Dream Dali
Enigmatic surrealists Dream Dali have announced their new single Little Lights, a reverberous, tumbling trip into darkwave, which is out now. 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.
Five Tips on Getting the Artist from Bedroom Studio to the Stage by Aldous Emerson from Dream Dali
- I think it’s important to know how to interpret the vibe you have recorded into an energised live show. This may be in the choice of instruments you play, to the members you want to include. For Dream Dali it is a band sound so I knew I wanted to have band members with the energy of a drummer, keys/key bass player and guitarist/singer. I feel this translates the band energy to live whilst still including technology and electronic elements that are not obvious. This works for my band concept but if you are an electronic performer you may want to interpret it live differently, with some pads to play, midi controllers and synths. I believe each act needs an individual approach to translating studio to stage and it’s something I really enjoy doing, and have done in the past.
- Budget is also important to consider, as you may need to start off small with your live show, but then expand as you get better offers. The more members, the more the cost, I.e. flights, hotels, etc. It may be worth having a smaller version of your show, with midi controllers or even playing solo with acoustic or guitar with looper pedals.
- Identify your aesthetic and the experience you want to express. I think it should tie into your music and be closely aligned so people can remember you, but also on an artistic level, have something unique. I love shows that you feel you have gone into someone’s world and escaped for an hour or so. For Dream Dali we do this with live synchronised visuals for each song, that has old dada/surrealist footage that is themed for each song along with synchronized lights. If you see our artwork, we have tried to match it so live it is the same world.
- Designing your set for live is important. Song order is important. I like to think of it like a conversation with a stranger where you start off with something lite and general and then go into deeper topics as you get to know each other and then at the end leave them feeling like you’ve connected. Also this ties in with dynamics in a set. You can hit people hard all the time, but if you do have different energy levels in songs I think it’s good to place them in the right order so that when you do go into a higher energy song after a slower paced song they can feel it more. It’s storytelling and also about a memorable experience.
- Rehearse a lot. Some producers may be amazing at creating in their studios but playing live has another set of challenges and skills required. If you haven’t played live much I would recommend playing with some experienced musicians, even if it’s one, or if you have the money pay for a musical director or MD. I do this for bands and artists so feel free to contact me 😉 Ha ha. It’s also good to surround yourself with these experienced people as support for playing live, as it can be nerve racking. I would also add that if you do get musicians to help you make sure they are good people. There are a lot of people who may come across as your best mate but lack genuine heart and passion, and these are the people who may back stab and leave you once your success lingers. Good people on tour is a must!
Compiled By Rob Lyon
Follow Dream Dali on Spotify…