Brisbane band Dream Dali are masters of escape. After returning from Berlin, they’ve released their moody debut “Hurt Me”. The band’s guitarist and vocalist Aaron Shanahan reflects on his travels, and how his time in Berlin has shaped Dream Dali’s dark-wave sounds.
Fans of black and white unite for Dream Dali’s dark single “Hurt Me”. Paying homage to surrealism, Brisbane’s mystery outfit Dream Dali create momentary escapes with airy melodies and spooky synths. “Hurt Me” paints an unsettling dynamic with injections of distortion. The tension grows, the vocals shout. And the suspense of the track is relentless, all the way to its abrupt end.
Dream Dali is the brainchild of Aaron Shanahan. The Australian musician says the idea for the project has been long time brewing. But it took his own worldly escape, a year-long sabbatical to Berlin, to bring the band to life. “Spending a lot of time on my own helped in focusing the sound and direction of Dream Dali,” says Shanahan.
In his travels, Shanahan found the journey more important than the destination itself. “Berlin is more about the project’s process and meaning than the success of it, which is something I can really connect to.” Now back in Brisbane, Dream Dali are writing new songs and patiently crafting their dark-wave sound. “It’s great to be back and appreciate Australia again,” says Shanahan.
Q. In art, Surrealism embraced expression beyond reality. In music, what draws you towards this motif?
I like the playground of surrealism to explore, plus I think on a deeper level we explore in nonlinear ways when we dream and think. I find it an artform I can really connect to visually that ties in with the direction of Dream Dali’s music.
Q. Dream Dali came about during your time in Berlin. How did the project come together?
The seed was already there before I went to Berlin, but the city and its energy helped focus the direction in its darkness and artistic endeavor. Berlin is more about the project’s process and meaning than the success of it, which is something I can really connect to.
“…there is something to be said about familiarity and having your feet on the ground at some points in your life, even to just catch your breath.”
Q. How has Berlin influenced Dream Dali’s sound?
Spending a lot of time on my own helped in focusing the sound and direction of Dream Dali. Berlin is a dark city, for the most part, and the European energy of its art helped influence the sound to be darker and more experimental. Before that, I was more interested in colorful psychedelic art and music, but Berlin gave it a more European/shadowy feel.
Q. How did it feel to return home to Australia after the extended time away?
It’s great to be back and appreciate Australia again. It is good to go test yourself and I went there with nothing and made something, but there is something to be said about familiarity and having your feet on the ground at some points in your life, even to just catch your breath.
Q. The drawn-out drama of “Hurt Me” is aching yet enticing. Can you describe the direction of the other tracks on the forthcoming EP?
Other songs have a little more energy than “Hurt Me”. I wanted to put out something a little left of center first and then build on that. The songs are still very floaty and dark, but have more energy in the beat and bass line. We will be releasing new material very shortly.
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