Halifax alt-pop duo Neon Dreams have shared their new single “Say It Out Loud,” featuring the vocals of South African star Mthandazo Gatya, via Dreaming Out Loud Records.
The track was inspired by the band’s awakening South African tour earlier this year, where they were greeted by a wildly excited fanbase who were aching for their arrival after the success of their single “Life Without Fantasies.”
After peaking at #2 on the South Africa viral charts – just behind Mthandazo Gatya’s “Senzeni” – the duo enlisted Gatya to bring his signature South African influence to the track.
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The South Africa trip gave Kadillac and Morris hope during a dark time and a new type of confidence to go take on the rest of the world. They decided to pay it forward by becoming Goodwill Ambassadors for The Justice Desk—a non-profit organization that strives to teach youth about human rights at a young age and help them to defend those rights throughout their lives. As the band spent time bonding with new fans, helping the community, and pouring their hearts out on stage, “Life Without Fantasies” continued soaring on South Africa’s viral chart. It peaked at No. 2 but couldn’t get past “Senzeni” by Mthandazo Gatya, and when Kadillac heard the track he understood why.
“It was the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard before,” he admits. “This guy’s voice sounded like it was the earth singing.” Neon Dreams wanted a South African artist featured on the single they were working on and knew Gatya was the perfect fit. Kadillac reached out, and the singer sent back his verse in one night.
Neon Dreams cemented themselves as a voice for the next generation on their 2019 album Sweet Dreams till Sunbeams, which comprises nine uplifting songs about not fitting in and overcoming adversity.
Neon Dreams
While encouraging others to speak their truths, Frank Kadillac’s also been tackling his own mental setbacks through meditation. In South Africa, he went on his most eye-opening retreat yet: The Blue Butterfly.
During his time there, the singer-songwriter noticed how insects all try to emulate a majestic butterfly. “Just from this simple observation, and many others, I realize we are all chasing a blue butterfly,” he explains. “That butterfly is your dreams, hope, love, redemption, and so many other things. And at the same time, we’re doing a little dance under the sun.
“This helped me to stop overthinking,” he continues. “I’m so at peace with life now. I’m doing my dance and if someone’s dancing my way and I don’t want to be a part of it I’ll let them pass by and keep dancing my way to the end of the road.”
For Neon Dreams, that road sees them continuing to inspire with new music before touring Europe in October. In the meantime, Frank Kadillac and Adrian Morris are focusing on one of their favourite things about being in a band: connecting with fans around the world on a more personal level.
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