The oceanside dream-pop project led by Amber Renee, one half of CLAVVS, alongside Graham Marsh, who’s, err, the other half of CLAVVS, dayaway arrived last year to a fanfare of acclaim for their excellent self-titled debut EP. Having amassed streams, glowing reviews and TV sync deals galore, Amber is gearing up to share the latest extended player, blue summer moon later this summer, fittingly coinciding with “the only blue moon of the year“, on August 30th. Ahead of the release, today dayaway are sharing their brand new track, ocean free.

A self-described, “water sign with an obsession with the ocean”, Amber digs into her favourite topic once more on ocean free. Discussing the track she suggests it, “is about bringing your problems to the beach and leaving them on the shore“. It touches on hazy edges of fantasy and reality, attempting to concoct a place where you can live outside of humanities rules, and even that fairly important factor, oxygen, “I always wish I could live underwater and this song feels like that, like you’re basking in a whole other world. I guess it’s ultimately about escapism to a place where you can truly be free”.

Musically, the track is every bit as deliciously escapist as the themes. Amber’s warm cocooning vocal invites us into her watery world as she sings, “leave the shore behind, dive into the ocean, leave the world aside, dive into the ocean deep”. Throughout she’s accompanied by a dreamy backing of ebbing arpeggiated guitars and synths that break like lapping waves, bringing to mind the likes of Hazel English or Melody’s Echo Chamber. For all the sense of positivity Amber dreams of, the need for escape is rooted in something more withdrawn and gently melancholic, “do you ever cry? Do you cry like me? Our tears are saltwater, take them back to the sea”. In their desire to start again, dayaway might be picturing the brightness of fantasy, yet the shadows of reality still find a way to creep in, a human touch that lifts this beyond mere fancy and into something much more interesting than that.

blue summer moon is out August 30th via Turn To Wind. For more information on dayaway visit https://www.dayawaymusic.com/.