The Dreamers (band)

The Dreamers (band)
Name	The Dreamers
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Years active	2008–present
Label	Sub Pop, Domino Recording Company, Matador Records
Associated acts	Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, Beach House, Tame Impala

The Dreamers (band) is an American indie rock band formed in Los Angeles in 2008. The group achieved early attention through a string of critically noted releases and collaborative performances with artists from Brooklyn and Seattle scenes, gaining placements on playlists curated by Pitchfork, NME, and Rolling Stone. Combining elements of psychedelic pop, baroque pop, and shoegaze, they toured extensively across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

History

The band was founded after a series of informal sessions in a rented studio near Silver Lake, involving alumni of the University of Southern California music program and members previously active in Silver Jews-adjacent projects, The Walkmen, and local punk rock outfits. Early singles were championed by DJs at KEXP, BBC Radio 1, and KCRW, leading to a signing with Sub Pop for their debut EP and a subsequent full-length on Domino Recording Company. Their sophomore album coincided with festival appearances at Coachella, Glastonbury Festival, and SXSW, and a collaboration with producer Phil Spector-influenced engineers who had worked with The Beach Boys and The Velvet Underground. Lineup changes in 2014 followed a European tour with Alt-J and sessions in Abbey Road Studios, prompting a period of solo projects among members who recorded with Bon Iver associates and contributors from Radiohead's extended circle. A 2019 archival release compiled B-sides and unreleased tracks from sessions with guest vocalists from Grizzly Bear, Beach House, and Fleet Foxes.

Members

Current lineup includes vocalist-guitarist Alex Moreno (formerly of Band of Horses touring ensembles), bassist Priya Shah (also a collaborator with The xx), keyboardist Daniel Kim (a session player for Adele and Lana Del Rey personnel), drummer Marcus Reed (ex-Howler), and multi-instrumentalist Sophie Laurent (who has performed with Tame Impala live). Former members include lead guitarist Tom Delgado (now of The Vaccines), saxophonist Emma Chen (now working with St. Vincent), and producer-percussionist Javier Morales (frequent collaborator with Foxygen). Guest contributors over the years have featured vocalists from Grizzly Bear, string arrangements by composers affiliated with London Symphony Orchestra, and studio input from engineers who worked on Nirvana and PJ Harvey records.

Musical Style and Influences

Their sound blends influences cited by members such as The Beatles, My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, Brian Wilson, and David Bowie, filtered through contemporary indie currents associated with Arcade Fire and The National. Critics noted elements reminiscent of shoegaze pioneers and psychedelic rock bands, while arrangements draw on chamber-pop techniques similar to those used by The Flaming Lips and Belle and Sebastian. Live performances incorporate improvisational passages nodding to Can and Stereolab, and their production aesthetic references engineers who recorded Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Lyrical themes echo poets and songwriters in the lineage of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and Patti Smith.

Discography

Albums - Dreams in Bloom (Domino Recording Company, 2011) - Mirrors and Mosaics (Sub Pop, 2014) - North Star Sessions (Matador Records, 2018)

EPs and Singles - "Silver Lake Nights" EP (2010) - "Glass Houses" / "Echoes" single (2012) - "Midnight Parade" (2016) - B-sides & Rarities (2019)

Notable collaborations and appearances include tracks recorded with producers associated with Brian Eno, remixes by members of Hot Chip and The Knife, and a charity single benefiting organizations tied to Doctors Without Borders.

Notable Performances and Tours

The band performed at major festivals including Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Glastonbury Festival, South by Southwest, Primavera Sound, and Lollapalooza. They supported headline tours for Alt-J, Bon Iver, and Fleet Foxes, and made television appearances on Late Show with David Letterman and Later... with Jools Holland. International legs included stops at Sydney Opera House satellite events, club dates in Tokyo and Seoul, and a sold-out residency at Union Chapel, London.

Reception and Legacy

Critics from Pitchfork, NME, and The Guardian praised their early work for melding retro influences with modern production, while commentators in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times highlighted their live dynamics and songwriting. The band has been cited as an influence by emerging artists associated with Sub Pop and Domino, and their recordings are included on curated lists by Spotify editors and Apple Music playlists focusing on indie and neo-psychedelia. Retrospectives in music journals compare their role in the 2010s indie scene to contemporaries like Beach House and Grizzly Bear, noting ongoing relevance through licensing placements in films screened at Sundance Film Festival and television series on HBO.

Category:American indie rock groups Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles