Since their first EP in 2024, London-based indie-pop group Daydreamers have been preparing the release of their debut album. Its release this weekend proves it to be crafted in a way that is characteristic of the band’s self-described "sad euphoria" sound.
With shimmering guitar riffs, reflective lyrics, strong crescendos and uplifting instrumentals, the band juxtaposes uncertainty with power, creating a bittersweet sound which allows them to explore themes of identity, community, vulnerability and hope in a way which sounds ‘euphoric’.
The album opens with its title track: ‘Have You Tried Screaming?’. Driven by energetic vocals, the song is an uplifting, punchy opening which sets a strong precedent for the album without overstating itself. Guitarist Marco's melodic riffs stand out here and establish the band’s indie-pop sound, which is reminiscent of bands like The Smiths, The Killers or Green Day, while sounding distinctly modern in its production.
The following tracks, ‘Beautiful Agony’, ‘Saviour’ and ‘Sidelines’ are consistent with this opening and introduce some of the album’s reflective concerns, including heartbreak and love, heightened by contrasting electric and acoustic instrumentals. “After all that you’ve done to me / I’m still glad you came” reveals a complex feeling of loving someone despite the pain they have caused you, and the cycles that form between people that become a “Beautiful Agony”. Vocalist Riley’s lyrics stand out in these tracks, revealing personal desires to “turn back time” and “feel something break”, highlighted by his versatile and breathy voice, which adapts smoothly to the pace and tone of each track.
Self-reflection and uncertainty continue in ‘Good Intentions’ and ‘I Expect Better’, which again combine upbeat synths and easygoing melodies with gut-punching phrases. ‘Good Intentions’ is swamped in self-criticism, repeating claims that “I think I really only wanted attention”, yet concludes with hope: “we’ll find ourselves tomorrow”. Yet again, Daydreamers blend the 'sad' and the euphoric in a distinct and effective way.
Another stand-out track is ‘On The Internet’ - an angsty, catchy rumination on a “generation born to be numb” which reveals how integral the internet is to young people’s culture and relationships today in various different ways, and how this affects people personally and the way they interact with others. The track is deeply concerned with loneliness, doubt, and the future.
The album’s hope nevertheless manifests itself in the album’s climax: ‘Start Living’. This anthem encapsulates an urge to embrace every moment and take everything in. Here, the band asks their listeners and themselves not to sleepwalk through life but to take every opportunity.
Daydreamers end their debut with an understated piano-led track, ‘Hanging Round’, which eases listeners out of the album calmly and reflectively and brings them down to earth. This is a truly self-reflective and quiet song about feeling stuck in one place while everyone else is “growing up”, offering a thoughtful conclusion to the album.
‘Have You Tried Screaming’ is a dreamy album that showcases Daydreamers’ lyrical, musical and vocal talents. While some of the songs blend together in a way that may seem repetitive, they cement Daydreamers as secure and confident in their sound and display a coming-of-age journey.
Emily Sanderson
Image: ‘Have You Tried Screaming’ Official Album Cover