Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Dream Bodies

Dream Bodies - Omens

"Omens" is a dubby, broody, Joy-Divisionesque lamentation on losing a love, but having taken the chance on it anyways. Fate vs free will. Are these things pre-ordained, or is our fate in our own hands? You never know, so you need to try! Dubby beats, sparse, desolate yet spacious guitars, layers of synths, and poetic lyrics that are personal yet universal at the same time. For lovers of Joy Division, Interpol, Pop Group, the Cure.

Interview with Dream Bodies

Would you describe “Omens” as a haunting whisper from fate or a bold declaration of free will?

Those two are intertwined, hence the lyrics for Omens. I feel like some things or tendencies/affinities we have with certain things or people could be vestiges from past lives, but nothing is ever set in stone or predetermined. Even though we have lessons and stories that we've come here and chose to play out, none of these are set in stone. We have the ability to act or not act on these tendencies and potentialities. I really do feel always with me are echoes and whispers from past lives though, in your words. I've very drawn to time and the past and old things. The crucial element to this though is to be able to utilize these things in a forward moving sense, to not get hung up in the past, but to move forward with these lessons in your pocket.

Which instrument or sound in the track makes you feel the most bittersweet?

Hmmm. I did arrange all the instrumentation to evoke a sense of vastness and desolation, so as far as bittersweet, I'd say maybe the high Arp synth line. It's kinda sad.

If you could step into the world of “Omens,” what would the scenery look like? Foggy streets, neon lights, or empty rooms?

Empty streets going on into infinity, under the stars.

How do the dubby beats make you want to move, even as the lyrics pull at your heart?

The slow, dirge-like drums, and bass, too, for that matter, evoke a kind of stuck feeling. I didn't intend that, but it worked out that way. A kind of plodding pace, like your feet are too heavy to walk forward, but you keep going anyway.

Do you feel like this song is a warning, a reflection, or a celebration of taking chances in love?

Not so much a warning at all, despite the title. We do seem to fall into patterns with the types of people that come into our lives though, so maybe trying to heed these signs so we don't repeat the same mistakes/patterns/lessons. But we will never know unless we keep trying with people, to grow through and outgrow said patterns. So you have to keep taking these chances. It's still sad though. Losing a person who was once a large part of your life, even though maybe it wasn't a healthy relationship, is still very sad and bittersweet. Letting go is never easy.

Which lyric feels like it could have come straight from your own journal?

The entirety of the lyrics could have been lifted straight from my journal, bc it is a very personal, yet universal song. But to give you an answer, I'd say "is it the angle of the sun that determines when you'll find someone," or "old habits recognized too late..."

Would you pair this track with a late-night walk, a rainy afternoon, or an introspective moment at sunrise?

Def at night. Alone, on a walk. Or staring at the stars. If during daylight, somewhere vast and expansive, like open desert roads going into the horizon.

How much of the Joy-Divisionesque vibe do you catch in the guitars and synth layers?

It wasn't intentional, but there does seem to be some elements of the song that are very Joy Division-y. I use an Arp synth on those leads, which is similar to some of their songs, but I think the overall vibe of emotional desolation is the most JD thing about it.

If “Omens” had a color palette, what colors would dominate the cover art?

Red comes to mind. Pale washed out black and whites too.

Would you say this song is more about fate’s inevitability or the courage to act anyway?

Both. I'll circle back to the first question. We have free will, despite any pre-existing tendencies. What we do with our actions in this life determines what may come in our next life, if you ascribe to that notion. Karma. But you can't just sit on your hands and look out the window as life passes you by, bc you're afraid. The universe rewards action, and whatever set of circumstances may be set in motion by said actions is what constitutes your life. Sometimes things may hurt, sometimes things may be amazing and beautiful. You never know, so you have to take the chance. That's what we've come here for. To experience all of it.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Dream Bodies on the Pigeon Spins Playlist