Forged in the grind of construction sites and fueled by raw emotion, Dune Reaper emerge as a heavy rock duo with a message—loud, honest, and born from real struggle.
1. Let’s
start at the beginning — how did two blue-collar workers end up forming a
heavy, emotionally-charged rock duo like Dune Reaper? What was the moment you
knew you had to make music together?
We met on a construction site and instantly bonded over our shared interest in
heavy rock music. It didn’t take long before we carved out time to jam. I think
we knew right away that we wanted to write vulnerable, slow-to-heavy,
moshpit-style songs.
2. Your new single “Forever Asleep” comes out on August 29th. What does this
song mean to you personally, and why was this the right time to release it?
With our debut single, we wanted to capture where we come from—two
working-class guys from busy Ontario cities, grinding through the same
struggles as everyone else. Our hope is that by the time the track drops, work
slows down enough for us to hit the stage and focus on building real
connections in the scene.
3. The track explores themes like addiction, financial hardship, and
societal pressure. Were there specific life events or moments that shaped the
lyrics and emotional tone of the song?
This song really took form during a stretch where we could only work on it
every other weekend, juggling tight schedules and limited time. We burned lots
of money on gas, music gear, and toll routes, all while dealing with subtle
digs about our music on the job. All that frustration found its way into the
sound of this track.
4. You recorded at B Town Sound with producer Justin Koop, known for working
with major Canadian acts. What was it like working with someone of his caliber,
and how did he help bring your vision to life?
Justin Koop is a legend in the Canadian music scene, and working with him was a
true honor. With over 20 years of experience collaborating with major bands, he
greatly impacted our writing process and the song’s overall feel—his keen sense
of when to add or remove elements made a huge difference for us.
5. You’ve cited bands like Royal Blood, IDLES, and The Black Keys as
influences. How did these artists shape the sonic direction of “Forever
Asleep”?
Those three bands had a major influence on the sound and direction of our
track. We drew heavily from the raw energy of IDLES—especially their drumming
and vocal intensity—and blended it with the stripped-down, heavy blues-inspired
riffs you’d hear in Royal Blood or The Black Keys, but with more fuzz and
distortion.
6. As a two-piece band, how do you approach creating such a massive, layered
sound with just drums, vocals, and guitar? What’s your secret weapon?
It all comes down to finding the right vocal effects, drumming techniques, and
most importantly, the right gear to fill out the sound. Finding any clean amp
that is good for pedals and then splitting that signal into a heavily distorted
bass amp that is EQ’d properly can instantly make things sound massive. It’s a
constant investment, but that’s the price of sounding bigger than two people
should.
7. The recording process for “Forever Asleep” was surprisingly fast — just
one session for the instruments. How did you prepare to capture that kind of
raw energy in such a short time?
The time crunch actually worked in our favor—it forced the energy out of us in
every take. We weren’t there to overthink anything. We knew we had something
solid; it was just about locking in and delivering what we’d been rehearsing
for months.
8. You’ve said the song was born from exhaustion, frustration, and limited
free time. How do you balance full-time construction work with the demands of
making powerful, emotionally intense music?
That’s the thing, we haven’t nailed the balance between our day jobs and our
music. After long days of physical labor, we’re too drained to write, so our
songs naturally lean into that frustration and exhaustion. We’re sure plenty of
people feel the same, wanting to chase their dreams instead of a paycheque.
9. “Forever Asleep” feels like a call to arms for people stuck in the grind.
What message do you hope listeners walk away with after hearing the song?
If you’re caught in the grind, know that things can get better. There’s no
shame in how you cope—you're not alone, and your thoughts are valid. It’s okay
to feel lost or not have everything figured out.
10. You haven’t played live yet, but you’ve already pulled in over 260,000
views with just two promo videos. What can fans expect from your debut live
performance when the time comes?
Our fans can expect an intimate, loud, and sweaty first show. We've aimed to
connect with a rebellious, younger crowd—and if we’ve reached the right people,
that energy will definitely show up in our live performance.
11. Your motto is to “make music loud again.” What does that mean to you in
today’s musical and cultural climate?
By “making music loud again”, we’re stepping away from mainstream rock that
blends in pop and other elements that don’t resonate with us. Whether people
criticize or not, our goal is to play music that shakes walls, stays raw and
imperfect, gets people moving, and keeps that gritty DIY sound alive.
12. Lastly, what comes next for Dune Reaper after this release? Is “Forever
Asleep” just the beginning of something bigger?
We’ll spend a large part of the year promoting our first release since making a
strong first impression is pretty crucial nowadays. That said, we already have
plenty of material written that we hope will come together into our first EP
down the line—depending on how this single is received.
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