shoegaze Tag

Dronefly cover art

Dronefly: 10th Anniversary Remaster of the Dream Pop EP

Ten years ago today, we released a special project that holds a unique place in the Overlook Hotel Records catalog. The self-titled EP from Dronefly arrived with a blend of dream pop, shoegaze, and indie rock that still resonates a decade later.

To celebrate this milestone, the entire four-track EP has been remastered in 2024 and is now available on all of the usual streaming sites as well as for purchase/download on Bandcamp.

A Decade of Dronefly

Originally released on May 1, 2014, Dronefly was a collaboration that brought together distinct voices from the label’s roster. The project features the ethereal vocals and lyrics of Deanna Quijada (Trinity & Triage), supported by the intricate guitar work of Mike Chambers and the multi-instrumental production of Kevin Hartnell.

The result is a sound that balances the hazy, atmospheric textures of shoegaze with the melodic sensibilities of alternative rock. It is music for the “space between chords,” as one reviewer noted, a polished, weighted sound that feels like sinking into a comfortable chair.

Critical Reception

Upon its initial release, Dronefly garnered praise for its cohesive vibe and polished production.

Eric at NoObject highlighted the EP’s use of space, stating: “It’s the space between chords, between drum hits and between vocal lines that makes ‘Closer’ an incredible opener… Playing to the strengths of shoegaze as a genre, the track gives off a smooth weighted feeling.”

Samantha at TheEqualGround noted the band’s versatility: “All four of the songs on Dronefly’s album evoke a different vibe but they all so brilliantly coexist. This, to me, is a sure sign of a band that has potential.”

The 2024 Remaster

The new 2024 remaster, handled by the enigmatic Hector the Rat at the Overlook Hotel, breathes new life into these recordings. The layers of synths, Mellotron, and guitars are clearer, and Deanna’s vocals sit perfectly in the mix, inviting listeners to get lost in the “doldrums” and “forever light.”

Whether you are a long-time fan or discovering this gem for the first time, this anniversary edition is the definitive way to experience the EP.

Lyrics

“Doldrums”
Sunlight let us in
The world is prone to spin
When what is fast goes slow
When sleep is hope

I swallow a pill and call it life
And hope that the drug will make me right
Out of sight or mind
And will they always follow?

This fight I can win
I’ll make the earth stop
Till I
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up
Again, again

I swallow a pill and call it life
And hope that the drug will make me right
Out of sight or mind
And will they always follow?

Where I go
Where I go
Deep in this hole
Here I am

Hey, I cannot begin to keep up with madness
This is the world we know
Did you fall in right after I went?
I am not alone
Not alone

Swallow a pill and call it life
And hope that the drug will
(Here I go)
Make me right
Out of sight or mind
Will they always follow?

“Forever Light”
Saw you happy alone
Knew we would get along
And in your eyes my feeling
Touch the silent kind

It would be a hassle
A social convention
I’m not much for ceremony
Inconvenient, but
Would you bother?
If we had to marry each other?
I believe we’re getting close
Las Vegas knows
Forever light

In the light I can see
You are standing with me
And in this moment I’m so happy
To be here
Because your eyes shine
With the neon light and love

It would be a hassle
A social convention
I’m not much for ceremony
Inconvenient, but
Would you bother?
If we had to marry each other?
I believe we’re getting close
Las Vegas knows
Forever light

Stream the EP

Check it out and have a great day!

#Dronefly #DreamPop #Shoegaze #IndieRock #OverlookHotelRecords

Stream and Download

Purchase on Bandcamp

Recommendations

Fans of atmospheric indie pop might also enjoy the following tracks from our artists roster:

Mothsounds cover art

Mothsounds Debut: New Shoegaze & Indie Rock Album from Phoenix

Mothsounds cover art

Mothsounds: A New Shoegaze Journey from Phoenix

It is new release day and I am proud to announce the arrival of Mothsounds! This self-titled debut brings nine new tracks of indie rock and shoegaze created by the talented trio of Mike Chambers, Jason Whitcomb, and Kevin Hartnell.

The album is now available for streaming on your favorite platforms. Take a dive into this sonic landscape and let us know what you think!

