Still Dreams

Japanese duo Still Dreams craft dreamy, romantic synth pop that draws on New Order’s straightforward melodic approach alongside the enigmatic atmosphere associated with Cocteau Twins. Through a succession of singles and longer-form releases the pair gradually honed their style, achieving greater range and cohesion with the 2021 album Make Believe.

Maaya and Ryuta Wachi, a married musical couple, launched Still Dreams in 2016 after the dissolution of their previous group, JUVENILE JUVENILE. In contrast to that band’s organic, guitar-centered dream pop, the new project emphasized electronic textures, including programmed drums and synthesizer tones modeled on 1980s outfits such as Human League and Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark. The duo issued their first EP, Theories, in 2018; the following year they began performing live, augmenting the core unit to a six-piece ensemble for concerts. Their second EP, Lessons Learned, appeared in 2020, while Make Believe arrived in 2021 as the fullest and most expansive representation of Still Dreams’ sound yet.