Equal parts psychedelic, post punk, and alternative rock, the Boston-based duo Dream of a Man in a Top Hat has seen their songs placed in 60 Spotify playlists (including those from Melting Trends, Obscure Sound, We Love Lo-fi, and Indie Rock Cafe), cracked the SubmitHub top ten charts (Experimental rock), and received many positive reviews for their previously released EP and album. Their new single, Cold Hard Dirt, can best be described as Cosmic Country.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Can you write what life is like in Boston?
Michael: Well, I don’t actually live in Boston but on the North Shore of Boston. In Georgetown it is pretty rural and quiet. I work at a chemical plant from 6am till 2:30 and then go home and try to write some stuff, if I don’t have to mow the lawn.
Lee: I’m in Marblehead, a little seaside town just north of Boston. As far as Boston goes, when Michael and I had our first band in the 1980’s, the town had a really thriving music scene with lots of clubs and college radio DJ’s that wanted to support local music. It’s nothing like that now, sadly. Very few venues and very little attention paid to local bands. Hope that changes.
How did your adventure in music begin?
Michael: Probably with The Beatles. I saw them on the The Ed Sullivan Show. I started drum lessons just as The Monkees TV show came out. By the time I met Lee - through the bass player of the disco band I was in (where I learned to sing while drumming) - post punk was in its early stages and Native Tongue was formed. After we broke up we sort of lost touch for about 35 years.
Lee: My adventure began at the age of fourteen, when I played at a wedding with another guitar player after playing guitar for only six months. It was just the two of us - not even a drummer! We played Closer to Home by Grand Funk Railroad and Starship Trooper by Yes - the bride walked down the aisle to that song. It was not your typical wedding!
Your latest track is 'Cold Hard Dirt'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Lee: The country sounding guitar part popped out of the telecaster one day from who knows where. In an earlier time Michael and I might have worried about how those guitar chords fit in with our psychedelic, post-punk, alt rock sound - but we no longer worry about such things. By the time it was done the song sounded like us. The words are basically a short story with me singing the part of one of the two characters in the tale, an unlucky guy. Singing as that character made me approach the vocals differently from how I might otherwise have done it.
Michael: I was surprised when I heard that idea but I am pretty much always surprised by Lee’s playing because it is always unexpected in some way. And a little crazy. And always changing. I am a big fan of his guitar leads.
Which skills have you gained that help you perform effectively as a musician?
Michael: I just started playing bass and keyboards a little less than two years ago. But I can’t read music and I don’t even know what my notes are. I learned about electronic drums after Lee continually texted me asking for beats. So I got an Alesis kit and sent Lee some beats with enough stuff to make a song. He sent back the first song for Blunt Instrumentals. I was like, shit! We can do this! After that I got an iPad and then a laptop and built a little recording booth in my basement for vocals.
Lee: At MIT, where I worked for ten years, I became pretty comfortable with new technology. That helps in the way we write, record and collaborate remotely.
What are your goals in life? What would you like to achieve?
Michael: I am hoping to get more time to make music when I retire and not thinking much further ahead than that. My goals are not materialistic.
Lee: Dream of a Man in a Top Hat has only been around a short time but we’re pretty excited about what we’re doing and where it’s heading.
Describe your creative process when you write new music.
Michael: At this point in time we usually get our best stuff when Lee sends a song mostly arranged and usually with placeholder drum track. May have bass or need bass. Then I add stuff and send back. I write probably 75% of lyrics and we generally sing our own words But not always. Anything goes. Songs get arranged mixed and mastered on Lee’s end. I do art and Lee does getting it out there. Totally self contained. It’s really Lee’s project because I would not have been playing at all if he did not talk me into it.
Lee: Michael pretty much summed it up. Like everyone who writes music were always jotting down lyrics or making quick recordings of guitar parts and melodies when they pop up so we don’t lose it.
What is the biggest decision you’ve had to make? As far as the band goes?
Lee: Deciding that sticking to one musical genre was much less important than writing a good, honest song. If genres get mixed up and blended in the process of songwriting and recording we’re just fine with that.
Michael: I care even less about genre than Lee but only because he is stuck with the job of getting it to the right audience. The biggest decision for me was whether to actually meet face to face for the first time since we formed. We both didn’t want to jinx it! Mind you, this is after two records were released. We met for lunch in October of 2021. Besides that lunch we have not spoken since forming the band! We only hear each other’s voices in the music. Songwriting is done by text only. And we are the best of friends. Weird, huh?
Do you have any other activities besides music?
Michael: I believe in staying fit so you can get the most out of your body and enjoy it. Also I really dig doing the art and photography for the band. It is liberating to have total freedom to do anything you choose. Lee and I are on the same page which makes it easier.
Lee: I read a lot. Huraki Murakami and David Mitchell are two current favorite authors.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
Michael: I am not very hip to the music business but as a listener I obviously prefer listening to whatever I want. And as a musician, no music on the internet would mean no Dream of a Man in a Top Hat. So I think that all in all, though it’s hard for an artist to make money, it’s fucking awesome. Our new best friend is Musosoup. Nice way to go!
Lee: On the plus side, anyone can put out their music now. On the negative side, anyone can put out their music now. Listeners can become inundated and it may be hard to find the music they are seeking. Good bloggers and playlist curators do help, and we’re happy to have connected with a few.
Do you think a musician's life is lonely?
Michael: For me, it depends on a lot of things. Life in Native Tongue wasn’t lonely. Dream of a Man in a Top Hat can be. When I write now I must be completely alone and undisturbed because if I am playing or singing I’m almost always recording. I get in a kind of spell, and it is easily broken.
Lee: Nope! When listeners are liking and commenting on your songs it’s a great feeling. If they weren’t, then I’d be lonely.