Photo by Ben Erbacher (@b.enje)
Naarm/Melbourne alt-rockers Day Dreamers have served up a fresh dose of apocalyptic punk for your listening pleasure, returning with their second track of the year in the gritty new ‘y2k’.
Off the back of their January single ‘Again, Again’, which saw them return after a year-long release hiatus, ‘y2k’ has Day Dreamers picking back up on their blazing momentum, and carrying out the remainder of 2025 with nothing short of a bang.
Thematically, ‘y2k’ speaks to a sense of cultural, social, and personal panic noted by the band in the world around them of late. Nodding to the titular global phenomenon experienced at the turn of the millennium, frontman Zak expanded on the similar sense of apocalyptic incidents unfolding around us;
“’y2k’ is a reference to the hysteria of 1999 but about the feeling that every day right now feels like an intense moment of panic that the world is about to end in one form or another – but choosing to still want, to accept pain, to move on from the past, and to hold close what’s truly important. For some with what is going on each day across the planet, their world is ending and it’s been a wake up call that everyday, just to be alive is a gift and it shouldn’t be wasted on the day-to-day surface level things that I know I can tend to get so absorbed by.” ZAK, DAY DREAMERS
A high-energy track which effortlessly marries catchy melodies with a punchy performance style, the single was, in part, inspired by beloved pop-punks and fellow Melbournites Bakers Eddy (whom Day Dreamers recently supported on their Doing Better tour), and is primed for fans of Dear Seattle, TOWNS and Sophisticated Dingo;
“The music was written on a band trip away to Venus Bay. We had a bit of the ol writers block and we were listening to a lot of Bakers Eddy at the time, so we were all wanting to come up with an idea that had heaps of energy and felt explosive to open our sets but everything just felt forced and inauthentic. Ironically out of frustration Nick literally pointed at me and yelled “do Bakers Eddy!” Not knowing what that meant or what to do it snapped me to just be in the moment and I just started playing the open chord riff that opens the song and we hashed out the rest from there…
After writing the music, I wanted the vocals to just feel like panicked barking – yelling at myself, but to also feel like someone shaking you awake to break out of the haze and wake up to what’s going on right in front of you. We mixed and recorded the song itself completely from my bedroom, and the drums in the family lounge room. It took a long time doing it by ourselves but we wanted this song to truly come from us in every facet, and for it to feel as honest and forthcoming as possible but to show how much we’ve grown from our previous releases. Hopefully it shows.” ZAK, DAY DREAMERS
Day Dreamers have seen past support across DSPs, with their last single ‘Again, Again’ being added to Spotify’s Local Noise playlist, and singles such as ‘Demo’ sitting at over 72K streams on the platform. Previously having sold out their 2023 album launch show at Melbourne’s Leadbeater Hotel, Day Dreamers have been working hard at building their name in the studio and the local gig scene alike.
Now, the band are set to take the stage again for their upcoming tour, kicking off with a single launch show at Melbourne’s Retreat Hotel, before hitting Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane throughout the month of November.
DAY DREAMERS TOUR
Friday October 24th The Retreat Hotel Melbourne TICKETS
Friday November 14th Woodshed Adelaide
Friday November 21st Lansdowne Hotel Sydney
Sunday November 23rd Junk Bar Brisbane
Day Dreamers: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | triple j Unearthed
