Interview: Dreamsense

Russian symphonic metal group Dreamsense has recently released a debut single, titled "Glasswall",  from their upcoming full-length release which will be launched in 2019. We spoke with Ilya Dykin and George Ognev about the band's work.

Every band has to introduce their music to new people. What is it that you want people to get from listening to you guys?

George Ognev (vocals): We want everyone to find something dear to their hearts and souls. To make someone smile, to make someone cry, or dance, even for a moment, to forget all oppressions and to make a small celebration of life.

How hard was it for you guys to pick “Dreamsense” as a name?

George Ognev (vocals): It came out quite spontaneously. We are all people and we all feel and dream. And this name well describes that moment when both feelings and dreams unite and at this moment you can feel that all your dreams are real and they will can be realized.

Everybody is influenced by certain things. What band(s) was it that turned you on to the kind of music you play? What inspires you today?

Ilya Dykin (guitars): when I was invited to the band I was a fan of Therion's "Theli", nowadays I listen more to the bands like Carcass and Decapitated.

George Ognev (vocals): First of all, life itself inspires. And the musical direction was chosen by the fate. In my childhood (and even now) I was delighted by academic and classical music. Over time, a love for the heavy sound of metal was added. So it turned out that these two worlds united and Dreamsense turned out. Now I am inspired by Chopin and a couple of heavy groups, including Queen, Muse and Nightwish, there are many more of them, in fact, but I will not list them all.

When you formed, did you do so with the intent of knowing what to play or did you do so from the point of having a band name and then picking a sound? How did you settle on the name/sound combo?

George Ognev (vocals): This style was chosen from the beginning. The name came later. It reflects everything behind it.

I believe that digital is killing the album format. People’s changing habit of how they listen to music will result in there being no albums. Is there anything good with releasing single tracks only?

Ilya Dykin (guitars): I think it depends only on musician's creative way. But, I believe, that there will always be conceptual full-album releases, one way or another.

George Ognev (vocals): Certainly, it is good that people can listen to the band, even if there is no album. In our case, we release singles for the album. I think every person chooses how he listens to music, as every musician chooses how he presents his music. Albums can be issued in electronic form. It does not stop us.

Speaking of which, you have a single titled “Glasswall.” What went into writing and recording this fine tune?

George Ognev (vocals): An idea came out from the story from the life, and what thoughts and images were in my head then. Having found the music in the form of a guitar riff, which Ilya sent, this idea turned into to a song that you can now hear.

What part does art-work and lay-out play when you release new music? How do you best catch people's attention?

George Ognev (vocals): They take a very important part. Most often, when person is thinking of listening to new music and starts searching for something new, first thing that catch his eye – is artwork. So it really should attract your attention. 

Has social media re-written the rules on how to promote your music? Or do you go about doing promotion the same way?

George Ognev (vocals): I think not re-written, but added new possibilities and opened new horizons for promotion. In the era of social media, we, artists, can be much closer to the public than before. We can show more and tell, besides music. In promoting all means are good. Old types of advancement coexist with new ones and complement each other harmoniously.

When you play in a band, does that make you feel like you are a part of a scene, of something bigger and grander? 

George Ognev (vocals): Of course! And we are a part of something bigger and grander, something that will be unleashed very soon!

How much of a touring band are you? Is touring/gigging still a great way of spreading the word of the band?

George Ognev (vocals): We haven’t toured, yet, but I hope we will in the nearest future. Yes, concert – is the best way of interacting with audience. Each show is very individual and unique. It is during the concert that you can open up to the maximum in front of the audience and convey your thoughts to it

What will the future bring? 

George Ognev (vocals): A lot of new and a couple of surprises :-) Including the album! And while we are working on it, I want to take this opportunity to wish those who are reading this interview: do not stop dreaming!

For more info about Dreamsense visit their website.