Diandra Interviews Neon Dreams: Creating Alt-Pop Positivity
Is it so bad to make your purpose healing? I ask that because it seems that the future holds a lot of artists like, Neon Dreams; realizing that music isn’t just about making you feel good as much as feel healed. For them, the minute you press play, they are offering you a method to become the very light you seek. Frank Kadillac and Adrian Morris completely changed their EDM style to a more anthemic feel to give people what they sought, as well, a chance to feel better. In our interview, we discuss how childhood bullying and a love for fantasies have motivated their sonic, “Alt-Pop” positivity.
Diandra: How do you feel 2020 changed you as artists?
Adrian: We’re wrapping up our latest album, and we were in a DIY mode. So we did our first music video, and Frank had this stop-motion idea. This is the first time we did it on our own. Usually, we work with someone, but this video was us were asking ourselves, “How are we going to be creative throughout all this?” and Frank created and directed our video. We edited it, and then we focused on our album. So, it was good to get into a mind space where we had time and we didn’t have to worry about pushing out singles and touring.
Diandra: To actually do a stop-motion video, must be really empowering.
Frank: (they both laugh) I guess you are right. It sparks our creativity, and I think we were born to just survive with what we got. We just keep finding new ways, and I think that was it for us. We just found new ways to create and depend on ourselves.
Diandra: You’ve compared your new album to a film of the 2000s. What do you miss about that era?
Frank: Those were our teenage years, and everything that was the first time happened in that era. A lot of our best memories are then; watching movies that made me change and think a certain way or punk-rock songs that helped me through insecurities or blasted through parties. I wanted the album to feel like a soundtrack to growing up in those times and trying to find a sense of self-security.
Diandra: What made you turn to those times?
Frank: People kept on saying, every time we played live, that we are Alt-Pop, and we are like, “Why do people keep saying that?” They meant it as a compliment, and kept saying that our live show better than our recording, and, with this album, we really wanted to make our record sound as good or better than our live show. We kept on thinking of bands that molded us and who we wanted to be like. So we started re-watching all these “coming of age” movies and listening to our old, favorite bands and we thought it was a good thing to bring up because who doesn’t go through a time of self-discovery. I think that is what relates us to our fans.
Diandra: Is there a film that you always find inspirational?
Frank: Perks of Being A Wallflower. I know it’s sad, but, to me, it is about finding your friends and a place you belong. It is about finding help and the people that will be with you until you are okay again.
Neon Dreams – Don’t Go Hating Me Now (Lyric Video)
Diandra: It seems like your story with Adrian.
Frank: Yeah (he laughs). We moved to Halifax when I was 13, and I had no friends at all. So I picked up the guitar, and I kept on asking my mom, “Why don’t I sound like anyone else?” and she said, “You don’t do anything outside the house. You don’t have friends. Go out there. Make friends, and good things and bad things will happen, and you write about it.” So that is exactly what I did. I went out there, made friends, made a band with Adrian, and we’ve been on this epic journey. We’ve had all kinds of great opportunities backfire, tours cancelled, and we don’t let any of that stop us. Those are the type of people I want around forever, and those are the stories I like: the ones where someone never stops seeing a future for themselves.
Adrian: One thing I appreciate is that I don’t think our personalities have really changed. Like, right now, I picked up Frank and we went skateboarding. Like, we would have done that in grade 12 (they laugh). I think our values have changed because of what we have gone through and how we have been there for each other in our personal lives. When you are in a band, there are no secrets. Everything we have gone through has been together. It is has definitely molded us, and I appreciate that.
Frank: I have seen Adrian more than I have seen my mother. (they both laugh)
Diandra: Adrian is your mommy now! (they laugh) He is making sure you eat your breakfast! Catch the bus!
(They laugh)
Diandra: But in all serious, your music has become lighter. Do you think that has to do with a growth in values?
Frank: Yeah! I keep on telling my friends, as far as our new purpose, and they keep on saying, “This is the music I thought you should be making since before.” It is like it fits us, but it took us awhile to find it. To truly express who you are, is a really hard thing to do, but, when you get there, it is really great. When we first wrote “Marching Bands” it was from a really raw place, and then, after that, I tried to impress people and they wrote me off as a songwriter. I went through a whole phase of self-discovery, had a mental breakdown, and I went to Arizona and realized my purpose.
I never had a purpose before, and I realized I want to help people. I genuinely just care about people and hope they are doing well. I know some people don’t want to be helped and it is not like I am running around picking up people’s groceries, but I have a voice and I want to use it to make people feel better. So I was like, “Let’s try to make a virtual house in people’s mind where they can go to feel amazing. Let’s build it through the years and, when I’m gone, it can last beyond me. I even deleted a bunch of songs because they didn’t have a purpose. They didn’t want to heal.
Adrian: Just so you know, he is totally that guy who will pick up your groceries. (We laugh) He can be 50 miles away, see someone dropped something, and run to pick it up. He can be a 150 feet away and just bolt to help them.
Diandra: I love a good human being. Do you find it interesting that in lightening up your fanbase grew. It is like you summoned more people who want to do the same: feel better.
Frank: When I was talking to our manager, I was like, “I really think the world needs this, at least, I do.” I have to go back to old music to feel positive. When we started making these records, all these kids came out of nowhere, to say that the most popular stuff is super negative and this helped me go through what I go through. I don’t care about the fame. I care about that moment: those kids.
When I was a kid, I was the man of the house. My mom worked a lot, and I had to stay in the house and protect my sister. I never had anyone say, “Yo, everything is going to be good. Don’t worry, you will be okay.”
Diandra: You sing to love and hate. What is one thing you see most in common within people that love and people that hate?
Frank: That is a great question! Not going to lie! Trying to think of something good. This is a wild one! The most common thing is that people that hate usually don’t know where they’re going. That is the biggest thing in life. I don’t think anyone good or bad thinks they are doing anything wrong. The things they went through made them like that. There’s always good and bad in people, and, some days, you will meet them at their best or their worst. Ugh! This is my favorite question ever and I’m going to be thinking about it! Did that answer it?
Diandra: I think so! It seems like you are saying Hate is not knowing where your life will go, and Love is accepting that you will never know and choosing to live.
Frank: YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Adrian: I know there are people that are really hateful and have really negative thoughts, but, when their light shines, they are awesome people. But, sometimes, hate can take over someone and they get lost in their surroundings.
Neon Dreams – Life Without Fantasies (Official Music Video)
Diandra: What game character would you be?
Frank: LOVE THAT QUESTION! You did your research. The Witcher. He is badass but has a big heart. I feel his pain a lot. As badass as he is, it doesn’t sit with him well when he feels he has done something wrong. and he has to make it right. I feel like, when I play that game, I am playing my life in a different way.
Adrian: Ellie from The Last of Us. She always has good intentions and wants to do good for the world, but doesn’t always see whether she is actually doing good.
For More Information On Neon Dreams Click Here.
