Dream of a Man in a Top Hat are a Massachusetts-based band formed from two thirds of post-punk band Native Tongue. They’ve had a great career in the music industry over the years, and the band show no signs of slowing down yet, if latest release The Destination is anything to go by. If you’d like to find out more, check out our interview below!
By Jane Howkins
How was your 2022?
Michael: Musically speaking, a really interesting year. After putting out an EP in 2020 and then an album in 2021, we spent all of 2022 releasing a string of six singles. So that’s a song and accompanying art, which I create, every two months. And I still have a full time job usually working six days a week. So in a word: busy.
Lee: Releasing only singles in 2022 was a nice experiment, and it did allow our audience to focus on each release and not be overwhelmed with a larger offering of songs. I think the approach exposed us to more and different kinds of listeners. And Michael finally got Logic Pro in 2022 which helped improve the sound – because each of us records remotely and we send files back and forth.
You recently released a single titled The Destination, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the single?
Michael: The Destination is the second song from DOAMIATH which uses lyrics that were written forty years ago for our band Native Tongue. The collection of lyrics were discovered by accident last year at a time when I was struggling with concepts I liked for our newest stuff. Now when I am stuck I go back to the pile of words and comb through them. So far this has yielded five songs and counting. The song is about the sometimes elusive path to the expression of an idea, in my case, a song.
Lee: It started out as the guitar riff you hear at the beginning of the song, and grew from there. After Michael added a whole lot of vocal tracks and I put in the saxophone and synthesiser we considered it done.
How has the reception been for the single, and where can it be purchased?
Michael: We have been pleased with the reception, reviews and comments we’ve received. The Destination is kind of out there, even for us. You can get it on Bandcamp.
Lee: Lots of positive reviews and listener comments for The Destination, and many have remarked on the psychedelic/post-punk connection. It’s available digitally for download (Bandcamp, Apple, etc.) and streaming (SoundCloud, Spotify, etc.).
Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?
Michael: I can’t say for sure but I think we are planning an EP for our next release. Unless it grows into an album.
Lee: I think we’ll do something different in 2023. A lot of songs are being worked on right now so maybe an album.
Are there any plans to release an EP or album?
Michael: Yes. But when? Probably within the next few months.
Lee: I’ve got a bunch of ideas Michael hasn’t heard yet so I think maybe it’s time to do another album.
Your music has a psychedelic rock sound. What/who influences you most as artists? What have you been listening to recently?
Michael: When I write I don’t necessarily know which influences are contributing to the stuff coming out. Sometimes I think, how would John Lennon do this? Or Damon Albarn or Kevin Parker. But I can’t sing like those guys so does that count? I like a good melody and really enjoy singing harmonies, sometimes to excess! I react to the sound and mood of what Lee sends me. Recently I’ve been listening more to others on SoundCloud. As you can probably tell, I’m not a mainstream type, so I dig bold and different sounds from the likes of The Sundown Professor, Chelsea, Blue Scarr, Andy Wiley, Earth Patriot, Wide Riviera and Gom Jabbar, to name a few.
Lee: I’ve been attracted to psychedelic rock music ever since I bought Journey to the Center of the Mind by the Amboy Dukes when I was a little kid. I still listen to all that along with the late 70’s/early 80’s post-punk stuff that influenced our first band, Native Tongue. For more current stuff I like Trinary System and Minibeast.
You were a part of the band Native Tongue. Do you have any other side projects on the go?
Michael: Absolutely not! This project is a full-time free time pursuit. And Lee is the only guitarist I want to play with anyway.
Lee: No side projects though I have more free time than Michael to do it. But I’d rather just write more DOAMIATH stuff with Michael because our approach allows us to explore any avenues we want to. I’m not feeling like I need more creative outlets because anything goes with DOAMIATH.
You’re based in Boston. What is the local music scene like?
Michael: I am not the right guy to ask. I know exactly nothing about the scene. Our audience is relatively small but worldwide so we are a Boston band in name only, Though we are linked to Boston through the history of the lively 80s music scene.
Lee: The Boston music scene, once incredible, is not what it used to be. But there are some courageous souls working to revive it. I should do my part and get out to the few clubs we have more often.
Do you have any UK tour dates lined up?
Michael: I wish.
Lee: First, we’ll need to find a couple more unsuspecting musicians to help us play these songs live. Then it’s a few warm up shows in Boston, and we’ll be in the UK before anyone can stop us!
Any last words for the fans?
Michael: Yeah, thanks for listening and sharing your comments. Connecting with an audience is a special feeling reserved for those who make the effort to put part of themselves out there for all to hear. It’s kind of a risk to your ego, but every time it clicks it’s a pleasure. Cheers and keep listening! We ain’t done yet.
Lee: We sincerely thank our fans for all the kind words and encouragement, and stay tuned for whatever it is we’re about to do next!