Neon Dreams Perform New Music Live at 13th Floor!
Neon Dreams have just released Love Child Baby Dolphin and the Canadian duo visited The 13th Floor to perform a couple of tunes from the new record.
So, here are Frank Kadillac and Adrian Morris playing Little Dance and It’s All Good, and having a chat with Marty Duda.
Canadian duo Neon Dreams are known for creating alt-pop at its most intelligent, incisive, and deeply catchy, all of which were on full display with singles ‘Little Dance’ and ‘ITS ALL GOOD’, which together racked up more than two million Spotify streams and more than one million YouTube views. But those were only tasty little appetizers, and now the festive main course is due to be served on January 20, 2023, in the form of a wildly entertaining new album whimsically called LOVE CHILD BABY DOLPHIN.
The impressive stats only tell a piece of the story, as Neon Dreams continues to cement their legendary status across different parts of the world. Aside from being JUNO-winning artists in their own country, they’ve become certified legends in South Africa, where they’ve cultivated a pop star-like following (the album cover was taken at a recent show there). The same is happening here in New Zealand where they just wrapped their first festival run and national television debut. There’s a tangible connection that forms between Neon Dreams and their fans, and that’s due to the messages of hope and promise that lead singer Frank Kadillac weaves into his lyrics. He calls it “sunshine music” – music for the soul – and their new album LOVE CHILD BABY DOLPHIN is the perfect tapestry for their colorful talents.
The album feels like a soundtrack to Kadillac and co-writer/drummer Adrian Morris’ journey around the world, and through life in general. You can hear influences from a wide variety of different cultures reflected in each song, with their positive energy serving as the glue holding together the eclectic set. The boisterous title track ‘Love Child Baby Dolphin’ features African singer Mthandazo Gatya (who was previously featured on ‘Say It Loud’) who delivers his buttery smooth verse in Zulu. ‘This Is It’ has a playful, charming energy and includes a celebratory bridge that recalls Arrested Development’s 90’s smash ‘People Everyday’; ‘The Other Side of You’ has an arena-worthy chorus that echoes some of Imagine Dragons best work. It also shows off a more introspective and subdued side of Kadillac, which ‘Mama You’re Always Perfect’, also accomplishes, with Kadillac giving his mom the ultimate shout-out, gushing about the incredible job she did raising him and his siblings. Those strong feelings of love no doubt feed his approach to songwriting. After a couple of listens through, one fully appreciates the love and enthusiasm Neon Dreams has for making music and building real relationships with their fans all over the world.
Kadillac dives in deeper regarding the band’s success in South Africa, and its profound impact upon him:
“I loved growing up in Canada. Through the good and the bad, it taught me a lot about myself and it made me who I am. But sometimes you have to leave your environment to discover who you truly are and grow spiritually. This was the stage I was at in my life when a song I had recorded years earlier started going viral on the other side of the world. The song’s name was ‘Life Without Fantasies’ and it was a very special piece of my soul. We started getting requests to come to perform in South Africa. We took a leap of faith and decided to go see what the universe had in store. That decision changed my life. What I discovered there was love. Love for people, love for myself, and love for God. It strengthened my purpose to connect with people through music and raise their vibration. This album is a collection of songs which I wrote in South Africa. It tells my story. I hope It spreads love, and positivity and helps others find their true path.”
Kadillac and Morris became fast friends after Kadillac moved to Halifax, Canada and the two quickly started making music together. In the years that have followed, the duo has garnered Gold (and now Platinum) singles; accumulated over 50 million streams; played sold-out international shows after their single ‘Life Without Fantasies’ became a sensation across South Africa, and won numerous Canadian awards – including a coveted JUNO. But the project has always meant so much more to Kadillac than accolades, and that was affirmed during his time in South Africa between the music community and meditation retreats that have inspired an ongoing creative evolution. Kadillac’s continuous messages of positivity can be traced throughout their catalog as uplifting songs about not fitting in and overcoming adversity are peppered throughout.
Listen to LOVE CHILD DOPLHIN BABY HERE
Watch the video for the single ‘This Is It’ HERE
Follow Neon Dreams:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
- New Music Friday: 13th Floor New Album Picks: November 8, 2024 - November 8, 2024
- Adam Hattaway Gets On His High Horse: 13th Floor MusicTalk Interview - November 7, 2024
- Tom Irvine Reveals What’s Under The Wharf: 13th Floor MusicTalk Interview - November 7, 2024