An Interview with Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes

Having had Beatles on the brain for a while now, specifically the early years of their hysteria-inducing mop tops, I started to think about their early interviews. I looked up some of those early pressers and was taken aback by just how many times the fab foursome was asked about money and marriage, but there were also some gems hidden amongst the clunkers. And so, inspired by the early press conferences of The Beatles, especially their US tour interviews, I decided to ask some of those very same questions to some of the best and brightest making music today.

Stockholm's Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes give you an idea of their sound just from the name of their debut LP - Sweetie (which just so happens to have a Valentine's Day release date). Their winsome, floaty dream pop is quite sweet indeed, as latest single "Set Me Free" deftly illustrates. It's not all candy hearts and happily ever afters, of course, but Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes gives a starry-eyed sheen to their songs that's sure to warm the heart of even the most cynical among us.

Read on to get to know this adorable quartet, as they give the Beatles Qs a Scandinavian spin (Crows! Big in Japan! Making out at shows!). And seriously, be sure you get your hands on Sweetie, sweeties. A UK/Scandinavian tour is also on the cards, and hopefully some US dates in the near future.

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What has been your most exciting moment in the last year?

Definitely the recording of the album! But also visiting all the places we’ve played in, all the way from Luleå in the north of Sweden to Malmö in the very south.

Who are your favorite recording artists?

We can’t really agree on just one so we’re gonna pick one each.

Elias: Local Natives
Siri: Future Islands
Edvin: Arctic Monkeys
Tilde: Dolce

Do you feel safe riding in airplanes?

In theory yes but in practice, not really…

Does every city look the same?

Yes, especially London and Luleå. Exactly the same, Google it.

What message are you trying to get across, if any?

Our songs deals with all kinds of topics like politics, dinosaurus, dogs etc. The lyrics reflects our feelings about the topic and it’s often about some kind of frustration. We try to talk about difficult or problematic situations in a light-hearted way and with a touch of humor.

How would you describe yourself in one word?

Sweet.

Where would you like to go that you haven't gone yet?

It's a cliché but one day we would like to be BIG in Japan!

Do you feel that you're setting a new trend in music?

It’s nothing we strive for, we mostly play and write songs because we like it and it makes us happy. We write what we write and if were setting new trends…? Well that's up to someone else to answer. We’re just having fun!

What kinds of guitars do you use?

The ones that makes noise.

Does anybody ever ask you for advice?

Surprisingly, yes! People sometimes ask us for tips and tricks about how to do when you want to release music, play gigs etc. We feel very special and important when that happens. So if you want to be nice and make us feel like pros, please ask a question about the music biz.

How do you prefer for your fans to act at your concerts?

First and foremost, DANCE. Nothing gets us going like a dancey crowd! We also appreciate a good makeout sesh, a little love in the air is good for everyone.

How do you go about writing your songs?

We’ve had this “rule” for the past year to write one song per rehearsal. We can't really say we’ve lived up to this goal but it’s been a good way to get us going in the songwriting process. And when we actually write a song it usually starts with someone playing a bunch of chords, a riff or singing a melody and then everyone add their own instruments to it and eventually we have some kind of “body” of a song that we can further work on and polish.

What is one question you would like to be asked that probably nobody has ever asked?

Honestly any question that is not about our band name is an ideal question.

What do you call your sound?

Dreampop badubadapa dreampop badududapa dreampop (read in the melody of “Mmmbop” by The Hanson brothers).

Have you ever had a mental block-out on stage?

Yup, for example once Siri forgot the lyrics to a song but then the crowd saved us?? That was big, for sure!

What are your unfulfilled ambitions?

Everything that Nickelback sings about in the song “Rockstar.”

What advice do you have for teenagers?

Please listen to our music and make us cool in the world of teenagers! Maybe share our music on TikTok or whatever platform it is the youths prefer nowadays.

What is the closest you have come to losing life and limb?

Once when Elias was 2 he sat on the floor in the kitchen at his granny's house when the roof suddenly started to collapse. Everyone ran out and little baby Elias was left to his fate but then at the last second, like in an Indiana Jones movie, he was saved by his aunt Halima!

Siri, however, is a “safe girl” and never stares into the eye of death except maybe when her asthma strikes.

Edvin almost died when his favourite Swedish band Kent announced their break-up.

And Tilde, who is not a “safe girl” is quite close to termination on a daily basis. Most recently when she was attacked by a crow and its friends, and we all know a pack of crows is called a MURDER!

Do you think of yourself more as an entertainer or a musician, or do you think it's more of a combination of the two?

Definitely a combination. Elias is more of an entertainer, he tells a lot of jokes for example. Siri says she is 0% entertainer and a 100% musician, but those who know her also know that's not entirely true, she has about 1 AMAZING joke a year, and boy it’s truly AMAZING! The “comp group” consisting of Edvin and Tilde is a nice mix of 50/50 Musician/entertainer.

[posted 2.9.20]