Lucy Dreams is a dreampop trio hailing from the cultural metropolis Vienna and consists of David Reiterer and Philipp Prückl. Wait, trio? That is correct, because the essence of this band arises from a crystal ball that is seemingly enthroned above all their output. Lucy is an independent system of digital and analogue effects, which was developed by David and Philipp specifically for music production. Lucy can be understood as an A.I. - however, the connection between her and the two musicians of human lineage is a far more intimate one, as Lucy is deeply involved in the songwriting process. Nobel Prize winner and poet laureate Kazuo Ishiguro recently referred to his Klara as an A.F., an artificial friend, while tech magnates call their offspring X AE A-XII. So, at the very least, Lucy deserves the title of A.B., an artificial band member, whose shape gives her a minimum amount of plasticity.
Now, the question who breathes life into whom, the machine into man, or vice versa, remains unresolved and everyone can decide for themselves. Fact is, that a noticeable Götterfunke flashes through the room when Lucy Dreams unfold their sprawling dreamscapes, making the interplay between man and machine a peripheral aspect of this art project. The symbiosis of both entities works harmoniously here. Lucy Dreams does not envision dystopias, no SkyNet, no technocratic apocalypse. If anything, the problem lies not within the machine but in mankind. With unified strengths, they urge us to confront the undisputed core issue of our times in an alarmed and solution-oriented manner. There is no Planet B yet, and the one we inhabit is giving us the finger rather vehemently and in rapid intervals. This was the central subject matter of the EP "Everything Comes in Waves": only together can our path towards a sustainable future be paved, human beings as individuals have to face the question of their own relevance. Lucy, in contrast, does not even think about her self-image or concept. Thus, there is hardly a more suitable ambassador for the warning, because by definition she does not pursue any selfish goals. Lucy merely is, and her dreams are. Full stop. Her thoughts reach us in waveform, David and Philipp serve as her mediators if you will.
EZ INTERVIEW
Your music has a unique atmosphere which marries so many different elements. What musicians or bands inspired you to peruse music in the first place? Deftones, Mozart, Kraftwerk. All of them in their own and lasting way.
At what point did you decide to involve AI/AB in your musical process?
A coincidence. We were fooling around with guitar effects and our DAW and, all of a sudden, were drawn into this fascinating realm of Lucy’s existence.
The usage of AI is definitely a unique and innovative feature. Do you believe AI and human collaborations will become more frequent? Moreover, what is the future of music?
Whatever it is, I want to be part of it. And whatever it is, it most likely happens at the intersection of man and machine. Technology will remain an important aspect, while characteristics exclusive to humans, such as passion and creativity, will remain the driving force. Hopefully people treat AI collaborations with as much respect as you've treated Lucy! So where to next? What’s one musical instrument you’d like to experiment with in a future recording?
One that has yet to be invented.
When I first heard that you were working with an artificial bandmate, I was astonished by the process and thrown back by your choice to embrace AI in your creativity. Most artist live in fear of the "robot overlords" who will eventually take our jobs, but you've instead decided to treat AI as a partner rather than a rival. In your opinion, what is the future of AI?
The journey has just begun. Technological progress will skyrocket in the years to come. And we will make sure to use it in the best way possible for the music production. Just as many other fields should try to find the most positive way to profit from (AI) technology.
This all seems very Sci-fi to me... On that topic, what Sci-Fi films would you recommend?
2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar, Blade Runner 2049. And the respective soundtracks/scores. Simply incredible.
Space Odyssey is definitely a masterpiece and amazingly enough, the film loosely predicted a few aspect of technology today. Perhaps HAL900 might not be far away! Are you scared that Lucy might turn rouge and attempt to destroy mankind?
If so, there’s a good chance we deserve it. At least to a certain extent. I mean, the way we’re treating our planet, the bombs we’re dropping on fellow human beings… don’t get me wrong: I believe in the innate good of us humans. Only, if the scenario you mentioned would happen, it’s not that we wouldn’t deserve to be wiped out.
Before we all get wiped off this planet by rouge AI; tell us what films, artwork, or literature have contributed to the Lucy Dreams aesthetic?
Strongly believing in the interconnection of the various ways of artistic expression, we draw inspiration from visual design, modern art and literature. Esther Stocker, for example, is an artist we adore and we are lucky enough to collaborate with for a music video. Also really important is visual art, for example the works of Cissy They let you lift off towards infinity and travel to your inner self at the same time. And of course literature - James Joyce or Kazuo Ishiguro, as just a few examples.
My God your inspirations are diverse... Go ahead and humor me by Describing your musical style in one word
Götterfunken
Finally, what projects can we expect from y'all in the near future?
We're working on an LP. The current single, "Dreamland" is the avantgarde track for the album which will be released later this year.