Just in time for Valentine’s Day and not a second too soon, five-piece Orlando-based band Paracosm unleashes "Dream Girl" for all the world to hear.
One of my favorite things about experiencing new music for the first time is the way that we get to go in completely blind and let the songs blow all of our perceptions wide open. "Dream Girl" is no exception to the rule.
We’re treated to a simple riff and some sustained chords with a nice little reverb for a few bars before the song fully kicks into gear. There’s enough energy in just the first 20 seconds of the song to give the listener a taste of what’s to come.
The opening line given to us, “Am I really what you need?”, is a simple enough question, but as the song moves forward, it takes on a bit more weight when it’s followed by “your manic-pixie-girl dream”.
Made popular in the modern lexicon, referring to someone as a Manic-Pixie-Dream-Girl is typically a way to refer to a feminine support character in media. She is quirky, upbeat, and a little peculiar. In most cases, your classic MPDG is thrown into a narrative by a writer to accompany an often all-too-bland male protagonist.
Can you see where this is going?
Callista Arifi (our vocalist) makes a pretty big statement right from the get-go with that one. A clear statement- or at least a clear statement to anyone really listening. The verse opens us up beautifully into a situation that’s pretty easy to piece together, and only builds up further and further into something concrete.
All the while we hear the same steady pattern from guitarists Jacob Young and Alex Snyder. Easy to get behind, and something that pushes forward to the end of the verse right up to a stop and a spoken line delivered to us.
“It’s only a bit of fun,” is given in the most innocent tone possible with nothing but an accompanying hi-hat from drummer Kevin Schoeppler (who - as documented by the band’s social media accounts - only just barely made it into the studio to record, having been in Tokyo just 24 hours beforehand. Glad you made it to the party, Kev!)
Fun is an understatement. When the chorus hits we’re treated to a series of absolutely delicious pull-offs from the lead guitar over top a solid chugging from the rhythm section. Together with a series of alluring vocals, it’s hard not to dance. The energy is undeniable. The harmonies are well blended, and the tune compelling. It’s the sort of chorus that makes you sad when it’s over.
Listeners are taken for a ride through more of a compelling story that just about everyone can relate to. A two faced lover? Or wannabe lover, rather. Fickle, and leading to a sort of bitterness that takes us through a second chorus into a bridge that starts off with clapping hands to keep tempo and a clear tremolo on the guitar.
“Do you want to see my body? My red horns maybe?
Oh my bad, too far for you?
Sounds like you should take a step back!”
We love a heroine (or maybe villainess) with a bite!
As Arifi says in one TikTok video on the band’s page, “it’s about not liking being objectified by men.” Safe to say, she’s not the only one feeling angry, and this Valentine’s Day, there were no doubt a multitude of women who would love to have Dream Girl blasting through their speakers.
All in all this song is a solid first single for any band, and it’s not too far of a reach to expect big things from these up and comers. Having already stepped their way onto stages around the Orlando area, there’s something about Paracosm’s sound that offers a lot of promise for things to come. We’ll look forward to seeing how they shake things up as time marches on.
Until then, you can find Paracosm on Instagram at paracosm_theband and on TikTok at paracosmband. Their next show is February 22, 2025 at The Mills Ave Femfest in Orlando, Florida.
