Few moments match the beauty of a room full of people who feel the same way. All of the other “differences” disappear, and everyone rallies around a common emotion. Under this light, even sadness turns into happiness. 

daydreamers live for those moments when a crowd of strangers forgets its troubles in favor of smiling and singing along. The UK quartet—Riley [vocals, guitar], Aurora Mannola [bass], Jay Lewis [drums], and Marco Bastianoni [guitar]—pacify anxiety, stress, and heartbreak with balmy guitars, sunny melodies, shimmering ethereal soundscapes, and kind of nostalgia typically reserved for the big screen.

After generating millions of streams and building international buzz, the band uplift with a series of 2024 singles for Epic Records and much more to come.

“To me, daydreamers is ‘Sad Euphoria’,” observes Riley. “The lyrics will tear your heart out, but the music is euphoric. It’s built around playing live. We want to create a space where people are shouting back their feelings to us and we’re all connecting. Even though the emotions are intense and often overwhelming, we’re all optimistic in the moment because we’re together.”

As a kid growing up on the outskirts of Southampton, Riley developed a passion for music early on. He taught himself how to produce on his first laptop under the influence of everyone from Radiohead to John Mayer. Eventually, he studied songwriting at the world-renowned Brighton Institute of Modern Music. At the same time, he wrote, recorded, and performed early solo material, honing his chops in the studio and on the stage. 

Mid-Pandemic, a mutual friend introduced him to Aurora, Jay, and Marco. Recognizing an unspoken bond, their casual jam sessions organically yielded original material. 

“It just clicked that we were meant to be a band,” Riley recalls. “The dynamic between us was immediately natural and authentic.”

“We’ve got a good mix of personalities that work well together and play to our strengths,” Aurora adds. “We love Riley’s songs. Once we have his framework, we all contribute instrument-wise, music-wise, sound-wise, and character-wise.”

Jay elaborates “Riley is a fantastic songwriter and ‘ideas man’. Marco is great at helping to cultivate and contribute to those ideas. I’ve got a load of performance experience, so I love being across the mechanics of the live shows. Aurora—as well as being an incredibly talented bass player—has a natural ability with the social side of things, engaging with the fanbase and helping people feel involved with the band.”

daydreamers formally came to life at the end of 2023, making waves in the local scene. Mining inspiration from U2, Oasis, Blur, Fleetwood Mac, Bleachers, and Harry Styles, the band’s signature style took shape honed by energetic live shows and marathon studio sessions. Their gigs especially made waves.

“The Daydreamers live experience is a mix of adrenaline, joy, and nostalgia at the same time,” states Marco. “Our goal is to deliver a performance that can be remembered by everyone who watches us. Giving a 100% on stage is a must for us on every performance we do.”

They kickstarted 2024 with “Call Me Up.” It ignited a frenzy on TikTok, translating to 4.several million streams and acclaim from publications like 1883 Magazine and Far Out Magazine who hailed it as “a true earworm indie track that I bet you’ll be singing to yourself all day.” In the wake of this early success, they inked a deal with Robots + Humans in the UK and Epic Records stateside. 

They parlayed this momentum into “Beach House.” The latter hinges on breezy acoustic guitars and a buoyant beat as Riley’s vocals soar. Right out of the gate, The Honey Pop raved, “Seriously, we can’t stop listening to this song in our heads,” while Uproxx fittingly proclaimed that “daydreamers display the potential to resonate indefinitely.”

“‘Beach House’ was written about a breakup,” Riley notes. “You’re looking back on this perfect moment of when you were with this person, but you know it’s not real now.” 

Then, there’s “All I Ever Dream About.” A funky bass line pops above the track’s handclap-laden beat laced with neon guitars. Practically reaching for the clouds, Riley flaunts his range on the chantable chorus, “Loving you is everything. Touching you is all I ever dream about.”

“You’re super obsessed with somebody, and you know it’s not good for you,” he explains. “It’s pure infatuation, but I think this song also comes from a place of slight irony. You’re basically saying, ‘You’re all I ever dream about,’ but there’s a bit of a wink because you know the situation is never going to last.” 

Ultimately, daydreamers might just help you feel out loud.

“I think music exists to help us understand life,” Riley leaves off. “Maybe, daydreamers can help you make sense of things.”

Marco smiles, “The fact of feeling any sort of emotions listening to our music is a huge achievement.”

“We’re essentially living our dream,” Aurora concludes. “We get to do what we are passionate about, which is make music, make people happy, and create this dreamy, nostalgic atmosphere. The fact that this is our life and we’ve been able to build a community of people supporting us is amazing. I’m sure it will get even better.”