Philosophy, Grunge, And NYU: An Interview With Brooklyn Band DREAMERS
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Philosophy, Grunge, And NYU: An Interview With Brooklyn Band DREAMERS

This psychedelic rock-and-roll band is one to look out for.

207
Philosophy, Grunge, And NYU:  An Interview With Brooklyn Band DREAMERS
Amanda Choy, 2015

“We consider ourselves a rock and roll band,” said frontman and lead singer of the Brooklyn-based band DREAMERS, Nick Wold. Guitarist Nelson and newly-joined drummer Jacob Wick lounged on a couch alongside Wold, all three of them surrounded by a graffiti and sticker-filled walls in a back room of The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. The three-piece band has gained a lot of momentum, having released their singles “Wolves (You Got Me)” and more recently “Shooting Shadows” in the past year. They are moving on with their tour in North America, with show dates set for the west coast and Canada in the coming months. Powered by the sounds of bands like Nirvana, the Beatles, and Stone Temple Pilots, DREAMERS boasts energetic guitar riffs mixed with Wick’s dynamic drumming. While they are reminiscent of bands like the Strokes, who they cite as one of their influences, they also proudly display their grunge roots.

Wold explained how a lot of the writing has happened “on the fly” since the band was formed. Their EP "Dreamers" has three tracks that were written by Wold before he even met Nelson. “We wrote the album before meeting Jake...I’m the main writer and I’ve collaborated with other artists. The song 'Shooting Shadows' that’s out right now, I wrote with the singer of Atlas Genius, Keith. That was a collab. Since we got into LA this summer we’re been collabing [and] meeting so many people.”

The essence of what DREAMERS represent can be found in a short manifesto on their website, written by the band. While it might be slightly unusual for a band to have their own philosophy, Wold explains their thinking: “I think that the core point of rock and roll to me is philosophy and ideas. So we thought it wouldn’t really be complete if we didn’t put [it] out there...we had this name DREAMERS, which is kinda so grandiose in a way and I felt like we had to say something about why we think that it’s an interesting idea and why it’s important to us. So we just really wanted to stamp it up there on that weird psychedelic site.” But they don’t just limit their philosophy to themselves, they invite their fans to submit dreams, ideas, and experiences on their website through a “Submit Your Dream” box.

Being relatively new and still budding amongst every other aspiring band in Brooklyn, we asked the boys about the toughest part of starting this musical journey.

“Convincing yourself that you can do it, that’s half the battle. This band’s only about a year and a half old, Jacob’s our new drummer, he’s only been with us for about a month and our first album is… we just finished it so it’s going really well. We’ve all played in bands before and done this a lot so we feel like this is kind of a second or third draft for us,” said Wold.

When asked about their beginnings, all three of them admitted to being musically inclined from the start. Nelson’s parents bought him a bass at age 13 which he played non-stop and Wick grew up in a musical household and always knew he wanted to pursue music. Wold actually attended NYU and was excited to reminisce about his time there. “NYU was amazing for me...I went and studied music there, actually playing saxophone at that time, which is a well kept secret…that I’m a sax man at heart. It was incredible, I love New York, it’s like my favorite city to live in the world. The first time I moved there I was like 18, I lived in the East Village, incredible.” We agree with Wold that NYU is an inspiring place to be, regardless of what you’re studying.

As for the future, the band is looking to hit the road with new music very soon. “We have a bunch of new music that we have been grinding away on and we’re really excited…[to] come out on the road again...tour a lot and...start releasing it,” said Wold.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

88931
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

58064
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments