We all know the feeling. You’re standing at the platform to head home after a surprisingly magical first date, still blushing and high with an invisible power, wondering if everyone else boarding your train can see it too. You tell yourself not to, but you instantly start daydreaming about what life could look like with this magical person who was no more than a stranger mere hours ago. You put your headphones on, and what’s the first thing you want to hear?
When Riley, Aurora, Jay, and Marco — aka daydreamers — first teased “Call Me Up” back in March, the internet took it and ran. The infectious, nostalgia-tinged track quickly became an anthem for first dates and new crushes — and when it was finally released on streaming platforms a month or so later, it was just in time to become the movie-worthy soundtrack to the early stages of summer romances.
Now, as the summer draws to an end, your new favourite band has another one for your playlists. “If ‘Call Me Up’ was the first date, ‘Don’t Delete My Number’ is when they end up ghosting you,” daydreamers’ lead singer, Riley, tells us about the band’s latest release. The leaves are starting to change, the weather is dropping one degree at a time, and what looked like love in the sunshine may appear a bit different in reality. “I think the lyric ‘I still remember the summer, but will we remember each other?’ sums it all up really,” he shares.
A bittersweet ballad full of yearning lyrics and a beat that grounds the sadness in an optimistic euphoria, this one will no doubt feel cathartic to scream live. Luckily, daydreamers are heading on tour with Sea Girls later this month — so you won’t have to wait long to find out. In the meantime, we speak with Riley all about how daydreamers came to be, playing live, connecting with fans, and, of course, “Don’t Delete My Number.”
Stream the single now…
And read the interview…
Hi daydreamers! What are you all up to at the moment?
Hey! Thanks for having us. We’ve just come back from playing Reading Festival, still recovering from that to be honest. This week we’re finishing up the next single, and we’ve got “Don’t Delete My Number” coming out on the 30th, which we’re buzzing for. At this exact moment I’m actually on my way to a Bleachers gig.
Can you tell us the origin story of the band? When did you start making music together?
I’ve always been writing and producing just myself on a laptop, then last year me and the guys got in a room together and everything really just clicked. So in October we started Daydreamers, and then in February “Call Me Up” started going crazy on tik tok! It’s been a mad journey and it’s just the beginning.
How would you describe your sound? Who are some of your musical inspirations?
I’m really inspired by older records, songs that feel timeless – The Cure, Aztec Camera, ABBA, and I grew up on Radiohead + John Mayer. Those two really got me into writing and production. As far as describing our sound, I’d say: summer indie nostalgia
Your song “Call Me Up” generated a ton of buzz on social media, seemingly blowing up overnight. But what went on behind the scenes? When did you write that song and what was the process like of getting it to reach the right people online?
Yeah it was absolutely mad. In all honesty we’d been trying difficult types of videos for awhile with various different songs; then me and Aurora went out with a phone and shot some stuff around Finsbury Park in London. Just because it was near where I worked. Then yeah, that evening posted it and it completely went crazy. The song itself I wrote last year, much like all the others just me in front of a MacBook with a guitar. I’m just particularly glad I hit record that day.
Your way of initially sharing it with fans was really interesting. How did you decide to create a group on WhatsApp and what was that experience like of connecting with fans?
For all of us connecting with the fans is the most important thing – that’s really what it’s all about, and everything else really comes secondary to that. So it made sense to have this direct line of communication to everybody that liked our music, and long may it continue. I’ll always be the first at the front to chat to people after shows, and I guess the WhatsApp and discord are an extension of that!
Do you have a typical songwriting process?
For me, every time it’s different. Part of the fun is trying to find new ways to inspire yourself, but I definitely find constantly being engaged helps. Whether you hear something on the train, or you sing something in the car, giving your ideas weight helps you get any idea down. So whatever you do, record it!
Congratulations on “Don’t Delete My Number”! Can you tell us about this track?
If “Call Me Up” was the first date, “Don’t Delete My Number” is when they end up ghosting you. I think the lyric “I still remember the summer, but will we remember each other?” sums it all up really, and it’s such a fun one to play live.
Which song of yours are you most excited to play live?
I love it when people sing the line “let’s not overthink it this time please” during “Beach House” – you just get a feeling when everybody is screaming that.
What other music are you listening to at the moment?
Orla Gartland, Good Neighbours, an artist Role Model was put onto me the other day after an interview actually and I’m loving the album Kansas Anymore. So if you have any recommendations send them our way!
What are you most looking forward to in the near future?
Supporting Sea Girls on tour in September – it’s our first proper tour and I’m buzzing for it. Apart from that, releasing our debut EP this year and after that… the album.