Enimagtic surrealists Dream Dali have announced their new single Little Lights, a reverberous, tumbling trip into darkwave. To accompany the track, the group, comprising of three mysterious musicians whose collective experience has seen them gracing hallowed stages at Coachella, Primavera, SXSW and more, have also announced a spectacular video, constructed from dada footage by the group and synced perfectly to the music as a harmonious sound and surreal visual experience. To celebrate the release, Dream Dali will be performing their first Brisbane show in the throes of BIGSOUND 2019 at the Library Group Records BIGSOUND party at Greaser Bar on September 4.
Little Lights feels simultaneously nostaligic, nodding to The Cure and The Doors, while also undeniably modern, evoking a darker version of Tame Impala and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Hypnotic, trance-like and moody, Little Lights is driving, soaked with defined vocal melodies and a dark, melancholic feel, as lead vocalist Aldous Emerson explains, “Little Lights comes from a personal experience in dealing with a challenging and dark time with a relationship. Lots of allegedly supernatural things were happening that caused a lot of issues with anxiety and trauma, but I always had hope. The Little Lights are the hope.”
The clip for Little Lights pays homage to the groups’ namesake Salvador Dali, with its use of found Dadaist clips to reflect the eerie, supernatural vibe of the song. The flashing lights and spooky, strange, out-of-context footage work seamlessly with the music and complement the mood perfectly, as Aldous says, “The dada footage seemed to work well with the song’s theme and Dream Dali’s aesthetic. We like how surrealism explores subconscious thought and deep emotions that can sometimes seem dark, but when looking into them can actually cause healing, especially with the expression of art and music. We gather and create a lot of the black and white surrealist art and visuals that you can see at our shows. We have synchronized footage and lights to try to create an atmosphere and feeling.”
No strangers to the stage, Dream Dali have some impressive runs on the board as individual musicians, playing for artists such as Vera Blue, Daniel Johns, Kite String Tangle and Miami Horror, and supporting the likes of Phoenix, Washed Out and Empire of the Sun. Their upcoming show at Greaser Bar on September 4 for the Library Group Records BIGSOUND party is set to be a transcendent experience for all the senses, as Aldous describes, “For this show we will have our synchronised black and white surreal footage and lights, along with a set of dreamy, but energetic songs. We hope to take you on a journey to a cave to see your spirit animal.”
Little Lights is out now.
Dream Dali is Aldous Emerson (lead vocals and guitar), Rene Huxley (key bass and keys) and William Hobbes (drums).