Dayseeker: Blessed With The Freedom To Choose
If one thing is certain in life, it’s that change is inevitable; be it day-to-day, in society, or within ourselves as people. Music is no exception to this rule, existing as an organic being that ebbs and flows as innovation grows. Set to release their fourth LP Sleeptalk, SoCal metalcore outfit DAYSEEKER find themselves in the largest creative swell of their career to date, having opted to swerve sharply away from their prior bearing and delve deep into new and unexplored territory. In the darkest depths of their collective minds, the band have extracted a whole new philosophy, and the resulting album feels fresher than ever before.
The key thing here is identity. Having the confidence to unshackle and create music that bursts with individually is becoming ever more essential in such a saturated industry. It has never been easier to fall into the trap of mediocrity, and become a sound alike to an infinite number of equally capable peers. The courage that DAYSEEKER have shown to flip a middle finger at expectations has allowed them to jump beyond the pack and approach the process with flair. They have always had the ability to turn heads in their direction, but with Sleeptalk they will likely find themselves in the driving seat towards an even higher level of success.
Understanding the key to success is one thing, but having the drive and the nous to pull it off is an entirely different challenge. DAYSEEKER were fortunate to find themselves in a natural position to evolve. As vocalist Rory Rodriguez told us, “we have honestly just progressively lost our passion for playing heavier music throughout the years. I think it’s refreshing for us though because we truly just got to write and record exactly what we wanted and we’re so proud of the end result.” The album is an evolution, rather than a revolution. They haven’t tried to be overly clever and rewrite the entire rulebook, instead they have delicately glazed an ameliorating sheen upon a sound we have already grown to love.
Throughout the record, the band have employed a vast plethora of influence. Like building blocks, these polarising segments combine to build something fantastic. “I love THE MIDNIGHT, KHALID, 6LACK to name a few,” Rory says. “They are really just well written songs and all of them have incredible production.” This explains the heavy pop and 80’s synth effect, something that is mirrored in the neon ridden album artwork and colour rich branding. The new dynamic has achieved its desired impact thus far, and looks set to continue long after release. “I think any artist can get a bit fearful of what their listeners may think when they try something new but we’re so grateful that everyone seems to be loving the new stuff so far.”
Digging a little deeper, DAYSEEKER feel less constrained lyrically than they have in the past. Rory states that, “we did a concept on our last album and although I’m very proud of it, I did feel like it limited my lyrical ability to some extent. I was confined to this one story.” This time round, although a lot of the themes continue from old, the band really had to open up. “We follow up on my father’s current state with his cancer and Parkinson’s on Drunk; I talk about my mother’s drug abuse from her perspective on Crash and Burn. I’d like to think we touched back on our roots and really honed in on relatable content for the listener. I truly believe there is something for everyone on this record.” These are difficult points of discussion for any band to touch upon, but for Rory, each track is presented with the best of intent. “Music saved me so many times in my younger years and it’s a blessing to feel like we may be helping other people with our songs.”
Here lies a band testimony to the fact that hard work pays off, and they are grateful for every ounce of support received along the way. As Rory puts it, “We owe our success to each and every person who listens to us and supports us. We can write about anything we want at the end of the day but we’d be nothing without the listeners.” The fact that DAYSEEKER have “paid more attention to our overall songwriting” is glaringly obvious, and this latest instalment in the band’s journey is likely to be brimming with rapturous acclaim.
Sleeptalk is out now via Spinefarm Records.
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