With volume and velocity off the charts, this track is an unpredictable frenzy of emotions which many of us will relate to due to the pandemic.

Photo: Adam Alonzo

Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, 24-year-old inventive singer-songwriter Dreamer Boy consistently meanders through different genres and commands the stage with infectious energy every time he performs. Any Dreamer Boy release is essentially a deeply platonic team project, with frontman Zach Taylor and co-writer/producer Bobby Knepper collaborating on every track. Back in April, Dreamer Boy released his critically-acclaimed sophomore album All The Ways We Are Together, which is an environmentally-conscious compilation of dreamy bedroom pop anthems.

Now, Dreamer Boy is back with his latest single KEEP THE PACE which, just like the capitalised title suggests, is intensely compelling and tells an entirely different story to his previous releases. Volatile and harsh from the outset, this track features Zach’s breathlessly captivating vocals on a bed of slicing guitar riffs and heart-racing bass. Reflective of his fluctuating mental state, the song stunningly transitions to short-lived, delicate vocals in the chorus, in which Zach sings more optimistic lyrics “I think that everything will be alright.”

Just as exhilaratingly chaotic as the track, the accompanying visuals for KEEP THE PACE portray Zach running through New York City, riding the subway and anxiously singing the lyrics. Captured through a fisheye lens, the music video automatically possesses a distorted and fragmented atmosphere. As the heavenly first chorus plays, the visuals depict Zach mindlessly scrolling through his phone, as he lays alone in bed, and this visual is very symbolic of the song’s gloomy origins.

Dreamer Boy shares:

This is a song that comes from a place of exhaustion and frustration. I have been observing and experiencing the toll that social media, identity, and swift technological advances have had on my own mental health, and those around me. As an artist, it’s been a confusing time of figuring out who I really am. I don’t want to put on some act for my ‘brand’ or package myself up to sell. It turns out we all do it no matter if you’re trying to promote something or not, we are trying to convince others who we are. I’ve been trying to do some work on finding and rediscovering my pure identity, working towards self-love and honesty. I’m definitely not perfect but my eyes are open and I’m hoping there is a way forward that is more sustainable for our culture.

Just yesterday, Dreamer Boy kicked off his headline All Our Dreams Came True tour in Atlanta, GA and he shall be lighting up stages across the US until October 4th when he concludes the tour in Los Angeles, CA. Undoubtedly, fans will be thrilled to witness the electrifying experience that is KEEP THE PACE live, amongst many other quintessential Dreamer Boy gems.