Dreamwake is an independent metalcore based out of Connecticut. The band formed in 2018 and has played shows with the likes of Issues and Polyphia. They take inspiration for their sound from synthwave and metalcore music from bands like The Midnight, Erra, and Northlane. The band has been able to incorporate these influences in a new sound which sets the band apart, creating a new style of metalcore they like to call "Wavecore".

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Bobby Nabors: Vocals

Dave Pazik: Guitar

Kevin Jaques: Bass

Andrew Popolizio: Drums

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Dreamwake? How long has the band been around?

Dreamwake has been around for close to 3 years now, but prior to that, members Bobby, Kevin and Dave were all in a band called In Honor Of for several years before. When that band was dissolved, Bobby, Kevin and Dave set out to start Dreamwake. The rookie of the band however is our drummer Andrew, being his first band.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

The origin of the name Dreamwake came from us setting out to find a name that embodied how playing music makes us feel. We like to think of it as a dream or flow state, being 100% in the moment and free from any negative thoughts or ideas. A temporary escape from reality and a step into euphoria, through sound.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

Songwriting is a pretty collaborative effort for us. Bobby and Dave have been the main songwriters since the band's inception, but we're sure to sit down as a group to hash out any ideas someone may have for a song before it's considered "finished". As a result, all four of us are able to get inspired and give our influence to the music. Before covid, we all would meet up to discuss ideas, but covid has pushed us to become more independent, formulating ideas and sending them back and forth.

The themes that carry throughout our music are both nostalgia and mental health. We find that many people including ourselves relate to nostalgia in order to make us feel comfort, an escape back to a time when everything was great. We want our music to be an escape for people to listen to just as much as it is an escape for us to play it while also making people aware that they are not alone in their struggles.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Some of the bands and artists that are currently inspiring the music that were making are bands such as Spiritbox, Periphery, Erra, Novelists FR, to name a few. In addition, we have drawn a lot of inspiration from synthwave artists such as The Midnight, FM-84 and Timecop 1983, drawing inspiration from both progressive Metalcore and synthwave music, we’ve really been able to shape our sound into what it is today

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

This question will vary from member to member, but for most of us, the inspiration to start playing music and start a band comes from growing up listening to mid-2000's metal bands like Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, Linkin Park, Slipknot, and Trivium.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

Normally before a show we all like to stretch and do warm up exercises as well as running through our gear to make sure everything is ready to plug and play. You always can find us warming up together and joking around with each other to get our energy up before hitting the stage. For us, it's all about bringing the good vibes!

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

The biggest highlight of our band's career so far has been playing the main stage at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. If you grew up in the New England metal scene, you know this stage and if you're in a band, you probably have/had dreams to play on it. It was a full circle moment for us being able to finally step up there for one of the biggest shows of our career thus far.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

There are two bands we would all unanimously pick - Linkin Park and The Midnight. Linkin Park was a groundbreaking band that got so many people into heavier music through their unique rap/metal sound. They brought so much inspiration to us as young musicians and pioneered a new sound that would change heavy music forever. On the other hand, The Midnight has been our collective favorite artist to listen to for years now and their music pushed us to go in a direction that may not be typical for metal, but is something that we believe in wholeheartedly. It would be awesome to get to share the stage with these artists that have inspired us so greatly.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Above all, we love making music and connecting with fans, be it online, on stage, or after a show at our Merch table. Its such an amazing feeling to be able to touch someones life. Dreamwake is all about the Vibes, so as long as we can keep the vibes and keep connecting with people, well keep on making music!