New Song Of The Day: Dawn Diver – Thirsty Critters

Dawn Diver treats us to “A Zappa-esque, trippy, reverb-heavy journey into a fantastical realm.” And it’s called Thirsty Critters.

Dawn Diver is the creation of Ben Lemi (Trinity Roots) and here’s what the record company blurb has to say about him:

Dawn Diver‘s third single, ‘Thirsty Critters‘, offers a window into the genius of writer/creator Ben Lemi’s syncopated musical creations. A Zappa-esque, trippy, reverb-heavy journey into a fantastical realm, the song depicts a tale of dehydration and lamentation of missed water consumption opportunities. Fittingly, there’s no accompanying video. The lush vocals, stuttering, propulsive drums and a convoluted, tasty melody with a tinge of UMO conjures an amazing visual and aural experience.

Ben says, “On one level Thirsty Critters is a provocation: Why is water important to us? How is water essential to you? What would Dr. Strangelove say about this?

On another level it’s an observation of the shoots and ladders which make up the current music industry and the manner by which various entities traverse these structures.”

Ben Lemi is the multi-instrumentalist pillar of many bands in Aotearoa New Zealand. A humble, gentle and solid presence, his propensity for diverse sounds and adaptability to styles and mood is legendary.

For Trinity Roots, Ben is the drummer; in Estère’s band, he plays bass, keyboards and sings; he produces French for Rabbits’ albums, in addition to adding vocals, bass and guitar; with Bret McKenzie, be plays drums and adds his silken vocals. In Dawn Diver, Ben plays all instruments and sings all vocal parts.

About Dawn Diver:

Described as “gorgeously evocative” by Melody Thomas for Capital Magazine. The music of Dawn Diver is drawn from the depths of waking dreams.

Led by multi-instrumentalist Ben Lemi (Trinity Roots, Bret McKenzie, French For Rabbits) Dawn Diver have been steadily attracting fans for their surrealist soul-inflected performances and nuanced narratives.

Ben says, “Many of the musical ideas are formed in my early waking stages before transitioning to full consciousness. In the quiet moments before the birds have chirped and the sun has risen, “Dawn Diving” attempts to describe the act of diving back into the semiconscious. This allows the grooves and melodies to crystallize before the conscious mind starts to refine and fashion them in to compositions.”

For more Dawn Diver:
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