We spoke to Dream State‘s guitarist Aled Evans and vocalist Jessie Powell about their set at 2000trees 2023, their new genre and what’s to come from Dream State as they continue in this fresh musical era.
Hi Dream State, you’re playing The Cave later today.
Jessie: There’s a parrot!
Aled: A parrot just walked by.
A real parrot! How has your 2000trees been so far?
J: I’ve only been here two hours. So, I’m fresh as a daisy.
A: I’ve been here since Wednesday.
J: Having the best time though, I just saw Modern Error in The Cave. It was amazing. Also, quite scary how it filled up and I was like, ‘oh my god, this is the most people I’ve ever played to in my life’. If people come to The Cave.
A: There will be dozens.
J: My family are coming all the way from Worcester. I’m really grateful, even if I just see my parents, I’ll be really happy. I walked to the drink stand earlier and people were like ‘I can’t wait to see you later’ which is very weird but I’m happy.
You released the Untethered EP earlier this year, can you tell us a bit more about the recording process?
A: We did that with Oz, we did it last November. The original plan was just to release singles because that was quicker but when we started doing the third song, we kind of noticed there was a bit of theme here so we may as well wrap it up into one package which made sense really. Then we just did one song as a standalone single with Dan Weller which we released last week. That was fun as well.
J: It’s been great, Aled basically has all these bangers that he had and I have loads of lyrics. So, I heard them and I was like, let me put this hook here and then the EP was magic, you know when you feel like you’re supposed to have worked with someone? That’s how I feel with Aled. We’re like chalk and cheese, but musically like it’s good.
So how have you found the reactions from the fans to you joining and the new music?
J: More than I could have ever expected. I know the love that everyone had for Charlotte and the other members prior to me and the new team that we’ve got, but for me personally, I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better. At the end of the day, they could have been booing me on stage. But if anything, they like crying and taking me under their wings. I personally am just really grateful for the response.
A: I was feeling really ill when we dropped the first song, I couldn’t sleep for a week. I was so anxious and nervous because I was worried about how people are going to react to it. I was very happy with the response.
You released Chin Up Princess not too long ago. It’s the first new material since the EP, is this indicative of your musical direction going forward?
J: It’s gonna get heavier if I have my way. If I have my way it’s gonna get heavier and heavier but I’d say so. Yeah. Electronic, pop, metal.
A: EDM – electronic dance metal.
J: Love that Aled’s just created a new genre!
What’s your dream festival line-up with you headlining? You can have the biggest band in the world playing beneath you.
J: I’d have like Fever 333, The Blackout, Funeral For A Friend.
A: Bring Me The Horizon.
J: Imagine Bring Me being underneath us! Hayley Williams opening for us on an acoustic.
A: Linkin Park.
J: What else? Slipknot. I’m ready to headline. RXPTRS are awesome. Modern Error. As December Falls as we head out on tour with them in November, so it would be rude not to have them on our dream festival.
I love it. Every time I ask this question. Everyone bigs up the bands they love and their pals.
J: That’s what it’s about. We all need each other and I think people need to remember that.
Finally, what’s to come in 2023 alongside the As December Falls tour?
J: We play Radar at the end of the month, where we’re main support to Heart Of A Coward. 15 years or 10 years ago, I opened up for them so privilege. So yeah, busy summer and then we end our summer with Burn It Down. We’re just gonna be getting through festival after festival and then prepping our minds ready for this euro run.
A: A lot of writing as well.
J: That’s just standard for us now!
You can read our review of 2000trees 2023 here – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
See Dream State on tour with As December Falls at one of the following dates later this year:
November 2023
Mon 6th – STUTTGART, DE – Im Wizemann Studio
Tue 7th – COLOGNE, DE – Helios37
Wed 8th – OSNABRUCK, DE – Bastard Club
Fri 10th – OBERHAUSEN, DE – Druckluft Club
Sat 11th – KASSEL, DE – Goethes Postamo
Sun 12th – HAMBURG, DE – Indra
Tue 14th – HANNOVER, DE – Lux
Wed 15th – BERLIN, DE – Cassiopeia
Thu 16th – PRAGUE, CZ – Cafe V Lese
Sat 18th – MILAN, IT – Legend Club
Mon 20th – MUNICH, DE – Backstage Club
Tue 21st – WIESBADEN, DE – Kesselhaus
Thu 23rd – TRIER, DE – Mergener Hof
Sun 26th – BRISTOL, UK – SWX
Tue 28th – GLASGOW, UK – Garage
Wed 29th – BIRMINGHAM, UK – The Mill
Thu 30th – LONDON, UK – Scala
December 2023
Fri 1st – MANCHESTER, UK – Academy 2
Sun 3rd – DUBLIN, IE – Grand Social
Mon 4th – BELFAST, UK – Ulster Sports Cub
Tickets are on sale HERE.
