A brief chat with We Dream Dawn

Yellow Scene: When and why did you form this new project, after leaving Elephant Revival?

Sage Cook: It’s sort of hazy – it just sort of happened. I was booked to play a benefit show and Weston, the drummer, just happened to be there. That was around October of last year. As far as why, I had decided to take a break because I had wanted to be at home in the garden and be still for a while. I had been touring for eight years and it got a bit tiresome for me, but I love music so much so the thought of just being out here in the middle of nowhere in Kansas and not playing music with people again was depressing, so it just happened. It unconsciously manifested into a little bit of something. I have lots of songs and I love playing music. With this project, I’m going to make it work around our gardening schedule rather than trying to play 100 dates out of the year.

YS: How does the sound differ to Elephant Revival?

SC: First off, we’re a trio so we have drums and electric bass, and I’m mainly playing electric guitar. It’s a bit louder – it sounds different to a string band. Otherwise, I’m playing some of the Elephant Revival songs I wrote. It’s sort of etherial – lots of reverb – and groovy. We like deep grooves, and it’s all really chill. It’s rock ‘n’ roll – very dynamic.

YS: Is it weird – no longer being in the Elephant Revival?

SC: It is – I’m still getting used to it. I miss those guys. We’re calling it a hiatus right now. It was one of the toughest decisions that I ever made, because I love what they do in that band. Being on the road all the time just affected my health. But I have all these food projects – I have a bunch of cows we take care of. I’d get off the road and then be scrambling for 12 hours to catch up. T just got to be a little too strenuous to me. It is different. Everybody left for tour a few weeks ago – I think they’re still on tour. I’ve been home for there months, and that’s the longest time I’ve been home in ten years. I’m so grateful that I was allowed to take the break. It’s been really good for me.

YS: What do you have planned for the Walnut Room show?

SC: We’re just gonna get there and do what we do. Bridget Law from Elephant Revival is going to be there – her and I have been playing music together for such a long time that she knows all the songs. It’s gonna be a trial by fire – she’s just gonna get up there and play with us. It’s gonna be a really interesting night. We’ll probably do a 75-90 minute set. I’ll do some Elephant Revival songs that I’ve worked out. They’re different arrangements, almost taking them in the opposite direction to Elephant Revival. Then we’ve got a bunch of new songs that people have never heard. Some of them are older, some of them are brand new. We’re gonna have fun, that’s the main thing.

YS: What’s next, after this show?

SC: I’m basically doing everything myself right now – managing and booking. At first, I was really up for that but it’s a lot of work. I’ve been slacking lately. I don’t have much on the books right now, but I’m hoping to get some music out there soon. I’m going to working on an album, and working in the garden. Playing some festivals, and taking it easy.