Critical Reception

The debut has already caught the ear of international press. IndieCriollo praised the album’s experimental nature and raw power:

“We start today’s charts with a doublet of mothsounds, who bring us a whole experimental universe in their music… finding these two songs is like seeing the curiosity of rock, and how it can unleash you with fury with nothing to leave behind. It is pure rock so that you feel and do not lose your mind, so untie it all.”

Track Highlight: “Beta Carotene”

One of the standout tracks mentioned in the review is “Beta Carotene.” It’s a track that takes you by surprise, demanding you jump into its world while catching your breath. Driven by propulsive percussion and the cryptic, catchy hook “Lemon lime twister,” it leans heavily into the band’s college rock influences.

Mothsounds Album Credits

All songs written by Mike Chambers & Jason Whitcomb.

Mothsounds is:

  • Mike Chambers: Guitars, bass, keys
  • Jason Whitcomb: Guitars, bass, keys, drum programming, vocals
  • Kevin Hartnell: Guitars, bass, keys, drums, percussion, backing vocals

Mixed by Kevin Hartnell | Mastered by Hector the Rat
Moth photo courtesy of Natasha Wright.

View Full Lyrics and Tracklist (Click to Expand) ▼

1. Son of the System

Son of the system / A child of war he cannot fight / A mother’s conviction / Try and escape he cannot hide
Open doorways and starlit sounds / As the looking glass fades / Opulence on this carousel of the beautiful ones / But something’s not right
Son of the system / A child of war he cannot fight / A father’s intentions / Poising everything in sight
One by one, as the air runs thin for the struggling fold / Two by tow as we take control of everything else / It’s starting to rise

2. Chain Link

Stop me before I get tired of the same situation / The cat’s out of the bag now / Downtown on the corner with another
Don’t speak it’s ok / I don’t think I want to hear this / Excuses come easy / I should I know / I’ve made quite a few of my own
Tell me if I should sit back while it falls out from under / Your footing unstable / Grab ahold of the sky as you’re falling / But next time remind me / Of the ways that I’m there when you / Don’t seem to need it / Looking down at the bottom of a barrel

3. Beta Carotene

Screaming at the statues on the lawn / Losing any sense of self control / Find myself alone and then / Television’s on the fritz again / We should just go throw it away
Lemon lime twister / Yeah I think I saw your sister last night / Out past a quarter to two / Beta Carotene wasteland / Now you’re off to the next move / Don’t you come down until we are through
Where have all the good times left and gone? / Wondering if they ever came around / Would I fall in love again with someone other than myself, my friend? / This life is just such a charade
Now you’re running to the wrong side of the ship cause you know it’s sinking / But no one else has a clue

4. Disentangled

Now that we’ve come this far / I don’t expect you’ll understand / I’ll leave it all behind / Forgetting just how sad it is / Then you get under my / Cold and thin contorted skin
And all / All I hear / Is the silence you bring / I’ll find some sense / And I’ll wait for you to change
A loaded mouth of lies / Twisted tongue and serpent’s smile / You slither by and by / I sit alone and wonder why / No comfort I have found / In watching you consume my mind.

5. Photos of the Ghost

Your moves are fine / It’s all we do to keep it in place / Hanging out for now / Truth is I’m mortified / By your grace it seems
Your thoughts are mine / A stoic figure enters my mind / Who does she want now? / Changes like the weather / And clouds are blowing in
When should I just let it go? / Let it end in silence / Ask yourself would you look back / Or would you run for your life?
Unglued, but I / See the pieces fall into place / Nausea is mine / I cannot stomach all we’ve become / And all that we’ve made

6. Dark Army

Let us in your silver lining / Leaves you trembling on the floor
Now I can’t feel you / My limbs are numb / We’re innocent here / We are innocent here / Now I can’t see you / My eyes are blind / We’re innocent here
Half lit pathways open on / Promises of what we’ve done / Broken pages of your story / One that no one lives to tell

