”Danceable Survival Horror”

I came across Dream Boys while browsing through the gig listings. I’d never heard of them before. But as soon as I put their music on, I was struck by the ingenious, spontaneous, wonderfully spaced-out flow these guys seem to operate in. It’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly what they’re doing, but whatever it is, it feels damn good.

If you’ve missed out on them so far, give their new record a proper listen and catch them live at Spice 99 on January 8.

And by the way, isn’t it ridiculously cool that Spice 99 is bringing a venue right into the city centre? It feels a bit like the old days when Debaser was located right there. Isn’t that exactly where edgy, exciting music belongs? Isn’t that what Stockholm was made for?

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Q: You seem like a pretty slippery bunch. Where are you actually from? Who are you, and how long have you managed to stick together? What are your names?

A: Haha, we have a strong zest for life, which we hope shines through. We’re from Gävle and Stockholm and have been playing together since the pandemic. A lot was happening in empty bars around that time. We’re Joseph, Kalle and Johannes. Although the guy on the right in the picture is called Isak. He used to play bass, but then he had a kid, so now he sometimes plays synth with us instead, which seems fair enough! There are quite a few of us involved beyond the trio.

Q: I hear all kinds of different things when I listen to you, but you have a unique combination that makes me curious, and also a little scared. What have you actually been listening to over the years? What has shaped this sound?

A: Yeah, what we’re doing is some kind of danceable survival horror. Everything from punk, PlayStation, trains and hockey has driven us forward since childhood. And Sinéad O’Connor.

Q: How do you get that really heavy bass sound that features in so many of your songs? What kind of bass is it, exactly? Does it even matter?

A: Oooush. I’d say it’s a combination of a twitchy wrist and a relaxed frontal lobe. Get yourself a P-Bass or a cheap Harley Benton with active pickups. And don’t forget to bring batteries.

Q: Why the name Dream Boys? It’s ridiculously cool, but how did you come up with it?

A: It just landed a long time ago in Gävle, back when everyone was starting new bands left, right and centre. 2015 was a big year for boys’ bands. There’s an idea, or some kind of feeling, attached to it that we just can’t seem to shake off. Multifaceted…

Q: Do you think your parents like your music?

A: One can only hope! “Don’t be sad, the band doesn’t sound half bad” – or whatever it is they say, Sonic Youth?

Q: What’s happening next?

A: Release party at the new Spice 99 on January 8!