There’s something quietly powerful about what daydreamers is doing. Their music taps into an energy that’s been missing in modern pop, and it couldn’t be more welcome.
With an energy shift as the lights dimmed at London’s The Garage in Islington on April 17th, the crowd was as eclectic as the band’s setlist — from middle-aged men nodding along to teenagers screaming every lyric, even the unreleased ones they’d somehow memorized from Instagram videos or grainy videos.
Photo Credit: Lucy Niederman
The crowd was already buzzing from Elle Coves’ acoustic opening set, an artist whose introspective lyrics and stage presence set the tone for the night, featuring a Gracie Abrams cover and shades of Taylor Swift’s lyricism in her originals, such as “Tightrope.” Coves returned later on in the evening to perform a duet with the band, singing their track “Hope You’re Happy.” By the time Daydreamers stepped out, the room was more than ready.
Featuring Riley (vocals), Aurora (bass), Marco (guitar), and Jay (drums), Daydreamers is a tight-knit group whose stage presence and sound reflect a band that has found its cohesive rhythm. The London-based four-piece band blends relatable and vulnerable lyricism and a pop-rock energy that feels nostalgic and comforting yet refreshing and musically progressive.
Within a year of releasing their debut single, “Call Me Up“, the band has embarked on supporting British-pop band, Sea Girls, as well as heading on their first headline tour this Spring across the UK, and released their debut EP daydreamers this past November.
The unreleased tracks (and yes, I’ll be rewatching my clips of “She Is a Time” and “Beautiful Agony” on loop until they’re officially released) echoed reminiscent elements of where The Script and Coldplay meet Radiohead. But even then, these tracks feel fresh and undeniably Daydreamers.
What stood out to me even more than the sound was their sincerity. Just minutes after a full-throttle set, the band stayed to meet every single fan. They posed for selfies, individual polaroids, gave hugs, and thanked everyone individually. No rushed lines, no VIP wristbands. Just people who genuinely love their fans and show it. That kind of intimacy is rare and unforgettable in an age where the music industry too often forgets the people it’s meant to move.
What’s special about Daydreamers isn’t just their amazing sound, but the kind of people their music brings together. From longtime indie lovers to younger fans who discovered them through a 30-second clip and now follow them from city to city, there’s a shared sense of emotional investment. These are fans who don’t just listen, they full-heartedly feel it. Beyond the music venue, that connection continues across Twitter threads, Discord servers, and group chats where fans swap updates, setlists, and emotional check-ins. During the show, you could feel that bond in real life, alongside fans hugging, swaying, singing every lyric, and staying fully present in the moment.
That sense of community goes both ways. One of the most electric moments of the night came when Daydreamers performed their fan-favorite cover of Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” — a track they first debuted during their appearance on BBC’s Future Pop. It’s become a kind of inside joke between the band and their fans, a shared moment that feels deeply personal and full circle. The room lit up the second the intro played — a testament to how in sync this band is with the people who love them.
Luckily for me, I got to sit down with three of the four members of Daydreamers in the greenroom, more of a corner nook, really, as the venue staff clocked out, the crew packed up, and the doors closed behind the last lingering fans. Despite the chaos of a full tour and the exhaustion that comes with being emerging artists on the move, they were generous with their time. They simply didn’t have to say yes, but they did, offering thoughtful answers with tired eyes and full hearts.
Read The Knockturnal’s full interview with Daydreamers!
Riley & Aurora – Photo Credit: Lucy Niederman
THE KNOCKTURNAL: I wanted to learn more about all of your backgrounds. Can you share a bit about your first experiences with music in general?
Riley: I think music was such a big deal because when I grew up, I was homeschooled for a long period, so I think music was always a way out of feeling lonely and feeling isolated. So it’s a huge thing for me. John Mayer’s album Where the Light Is, which is a live album, and Radiohead’s OK Computer. There are so many meaningful albums to me.
Aurora: I’ve been growing up around music since I was four, so it’s really, it passed from being a hobby to being the only thing that I knew how to do and the only thing that I wanted to do. I’ve passed through several instruments over the years, starting with the cello, doing a bit of piano, a bit of flute, singing, et cetera, and then ended up landing on the one, fell in love with the bass, and ended up in a band.
Marco: I got into music when I was 13, I think, and I saw a live video from ACDC. It was Thunderstruck. I was like, “Oh my God, what is that? I need to do this.” Before music, I used to be into drawings, so I drew instead of playing guitar, and then I just went to guitar, and it just went steady. Here we are. The rest is history.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: So like many others, I discovered Daydreamers when I was scrolling on Instagram, and the first clip of Call Me Up came out. It felt like such a nostalgic sound, but also like something new and refreshing, and I knew I wanted to keep an eye out for you guys. I imagine there may have been label pressure, but what was it about “Call Me Up” that you four equally decided that this was what you wanted to choose as your debut single and introduction as a band?
Riley: We didn’t have a label at the start, and it was us putting stuff out on Instagram and TikTok, and we have recorded a bunch of songs. And then when one took off, it’s funny with what you said about the label, then everybody wants you. So, if anyone reading this is trying to get into music, it’s just putting stuff on the internet constantly. And that’s what we did. From that, we were able to tour and play shows like tonight, and it’s been amazing.
Marco: I think there was no doubt that it was going to be “Call Me Up” as the first single.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: How was it combining 4 different musicians with various music tastes and personalities? How did you manage to make yourselves this cohesive band?
Riley: It was through a mutual friend. I was writing and producing loads of stuff, and then from that, it kind of sounded like a band. All three of us [Riley, Aurora, and Marco) met through a lecture, Silas Shout, was the teacher and knew these guys and was able to get into a room, get in with Jay, and then just sort of worked out from the very stop.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: What would you say is the biggest difference between headlining versus being a supporting act?
Marco: The energy is so different when you’re headlining. You feel that sense of people coming to see you, and it just makes a difference, I guess. But also on a support tour is nice, very nice as well.
Riley: We say they’re our community.
Aurora: Like our family of our people who are there for us, and we kind of know because they’re there for the songs that we play.
Riley: I think on a support door, you’re constantly trying to win people over, I suppose. Whereas it feels like there’s nothing, you don’t have to prove anything when it’s your own crowd.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: On the subject of touring, how are you learning to keep yourself more grounded when you’re traveling to different cities?
Riley: To be honest, I think we’d all love the opportunity to find out more because we’ve been on the road for eight days, and I think we’re all good so far. You know what I mean? We love it. So we want the opportunity to find out how difficult it can be.
Aurora: I do also think it makes a difference having a band and being together in the same boat, as opposed to being a solo artist where you would be, it would be feel a bit more like you against the world when in this, we’re all in the same boat, so it feels a little bit more grounding as well.
THE KNOCKTURNAL: Have there been any specific moments during shows or fan interactions that have stood out to you that are special to you? Any funny or heartfelt stories?
Riley: I think just now, probably. [They] made a scrapbook – Asia, Becca, Lucy. They’ve come to every single show, made a record of every show with photos and little notes from fans.
Aurora: That was an amazing surprise. We’ll never forget that.
Check out more photos from the Daydreamers show below!
Stay up to date with their upcoming announcements here.
