Dream State

Welsh post-hardcore band

Dream State is a Welsh post-hardcore band from South Wales, formed in 2014. The group’s line-up changes over time include guitarist Aled Evans, bassist Jake Bowen, drummer Tom Connolly and vocalist Jessie Powell as the current members listed in the bio, with former members including vocalist CJ Gilpin, guitarist Rhys Wilcox and drummer Jamie Lee. Other former members named are Sam Harrison-Little and bassist Danny Rayer.

The band signs to Australian label UNFD in 2017. Their early releases include the single “Burn Them Down”, which appears as their first single, followed by the EP Consequences and then Recovery. The EP Consequences is recorded at The Boneyard Studio in South Wales. Their 2017 single “White Lies” arrives around the time of their first festival appearance at Reading and Leeds Festivals. In 2018, they contribute a cover of Linkin Park’s “Crawling” to the compilation Songs That Saved My Life, which supports mental health and suicide prevention charities.

In 2019, Dream State releases “Hand in Hand”, “Primrose” and “Open Windows”, then their debut album Primrose Path, produced by Dan Weller. The album enters the official UK Albums Chart at number 100. After the album release, the band tours the UK as a headliner and then supports Being as an Ocean in Europe. In 2020 they support I Prevail on their European tour, which is later affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They release the music video for “Are You Ready To Live?” in 2020. Jamie Lee leaves the band in late 2020, and CJ Gilpin and Rhys Wilcox leave in February 2022. A new line-up is then announced in October 2022, with Jake Bowen, Tom Connolly and Jessie Powell introduced alongside a new song and video for “Taunt Me”.

Arizonan piano rock band

Dream State is also the name of a piano rock band originally from Phoenix, Arizona. This group is presented as a different act and is based around Nick Garza on piano, guitar and vocals; Nikki L on guitar and vocals; Devin P on guitar; Mike P on bass; and Eric R on drums. The band remains unsigned in the US and has a Japanese deal with Fabtone Records that is limited to Japan. Its sound is described as a melodic blend of piano, pop and rock, and it has released three full-length albums: A Place To Rest My Head, Something To Believe In and Dream State.