7. Edit

I’ll surrender myself / I’ll lay my hand facedown / Stripped of all that controls me / Can’t save you from yourself / Innocence is over / At least that’s what we’re told
The countdown / It’s starting / Change is bound to come / They beg us / To feed them / Always wanting more / The chants are / Still calling / Slowly drowning out / An answer to all / The questions are left out
Broken down and beaten / We pull ourselves back up / Raise a fist in anger / Then watch it fall back down / Ours is not to question / Just fall back into line

8. Slip

Who am I to tell you that your mediocre life is tainted? / You’ll find out someday I know / Maybe I should clear my head and the way I see you clouded in my far too empty mind
I miss all the finer things we know / When I come down to the excuses we’ve made / I’ll forget all our troubles and we’ll make some
Who are you to listen to my every word I’m speaking softly / So you can’t hear what I say / Maybe I should scream my lungs out and blow away what you’ve accepted in your warm embrace

9. All That We Have Lost

Distant voices / Slowly fade away / Is anyone out there? / Who hears the same thing? / We are never going back
This is not what I’m here for / Shouldn’t shock you / Don’t need words to show you how I feel about you / Tell yourself that it’s alright / But don’t look in the mirror / You might not like who’s looking back / Wash away denial
Is she lost? / Or is she waiting? / For someone who’ll make a change

#IndieRock #Shoegaze #PhoenixMusic #Mothsounds #NewMusic

Dronefly EP cover art

Dronefly EP: Debut Dream Pop Release on Overlook Hotel Records

Dronefly EP cover art

Dronefly EP Released on Overlook Hotel Records

Overlook Hotel Records is proud to announce the release of the self-titled debut EP from Dronefly.

Overlook Hotel Records has released the very first EP from dream pop/shoegaze/indie rock trio Dronefly! The 4-track EP features subtle and sublime guitar textures with vocals ranging from delicate to majestic to create a highly dynamic listening experience.

The project features the collaborative talents of Mike Chambers (Guitars, Bass, Keyboards), Deanna Quijada (Vocals, Lyrics), and myself, Kevin Hartnell (Drums, Percussion, Synths). Together, we have aimed to create a soundscape that fans of 4AD, FatCat, Slumberland Records, and highly melodic atmospheric music will find right at home in their music collections.

Early Reviews & Reception

We are thrilled to see the EP already garnering positive attention from music blogs.

Eric from NoObject writes:
“SPACE. Not outer space. Not the space bar. But SPACE. It’s the space between chords, between drum hits and between vocal lines that makes “Closer” an incredible opener. A soft harmonic ringing carries me from section to section. Playing to the strengths of shoegaze as a genre, the track gives off a smooth weighted feeling… Dronefly is a very polished EP. There’s no sharp corners or excessive noise. But its exactly this neatness that makes me want more…”

Samantha from TheEqualGround says:
“All four of the songs on Dronefly’s album evoke a different vibe but they all so brilliantly coexist. This, to me, is a sure sign of a band that has potential.”

Stream the Dronefly EP

The EP is available now for free streaming or download.

Spotify:

Bandcamp:

Tracklist & Credits

Tracklist:

  1. Closer (04:18)
  2. Doldrums (03:18)
  3. Joysticks (03:42)
  4. Forever Light (04:43)

Album Credits:
All songs written by Dronefly. Produced by Kevin Hartnell and Dronefly.

  • Mike Chambers: Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
  • Deanna Quijada: Vocals, Lyrics
  • Kevin Hartnell: Drums, Percussion, Mellotron, Synths, Guitars, Bass

Mixed by Kevin Hartnell and mastered by Hector the Rat at the Overlook Hotel. Artwork and design by Hector the Rat for Overlook Hotel Records.

Lyrics: “Closer”

On planet where I / First encountered your kind
Where fingers beam and ripples burn / For a whisper of sky
Contemplating your eyes / Could you transmit to my world?
Distant beam of cooling light

I’ll bring you closer / I’ll bring you closer
I’ll bring you close / Close / Close

On the planet where I / First encountered your sigh
The sweetest aria / Was I calling your name
As you floated in space / Unaware of my cry?
Distant beam of cooling light

I’ll bring you closer / I’ll bring you closer
I’ll bring you close / So close now
You’ll share my every doubt / So close now

©2014 Overlook Hotel Records. Catalog R237-009.