DYVR’s single Half Awake, out now via Veta Records, is an impressive debut bursting with lush electronic soundscapes and tender vocals.
Half Awake is a song that deals with insecurities, and how our flaws are perceived by those around us. It is a mesmerizing track combining minimalist electro and indie akin to James Blake and RY X.
In this interview spotlight, we chat with DYVR about the new project, influences and more.
Q&A along with links and a stream of Half Awake below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
A lot of the music I listened to when I was growing up had this feel, I suppose what started out as a love of RnB and Hiphop grew into a love of soundscapes and atmosphere. It took a while for me to be able to return to this creatively. I found myself re-learning the love of that music through my own manifestations of it, so it’s been as much a personal growth as well as a musical one.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
I’m always deconstructing things. When I was little I would take toys (or anything else I could find) apart to see inside them. There’s something about exposing that mechanism which has always felt necessary. That’s what music is – exposing the mechanism that drives a thought or feeling and attempting to provide an understanding of it.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
I’m often affected by landscapes. It’s a regular occurrence that after arriving home from being on the road i’m filled with a need to write. There’s something potent about how we look at the world when we get the chance to simply take it in. The moments allow for reflection, and the landscape provides the broader brushstrokes of the ideas that come from that. Over time i’ve found that my musical tastes have really widened. I often try to remind myself that everything has value, it’s just a case of finding what that value is. That doesn’t mean I like everything I listen to though!
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
I was really focused on rhythm. I wanted the beats to feel human by keeping them simple but affecting. It’s supposed to make you move and think about why you’re moving. A lot like how life works I think.
What was the last song you listened to?
Lady Solitude by Richard Hawley
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I definitely prefer the overall experience of Vinyl. The artwork and the extras that you get can make an album so much more exciting. But the fact that I can have digital music anywhere is really important. They both have their function and I think they’re both necessary. I’m not sure about CDs… they’re trying to be on the fence and I don’t think it’s working out for them.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I’m going to be a bit lame here and say that I just buy full albums and listen to them. I’ve never done the Spotify or Apple Music thing. I certainly don’t have anything against those platforms but I like the excitement of getting an album and listening to the whole thing.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
I think the most difficult thing to overcome is that abundance of music. The huge frequency of new music is both a wonderful and challenging aspect of being an artist right now. There is so much inspiration everywhere but you have to work that much harder to be visible amidst it all.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
Either Soundcloud or Facebook are the best places for updates. Also YouTube once we start getting videos up which will be happening soon!
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
I hope everyone enjoys the single! There are a lot of plans for this year and I’m excited for the journey ahead.
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