Dani Slovak – Like A Dream (2023)
As a professionally trained medical doctor with ambitions of specialising in psychiatry, Slovakian singer-songwriter Dani Slovak knows the significance of dealing with complex emotions. In an interview with Illustrate Magazine, UK-based Slovak shares that he feels like he “…knows how to talk about topics and how to verbalise thoughts so many others want to talk about…” – and he uses art to do this. While Slovak had poetic tendencies in him from a young age (in other words, he wrote poems as a child), it was only in 2018 that he began releasing original material. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Like A Dream’.
Following his well-received single ‘Hold Out’, ‘Like A Dream’ encapsulates the process of bereavement through elegant, sophisticated lyricism. Slovak explains that “…that’s what it feels like when someone you care about dies – like a dream. So many people lost someone in the past years, especially during the pandemic. The song is dedicated to my dearest nan…”
Touching on the issues of loss, regret and inner turmoil, ‘Like A Dream’ connects with listeners on an intimate level with Slovak’s vocals oozing vulnerability. With a stark, raw and broken tone, Slovak appears to speak to us instead of singing his thoughts. It is as if he is holding you tight, crying his words and reaching into your soul with a painful fragility. Unlike ‘Hold Out’, ‘Like A Dream’ has a minimalistic approach interspersing piano within a strong vocal-driven melody. It appears empty, but the soundscape is kaleidoscopically filled with pain, fear, angst, regret and hopelessness.
Interestingly enough, while there is a strong sense of melancholy in ‘Like A Dream’, it also has an empowering sentiment woven into the lyrics accepting the dream-like state. Recorded in his home studio, it is a private, personal song but also something to help release the inner demons. Slovak explains that “…I realised just how precious those joyful moments with your loved ones are. Maybe someone going through loss can feel a little less alone and understood…”
For more from Dani Slovak, check out his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
