EP: Dayydream – ‘Bittersweet’

A tender reflection on the transient nature of emotions and our attachments to other people, Glasgow-based songwriter Chloe Trappes aka Dayydream has self-released her debut EP, Bittersweet. Filled with delicate guitar strokes, dreamy vocals and affecting lyrics, Trappes ruminates on distance and desire across five tracks, and the way these things can shift our perspective towards ourselves, and to others over time.

Influenced by the likes of Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Mazzy Star, Neil Young and Slowdive, Trappes creates music under her Dayydream moniker to distract herself, but simultaneously explore the troubled state of mind she craves relief from. “I’d do anything / to keep hold of that feeling” she reveals on Bittersweet‘s tender opening track ‘Disintegrate’, clinging to a moment that has already passed. Her soft guitar picking compliments the “up and down” nature of the tumultuous mood she describes in the song.

An aching melancholy underscores the poignant ‘Wasn’t’, which reflects on the pain of leaving behind someone who isn’t good for you. The rainfall sound effect that seeps in and out of the song enhances the feelings of isolation Trappes sings of, and bleeds into the equally as confessional ‘How Lonely’. Whilst the lyrics in these tracks can be dispiriting, Trappes’ calm, clear vocals and considered, dreamy instrumentation prevent them from feeling too heavy. She relies on her dream-pop tendencies to soften the sharpness of her observations, with the gloomy but graceful ‘Cursed’ epitomising this outlook.

“Daydreaming can be a positive or a negative,” Trappes comments on the inspiration behind her moniker. “It can be a way to invent an imagined universe, a safe place to stay sane and distracted from the chaos of the real world. However, it can also cause a person to retreat, creating a disconnect in their lives.” On closing track ‘Sweet Release’, Trappes beautifully balances these conflicting states, yearning for escape and relief, whilst feeling overwhelmed by the reality of being “so broken” at the time of writing.

An intuitive, affecting collection of songs that drift through the exquisite highs and intangible lows we experience on the path towards emotional resilience, Dayydream’s debut EP is a comforting and blissful ode to feeling in all of its intensity.

Follow Dayydream on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter & Instagram

Photo Credit: Eléonore Marty-Guiraud

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Hatchie – ‘Quicksand’

Upon announcing the release of her new album coming up in April, Australian dream-pop artist, Harriette Pilbeam – aka Hatchie – has now shared lead single, ‘Quicksand’.

As Giving The World Away serves as Hatchie’s second full-length album, ‘Quicksand’ highlights an enrichment in Hatchie’s already catchy and infectious writing. Diving in head first, it deals with the realisation that, as people, we may never be satisfied. Lyrically, Hatchie catches herself in a cycle of ungratefulness and guilt surrounding elements of her life that are on paper, seemingly going quite well. As her realisations begin to pile up, it is natural to relate to the quickness of dissatisfaction as it discolours other areas of our minds with a broad paint brush. Of the track, Pilbeam explains:

“I was feeling guilty and ungrateful for not being happy about a few different things in my life that were technically going well. I had to work through some tough learned thought processes and emotions that had been working away for years to try to understand how to be happy with my present, and stop fixating on my past and future. The video digs deeper into showing this juxtaposition of such sadness and anger despite being surrounded by glamour and grandeur.”

Creating a soundscape that is bold yet tasteful, luscious synth pads and electronic drums pack a punch with a silkily smooth allure, while ‘Quicksand’ flows at just the right speed. Fusing together the inward emotions of classic shoegaze with the sparkling sophistication of modern dream-pop, ‘Quicksand’ feels crystal clear both lyrically and sonically, whilst bathing the ears in a sea of Hatchie’s smooth vocals and reverberated instruments.

All that Hatchie touches becomes utterly euphoric and ‘Quicksand’ is no exception.

Written with GRAMMY-nominated Olivia Rodrigo collaborator Dan Nigro, ‘Quicksand’ is out now. Watch the visuals shimmer to the blissful sounds in the glamorous Nathan Castiel-directed new video here:

Giving The World Away, the upcoming new album from Hatchie, is set for release on 22nd April via Secretly Canadian. Pre-order here.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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LISTEN: Sunflower Thieves – ‘I Don’t Know Why’

A gentle reflection on the disarming realisation that your connection with someone you love is off kilter, despite your best efforts, Leeds-based dream-folk duo Sunflower Thieves have shared their latest single ‘I Don’t Know Why’.

Combining charming vocal harmonies and soft guitars to create their delicate pop-folk sounds, Sunflower Thieves write tunes inspired by personal narratives and nostalgia. Their musical creations have blossomed out of a sixteen year long friendship between band members Amy and Lily, and their single ‘I Don’t Know Why’ is another tender offering rooted in a desire to understand the gaps in communication that can happen in any relationship.

“The track is about how complicated close relationships can be. How the differences in the way we live our lives and follow what we think can affect our understanding of each other, and equally of ourselves,” the duo explain about ‘I Don’t Know Why’. Through their earnest lyrics, tentative guitar picks and soft beats, the pair navigate this emotional grey area with tact and compassion.

The single is also accompanied by a visualiser, full of natural, tranquil scenes of the world going by on and around a canal, fitting with the sonic peacefulness, introspective lyrics and steady pace of the track. The pair are set to to release their new EP this year, featuring previous single ‘Sirens’ and this new offering too.

Listen to ‘I Don’t Know Why’ below.

Follow Sunflower Thieves on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook
for more updates.

Photo Credit: Sophie Jouvenaar

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Beach House – ‘Once Twice Melody: Chapter 1’

A cinematic introduction to their new record, dream pop outfit Beach House have shared the first four tracks from their upcoming album, Once Twice Melody. Set for release via Bella Union on 18th February, the record features 18 tracks which the band have chosen to share in four ‘Chapters’ in the lead up to the release, with ‘Chapter 1’ being available to listen to now.

Featuring eponymous track ‘Once Twice Melody’, ‘Chapter 1’ is a lilting, majestic showcase of the band’s new material. Produced entirely by Beach House and using a live string ensemble for the first time, ‘Superstar’, ‘Pink Funeral’ and ‘Through Me’ shimmer with the duo’s trademark lullaby-esque vocals, dramatic riffs and atmospheric beats. Bittersweet lyrics and heady synths combine to make this first instalment a captivating, tranquil listen.

Beach House will be releasing a new ‘Chapter’ of music each month until the full album is released in February 2022. The band will be touring the UK and Europe in Spring, which will include a night at London’s Brixton Academy on 26th May. Tickets for each date are on sale from Friday 19th November (more info here)

Listen to ‘Chapter 1’ of Once Twice Melody below.

Follow Beach House on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: David Belisle

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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