Awake & Dreaming don’t do subtle. Even when they start soft, you can feel the storm building. “Underwater” is the new single from their debut album Inevitable, and it’s a late-night head trip that drags you below the surface. The song lives at 2 a.m., when your own thoughts get loud and the only choices are cut loose or get swallowed. That image of a whale drifting too deep is the whole mood. Massive, alone, shouting in a code nobody bothers to crack.
Sasha‘s voice is the anchor. She can sound like she’s right next to you, close enough to feel her breath, then the band kicks in and she’s riding a wave of distorted guitar. It’s a trick they’ve mastered: delicate piano, intimate vocals, then a wall of noise that earns every decibel. Ryan‘s drums and Phil‘s bass lock in tight, giving the quiet parts room to breathe before the whole thing explodes. Stefan co-writes and shapes the sound, and this four-piece from Waterloo, Ontario, knows exactly how to build tension and release it.
The band started during COVID, just Sasha and Stefan writing songs before they even had a name. They played acoustic duo gigs until Ryan jumped on drums, then Phil grabbed a bass, and the lineup was set. The name says it all: Sasha lives with narcolepsy, so she’s literally awake and dreaming. That duality is baked into every track. Eyes open to the mess of the world, still reaching for something bigger.
They self-produce everything, then hand it to Jay Dufour to mix and Joao Carvalho to master. No label, no safety net. They book their own shows, design their own light rig, and Sasha performs in floor-length sequined gowns while the guitars tear the roof off. That’s not a gimmick. That’s commitment.
“Underwater” is the sound of letting go when holding on hurts more. It’s not about drowning. It’s about choosing to stop fighting the current. The album Inevitable lands October 16, and if this single is any sign, it’s gonna be a heavy, beautiful ride. This band is wide awake, and they’re not blinking.