Neon Dreams has released “Wolf, Princess & Me,” their new EP available today at all digital retailers and streaming services via Dreaming Out Loud/Warner Music Canada. “Wolf, Princess & Me” is a six-song concept EP exploring the arc of a turbulent romantic relationship in lyrically and musically compelling fashion.
Call it a musical fairytale for millennials – a love triangle featuring the lead character, Neon Dreams singer Frank Kadillac, a Princess and the Wolf. Together, the six songs connect to tell a complete story of love and betrayal, tracing the emotional highs and lows of a complicated entanglement.
The first single, “Rescue,” is a shining example of this. Blessed with a memorable melody and cool rhythms, it is a love story with a real personal resonance for Frank Kadillac. “The lyrics came to me after my soul felt the beat,” he explains. “While we were touring I had half of it finished in my head already. As soon as we got home I started working on the drum grooves. Then I heard Adrian playing some chords and the song was complete in my head after that moment.”
Bringing the song to vivid visual life is its eye-catching video clip, directed and edited by Zac Facts. Recognized as one of Canada’s most talented video makers, he brings a dark and raw style to videos he has shot for The Weeknd, Future, Tory Lanez, Belly, Jessie Reyez and more.
The other five tracks on Wolf, Princess & Me cover a wide range of emotional terrain. The opening title cut portrays a protagonist out to woo his princess away from an abusive lover, while “Power” features such sensual declarations as “your body’s a rollercoaster, got a ticket to ride.”
That gives way to the darker tone of “Deep Water” – “found out I wasn’t bulletproof … I’m slowly drowning”, and “Insane” – “I’m attracted to the tragic.” The EP closes out with “Do What You Want,” another track with a rather despairing feel (“from dusk to dawn, barely hanging on”) offset by the vigorous rhythms and Frank’s soulful delivery.
The writing of Wolf, Princess & Me exemplifies the collaborative creative approach of the three group members and their producer (and former bandmate) Corey Lerue. Frank, Adrian and Matt have worked together in different bands for a decade, resulting in a real musical and personal empathy that has been a key component in the fast-developing success story that is Neon Dreams.
The group is always receptive to the ideas of others too, and that has paid off on Wolf, Princess & Me. Trevor Guthrie co-wrote “Insane” with the band, while Nathaniel Motte of the electropop duo 3OH!3 came to Halifax to co-write “Deep Water” and “Power.”
Their input adds to the stylistic diversity of the EP. Neon Dreams has always been a band defying genre pigeonholing, as their material draws freely upon pop, rock, EDM, hiphop and reggae elements, integrating and blending them in seamless and thrilling fashion.
It is this refreshing eclecticism that caught the ear of Warner Music Canada President Steve Kane. “That blending really excites me,” he explains. “Neon Dreams are taking pieces from different parts of pop culture and swirling them together. This is a band that can write hooky commercial songs that get on the radio but there is something underlying it all too. I’m a big fan of clever pop and this is smart contemporary pop that gets people to move their ass as well.”
Kane was so impressed by the Neon Dreams sound, its track record of success, and its entrepreneurial vision that he has signed the group’s independent imprint, Dreaming Out Loud Records, to a distribution deal with Warner Music Canada.
The label is headed by producer/songwriter Corey Lerue, with Neon Dreams as its primary focus. Wolf, Princess & Me is the first release to come out of this exciting new partnership.
As a fully independent group, Neon Dreams scored a gold single (“Marching Bands ft. Kardinal Offishall”) and major music industry recognition. Winners of the 2017 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class, Neon Dreams also were awarded a Canadian Radio Music Award during Canadian Music Week in the Best New Group/Solo Artist (Dance/Urban/Rhythmic) category. Look for the link with Warner to help propel this super-talented crew to the next level.
Hedley has invited the band to open for them on their 32-date 2018 Canadian arena tour beginning in Abbotsford, BC on February 5. A full list of dates can be found below.
NEON DREAMS
Wolf, Princess & Me
Available September 22, 2017
Opening for Hedley on their 2018 tour:
February 5 Abbotsford, BC Abbotsford Events Centre
February 6 Victoria, BC Save on Foods Memorial Centre
February 8 Prince George, BC CN Centre
February 9 Grand Prairie, AB Revolution place
February 10 Red Deer, AB EnMax Centrium
February 12 Calgary, AB Stampede Corral
February 14 Medicine Hat, AB Canalta Centre
February 15 Moose Jaw, SK Mosaic Place
February 16 Brandon, MB Keystone Centre
February 19 Barrie, ON Molson Barrie Centre
February 20 Ottawa, ON TD Arena
February 21 Laval, QC
February 23 Halifax, NS Scotiabank Centre
February 24 Summerside, PEI Credit Union Place
February 26 Quebec City, QC Videotron Centre
February 27 Kingston, ON Rogers K-Rock Centre
March 1 Brampton, ON Powerade Centre
March 2 Peterborough, ON Memorial Centre
March 3 Mississauga, ON Hershey Centre
March 6 Hamilton, ON FirstOntario Centre
March 7 St. Catharines, ON Meridian Centre
March 9 Oshawa, ON Tribute Communities Centre
March 10 Kitchener, ON Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
March 11 Windsor, ON Windsor Casino
March 13 Owen Sound, ON Bayshore Communities Centre
March 14 Sudbury, ON Sudbury Arena
March 16 Thunder Bay, ON Fort Williams Gardens
March 17 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre
March 19 Saskatoon, SK Sasktel Centre
March 20 Cold Lake, AB Imperial Oil Place
March 22 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
March 23 Kelowna, BC Prospera Place
