Andrew Oliver began his dream beach project about a year ago with the intent on further exploring his love of electronic music within songwriting. Similar to acts like Skrillex and Ty Acord, Oliver grew up in the Warped Tour world, and his transition into the dance scene has resulted in some beautiful song-based pieces which blend vulnerable lyrics with catchy melodies and genuine emotions.
Check our chat with Andrew (dream beach) below along with the premiere of his new “spill your guts” single.
NHQ: yeeewwww
dream beach: haiii joseph :)
NHQ: hey bud! what’s good
NHQ: how was ur day what did u eat!
dream beach: nm mannnnnn
dream beach: blue berry pancakes from this little spot down the block
dream beach: :)
NHQ: OMG
dream beach: soooo good
dream beach: this place is the tiniest cutest little place
dream beach: and it’s right by my new spot so i go there a lot
dream beach: and that rhymed woah
NHQ: hahah sweet! where did u move?
dream beach: well i was living in east Detroit for 2 years and finally got out of there and over to this nice little city called ferndale
NHQ: oooo! have u always lived in michigan?
dream beach: mhmmm
NHQ: what’s ur fav thing about living there
dream beach: i love how there’s a background in almost all types of music from motown to techno. i was exposed to electronic music because of Detroit.
dream beach: the city was waaaay ahead of the time
dream beach: in so many ways
NHQ: how did that influence begin to work its way into your own music?
dream beach: well i’ve been going to Movement (aka Detroit Electronic Music Festival) for so many years. it’s been going on since 2000. put me in front of the culture so early. it felt like every year i walked away with a different vibe
dream beach: i was lucky to have my big brother and his friends let me tag along haha
dream beach: i was the shrimp at the rave
NHQ: that’s awesome
NHQ: any particular sets that stood out?
dream beach: so many!!!
dream beach: all in different ways. gessafelstein x brodinski; at that point i didn’t even know who they were. squarepusher was insane. the m machine was a life changer i think.
dream beach: hudson mohawk made me cry last year
NHQ: : )
dream beach: hmm of course skrilly in 2011 i think it was
NHQ: dance music can be v emotional!!!
dream beach: it really is
dream beach: before going to that festival, electronic music was more of an experimental thing. i didn’t understand the dance part yet.
NHQ: i think one of the most interesting things abt this project is that you have a background in the band and warp tour world
dream beach: hehe yes!! Michigan also has a big history with hardcore/post hardcore music
dream beach: a whole different kind of scene but it’s where i grew up
dream beach: I’ve been in a band with my friends since like the 5th grade
NHQ: woah
NHQ: at what pt did u decide to start working on ur own stuff?
dream beach: well in the band i always was the one pushing electronics into the mix. it was very collaborative (and still is) but it really started with an alesis micron; putting arp synths over breakdowns and stuff like that in 2006.
dream beach: i started producing on fruity loops, then logic, then ableton. it was just a natural thing for me to start my own compositions rather than always trying to write songs in the room with instruments
dream beach: with my own stuff… i just wanted a place where i didn’t have to compromise
dream beach: and i could express other influences that don’t really fit into hardcore
NHQ: a lot of ur work includes your own vocals. what do u usually look to for inspiration when writing?
dream beach: all over the place. radiohead was always a mind bender for me lyrically
dream beach: Kid A definitely gave me a whole different perspective when i was young
dream beach: same with early M83…. where the vocal would be like the bedrock of a part, but the instrumental was really what you felt something from.
NHQ: can you tell us any specific stories behind your songs?’
dream beach: most my songs only exist because of a story
dream beach: it’s something i’ve been kind of trying to detach from as of lately, just because it becomes super personal and vulnerable when u are doing so
NHQ: right
NHQ: but that also makes them stand out
dream beach: thxx :)
dream beach: missing peace was a song that I started making as a birthday gift
dream beach: for my girlfriend Cory
NHQ: :3
dream beach: It was our first year dating and i wanted to do something special. so i wrote to the sound of her ringtone. at this point we were a very long distance thing. so when she called me in the morning it really made me feel great right away.
dream beach: and even if i didn’t get there
dream beach: she’d leave a voice mail always with a giant GOOD MORNING and
dream beach: i still have every one of them
NHQ: OMMMG <3
dream beach: so i sampled her
dream beach: it was our 1 year anniversary
dream beach: and i showed her while i was on tour and idk haha
NHQ: how’d it go over
dream beach: she cried :’)
NHQ: awwwwww
dream beach: yeah i’m a lucky dude
NHQ: how about this new one that centers around LA?
