GET TO KNOW D:REAM IN THE BOP-FILLED BUILD-UP TO THEIR UPCOMING ALBUM, ‘DO IT ANYWAY’

D:Ream – the 90s club scene icons that have well and truly made it into the 21st century charts, and are, thankfully, back for more. We spoke to renowned frontmen, Al and Pete, about their journey from the noughties to the now, dream festival line-ups, and of course, their upcoming fifth album release ‘Do It Anyway’ to be released 8th August. Read on to find out their thoughts on songwriting and leather pants!

1. Tell me about this new album, ‘Do It Anyway’ – What was the creative process like? Has it changed since you started making music?

Al: We got it together over the last couple of years, on and off. Peter is in Ireland and I am in England so we worked on it when we could. Generally, Peter would have some ideas, I would say yay or nay to some, and we’d then get our heads together. Leave them for a while then come back to them. This works for us. I don’t think we would be good if we were told to sit in a room for a couple of months and come up with an album. It’s not our way. In that respect, it’s pretty much the same as it’s always been just with newer and more powerful computers! The album is a smorgasbord of musical styles and sounds that were milling around in our subconscious that needed to be extracted and worked on. Having done that, we’re pretty pleased with the results. I don’t think you could really categorise the album in any specific genre. Bits of electronica, soul, pop, folk, breaks etc etc. We like it like that.

Pete: The distance between ‘Do It Anyway’ and our previous album ‘Open Hearts Open Minds’ is only a few years. We’ve got much more confident in the studio and we work more quickly together because we can divide up the roles, and songwriting comes really naturally now, so there’s a real flow and we bounce really well off each other. I will bring an idea or Al will and we can take the seed of that, whether it’s a baseline or an old demo, and we can finesse it into something that we both find interesting and exciting. There’s less pressure on us to try and be down with the kids and make contemporary records that would sit in nightclubs because that would be disingenuous. That’s really for DJs and remixers whereas we can indulge the creative process with our house roots and play around with that format for a body of work like an album. 

2. What thoughts and feelings do you want listeners to come away with?

Al: It would be nice if the got a lovely warm fuzzy feeling, like they’ve been cuddled by a giant fluffy teddy bear! Alternatively, I‘d be happy if they just enjoyed it. As much as I would love the listener to really appreciate the nuances of sounds and some of the lyrical content, I don’t expect too much on that front.

Pete: I hope people can enjoy listening again and again and taking on board some of the concepts that are in there, as well as singing along to the words hopefully, just to enjoy it really so that when we do meet at the live venues we can have a bit more fun with it. I was saying to the last audience: I do remember a time when ‘You’re The Best Thing’ and ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ hadn’t been on the radio and the audience didn’t know or hadn’t heard the songs before, and that’s what this is like now. They’ve just gotta hear it often enough and hopefully get it on the radio, and then it becomes something we can all enjoy together. 

3. Do you have a favourite track on the album? Why does it stand out to you?

Al: I flit between ’Tell Me To My Face’ and ‘Famous For Nothing.’ I love the story telling and lyrics on FFN and the soul vibes on TMTMF. On other days I may choose a couple of others though.

Pete: Mine is ‘Pedestal.’ It’s intensely personal and almost has resonance of ‘You’re The Best Thing’ about it, followed by ‘Pain Never Hurt Me Like Love Did’. I am ultimately an incurable romantic.

4. You speak very fondly of the 90s club scene where you found your fame. What’s one thing you’d bring from this era into 2025, and what’s one thing you’re happy to keep in the past?

Al: The general vibe around that time was ace. The club scene was so vibrant and people seemed to be really happy. That would be nice. Leather trousers are best left there.

Pete: Clubs were affordable. We could all go out and have two or three nights out in the week, if not more, when it all kicked off, and it wasn’t like it is now. It’s become like a massive expense so I would bring back the prices and a little bit of a madness… not too much though ;-).

5. You have some really exciting performances lined up for the rest of this year. What are you most looking forward to?

Al: Playing with The Happy Mondays at DevaFest in August should be fun. Our percussion player used to be theirs. Oh, the stories. Ours are very tame compared to those. I’m looking forward to them all though.

Pete: I’m so fed up with the travelling. If we could just have Star Trek transporters, I would be happier because all of the gigs are great and the audience is generally really receptive (if not bonkers) by the time we get on so they’re all wonderful, but I’m looking forward to going diving in Thailand at Christmas. 

6. Your career together has stretched over many different eras of the music world, and you’ve had bundles of success throughout the journey. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your time as music artists?

Al: Easy come, easy go. One minute you are everywhere, the next you are nowhere. Enjoy the highs and don’t worry about it when it’s not so good. At least you had those. Life will always go on.

Pete: Put aside money for tax, and do not mess with the inland revenue. Also, learn to say no when it’s important to have your own time. Otherwise, the whole thing can take over your life to the point where you hate it. Then it’s not much fun.

7. And since it’s festival season, I’ve got to ask – dream festival headliners?

Al: Alive: Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, Paul Weller. Departed: Prince, David Bowie

Pete: To me, Zach Bryan is the new Springsteen, otherwise Kate Bush or The Police. We are waiting for someone brave enough to get Heather Small, K Klass, Happy Mondays and ourselves all on one stage. Maybe a few stadiums?! Come on, we know you’re out there!!

The brand new album Do It Anyway by D:Ream is set for release this Friday 8th August and can be pre-ordered now.