New York based artist, Duunes, takes the city by storm in debut single “Fever Dream”

New York based musician Duunes has been riding the rollercoaster and is on the way up to taking New York City by storm with his first single “Fever Dream”.

Duunes uses New York City as a muse. Listening to “Fever Dream” is like relieving the most memorable night out, the kind where you wish you could completely capture the moment to make it last. And with this song you can. “Fever Dream” perfectly captures the energy and excitement of youthful aspiration, when a person is ready to succumb to whatever concerns they have and follow wherever the city takes them, accumulating memories along the way. Some that don’t even feel real, like a fever dream. The lyrics read, “...sliding down the gutter of a Saturday night, never felt so good, or so alive…”  All of the imagery that comes to mind feels like b-roll from a movie shot in New York, encapsulated in a three minute song.

Not only does Duunes have the rhetoric to perfectly capture a feeling into words, but they’re backed with addictive rhythms and are able to successfully execute a final product from the meaning behind the song. Accompanying the energetic, drug-like craving sound from “Fever Dream,” is his rich voice, which resonates throughout the song and draws in anyone who listens. 

“Fever Dream” has a mystical quality to it, like getting ready to take the leap of faith and let the night sweep you away. 

We talked to Duunes a week ahead of the release of his first single, “Fever Dream”.

Photo via Instagram.

Can you give a brief overview of how you got into music? 

Yeah, I've been in music pretty much as long as I can remember. Some of the first words I spoke to a human being were the lyrics to “Hey Jude.” So, I don't know if that says anything, but I'm a huge Beatles fan. I have like every Beatles record, US, UK edition. I started taking guitar growing up in 2nd grade. Started joining bands in middle school. Always was a frontman. 

Have you always been drawn to the spotlight, being on stage, being a frontman? 

Yeah. I just love performing, and I love doing anything in that realm. I went to school for music business. Had a band for a while, played across the east coast in a lot of house show venues. 

When did Duunes start?

I ended up starting this project in December when I met my current manager. We just completely pivoted and got started, writing a lot. Right when I started working with them, a day or two later, I was booking flights to LA. I was having sessions with one of my producers Cass Dillon in New York. Pretty much started from scratch. 

Do you feel like Duunes is different from any other based on the way you started? Just sitting down and thinking about how to build this from the ground up? 

Yeah, more of that was how the heck do I get people to listen, which is always something to think about. But this one is like, what is Duunes? What is this project? Resilience, persistence, energy, New York, upbeat, darker edge. How can I make that a thing, and it's just like all parts of my personality I wanted to focus on this. 

How did you find the musicians in your live band? 

I just met them through a bunch of guys I knew in New York, from being here for, at that time, a year and a half. They're freaking incredible. I love these guys. They are the tightest, the best live band I’ve ever had 

What’s your songwriting process like?

I feel like it usually starts in two different ways. More so for this project, I’d be in the room with one or two other people, and we'd kind of just start on an overall vibes, a chord progression. 

So for this one you sat down and were like ‘we're writing a song?’ 

Yeah, we have something we want. For “Fever Dream,” that was the first session with Cass (producer) and we were like, ‘let's write a song.’ We didn’t know each other well before this. And I just picked up the guitar and was playing this riff and just like ‘oh this is cool.’ And we tracked that, and put that on loop. He started playing bass over it, I started coming up with some kind of melody, all gibberish. We were happy with a top line. We kind of just recorded that, broke up the lyrics piece by piece, following that same formula. One of the things I really like about writing with Cass, in his studio he has a tv above his set up and we were watching random videos and movies that were playing.

While we were writing “Fever Dream,” I said I wanted to write a song that captures what it is like going out in New York. We were watching God Only Forgives in the background. The other way would be just chilling in my apartment or whatever space I'm in, and I could just have a thought on my mind and just start writing a melody in my head, writing lyrics. A lot of the songs I've written are just me and a guitar and not exactly knowing what I'm writing from that start, but having that idea and going with it. With the guys I was writing with, a lot of the ideas just came from throwing things down. I think some of the coolest songs present themselves. It’s kind of a common theme in life but it’s something I live by. 

Do you prefer working with people rather than writing alone? 

I think currently I prefer writing with other people. It brings a whole other energy to the room. And sometimes someone else might have an idea that you had no idea would not have come up if that other person was not there. I think when you put more than one mind together you can accomplish some amazing things. Both are great. I think a year ago I would’ve said I prefer to write alone more. This phase I'm in, I prefer writing with another person, I just love writing with others and collaborating. 

What is it about going out in the east village that is inspiring?

I feel like it's the indescribable energy when you're there at 1 or 2 in the morning when you're there, pretty much anything can happen. New York is the city of possibilities. Going out on the Lower East Side you never know who you're going to run into. You could go to one bar on a block and just hop over to the next door and it's completely different energy and set of different people. I've had the most fun and interesting conversations I've ever had at some of these places. I feel like there's something romantic about it as well. Everyone, especially when you get into the morning everyone is looking for something. I think it's so popular because there's so many endless possibilities of what a night can go into. 

So what are your favorite places to go out in New York? 

I really love going to ViCTORiA! Actually part of this video is filmed there. I like Treasure Club. I like a lot of places in Dimes Square. 

What is the inspiration behind the music video? 

It was pretty much that whole video was adjacent to what the song meant to me. Where it was capturing going out, surrendering yourself to another person, just really falling for someone without really knowing much other than you want to have a good time. Just being free, letting the night take you. I think so many people live for that feeling, that kind of confidence. So many people are trapped in this self conscious mindset and don’t take that leap of faith and don’t go for what they want. For the song and the video, I just wanted to show just be that fucking person you want to be and go for it. 

Is the video sponsored by Ray Bans? 

No, I am just wearing Ray Bans in a bunch of videos. I have so many tiktoks to throw out there in the next month. 

Is the sunglass look going to be a trademark? 

I guess. It's going to be like part of the Duunes look to differentiate. Not that it's the most original thing. For content at least, every TikTok and reel I just want to create this New York City vibe. 

What do you think sets you apart, gives you an edge as a musician?  

I feel like I'm a really good topliner. I feel like my voice is very unique and powerful, which is very custom to me. I'm a very driven person where if I want something, I know this is common in a lot of people but when I want something, I will go to the end of the world to make it happen. I dont think a lot of people have the same persistence and drive to go that extra, extra mile. 

You have an upcoming show on the 20th at Berlin. Besides that, any new music releases or anything new happening? 

Yeah, I guess just finishing up booking some shows in Philadelphia, some more New York shows on the way. There will probably be single number two sometime later this fall. EP will probably be out sometime in March, a lot of this is hearsay. More music out in the fall, more shows in the east coast. 

What’s the goal? 

The goal is to make music. The goal is to be a full time recording artist that tours around the world, tours around the country, and writes with awesome people. Always playing shows, making shit that I care about and hopefully other people also do. 

“Fever Dream,” Duunes first single is out now! Follow Duunes on Instagram, Tiktok, and his website. Duunes is playing September 20th at Berlin in New York City.