dream beach: well there are two songs that i plan to release soon
dream beach: one is called spill your guts
dream beach: rather than a direct story, i wanted to capture how it felt to truly admire someone
dream beach: and to think what they bring to the world is completely unique
dream beach: it’s about telling someone that and then kind of feeling stupid/vulnerable for it
NHQ: vulnerability is valuable i think
NHQ: i think it makes for lasting art
NHQ: because it’s a piece of you rather than a fragment of culture or something
dream beach: exactly
dream beach: that’s been my blessing and my curse
dream beach: because i am so happy when i make the songs and then i think about people hearing them
dream beach: idk it’s so many emotions (way too many)
NHQ: :)
NHQ: what were some of your favorite parts of visiting LA
dream beach: i enjoy the vibe and the going out and stuff but
dream beach: i also like that if i am not feeling the music i can go to a mountain top and stare out for a while
dream beach: so many people born and raised in cali take it for granted
dream beach: i’ve lived in flat michigan my whole life
dream beach: so when I’m in paradise i like to get in touch whenever i can
NHQ: ooooo
NHQ: any special spots i should check
dream beach: i like going to runyon canyon trail at night
dream beach: feels like your in space
dream beach: i feel like i am on a roller coaster and it’s terrifying but you can’t help but feel something special
NHQ: oooo
NHQ: what else do u see there
dream beach: i went to the the bronson caves last time and trying to grab sounds with my phone mic. they are right by the hollywood sign
dream beach: super creepy
dream beach: definitely went way to high up and i was worried for my friends safety
NHQ: omg
dream beach: i love adventures until i realize how dangerous it can be and then I’m like EVERYONE BE CAREFUL I LOVE YOU
NHQ: hahahaha
NHQ: have u ever had a near death experience?
dream beach: many
NHQ: woah
dream beach: comes with touring in a van sadly
NHQ: how so
dream beach: after a month long tour we were driving home from Denver. our guitar player brent was driving
dream beach: we were like HOME STRETCH
dream beach: 45 mins from home
dream beach: it was foggy and we were on a one way highway
dream beach: and out of the fog, head lights coming our way. this dude had to have been drunk or something because he was speeding on the wrong side of the highway. felt like he had a death wish tbh because when brent swung out of the way, the guy like swerved our way
dream beach: and we were going about 70 when brent was like “guys am i seeing things?”
dream beach: and i mean with a trailer and a van it’s just physics man
dream beach: we should’ve flipped
NHQ: woahhhh
dream beach: but brent maneuvered and saved the day. dude didn’t even stop driving just took off down the same road.
NHQ: WOAH
dream beach: we called the cops a reported that shit
NHQ: that’s rly wild
dream beach: not tight
NHQ: ya
NHQ: ugh
dream beach: touring is really actually a crazy lifestyle.
dream beach: i’ve gone eight months out of the year for many years
dream beach: i am so happy that we finally chilled out and maybe do two tours a year
NHQ: dang
NHQ: tour life sounds rly exhausting
dream beach: i feel u
NHQ: are u planning any solo shows in the near future?
dream beach: been getting out with my dude Skywlkr out here in the D. he’s become a great friend and has been getting me out there which has been a blast.
NHQ: do u think u would ever be interested in producing for other acts?
dream beach: absolutely. my love for hip-hop is infinite.
NHQ: ooo
dream beach: and scoring is something i’ve been trying as well
NHQ: ooooo
NHQ: yess
NHQ: what are plans for the upcoming release?
NHQ: split single?
dream beach: spill your guts soon and lavish street danger when the snow melts (if it snows ever)
NHQ: ooooo
NHQ: how should everyone listen to it
NHQ: what’s the ideal environment
dream beach: spill your guts to me sounds like when you’re looking out the window on a winter day. But the snows melting so you’re looking through droplets of water, and the wind feels like it’s whispering off the snow and creeping past you. It’s a bittersweet song
NHQ: :’)
dream beach: <3
NHQ: bless
NHQ: thx for the chat duder!
dream beach: any time, good sir
NHQ: yaay stoked on the release!
dream beach: meeee toooooo
dream beach: I’m down whenever bb
NHQ: ok dope
NHQ: u wanna doooo
NHQ: wed 12?
NHQ: PM PST
dream beach: sounds good to me :)
NHQ: dope
dream beach: <3
dream beach: appreciate the interview man.
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Words: FAN FICTION
The post Dream Beach Talks Growing Up with Touring Rock Bands and Making Vulnerable Dance Music appeared first on Nest HQ.