic live shows. They've toured up and down the west coast, and opened for the likes of A […]
Guitar wash cascades over programmed drums. Bass kicks in, and then Dani Mari's voice hovers above, lending sheen to the construct. Blending influences like Japan, Drab Majesty and Cocteau Twins, with guitar accents from the Johnny Marr/Robert Smith playbook, Violentene have been fine-tuning their musical approach since their watery first single "Denial" in early 2017. "Denial" specialized in languid pacing and warm reverb, accented by angelic choral flourishes. But it's […]
From musician and songwriter, to artist/animator/video producer, it's rather difficult to determine what tasks NIIGHTS vocalist Jenna Fournier can't accomplish. We've taken time out on these pages to celebrate her creativity, and given this opportunity, we'll do it again. Because we get it. No portion of this "business" is easy. It takes a particular set of skills to set a sound, create a visual, build a brand, and have folks […]
Twin Oaks is magic. There, I've said it. Perhaps not a household name yet, but we'd suggest their era of relative obscurity is done. What began as a bedroom folk-inspired duo has evolved into a dynamic and compelling dream pop project that commands attention, and respect. The core of Twin Oaks is the songwriting team: vocalist and lyricist Lauren Brown, and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/producer Aaron Domingo. Through the past five years, a […]
Cincinnati's Sungaze deliver languid longing on "Washed Away" It's no accident that Sungaze's second single this year opens with the sound of breaking waves. As you delve deeper into the Mazzy Star-inflected "Washed Away", you begin to unravel a deeper story to the song. Amidst the engaging atmospherics, lead vocalist Ivory Snow sings about bearing witness to a drowning while on vacation in Florida. This song is both a moving […]
Andy Jossi and Krissy Vanderwoude of The Blue Herons chat about their new single, “The Way You Look At Me.” By Deborah Sexton For regular listeners of DKFM and frequent visitors to the DKFM Facebook/Twitter feed, Andy Jossi is a well-known name as the genius behind a constantly growing library of amazing music, most of which falls under the genres shoegaze, dream pop, jangle pop, or the broader term indie […]
Hailing from Jakarta, Indonesia, Grow Rich has toiled at the outer edges of the genre. Abdur Rahim Latada has spent the last three years distilling his love for punk, power pop, and spiky-edged postpunk, with a nod to his predecessors. Flashes of Pixies and Teenage Fanclub clash with more modern punk accents, often producing unpredictable results. Of one thing you could always be sure: this project is driven by passion, […]
Our Richard Gehring talks to Dima of Life on Venus about tunes and tunings, and dreams come true. Life on Venus is a five-piece shoegaze and dream pop band based in Moscow, Russia. The band members are Dima (guitar, vocals), Lisa (vocals), Marat (bass), Ivan (guitar) and Gulya (drums). Life on Venus decided on the name because “life on Venus must be one of the most surreal and unbelievable things […]
