Dreamboy relaxes listeners
By: Alexis McCrea
Staff writer
Looking to get lost for a few hours? “Dreamboy,” co-created by Dane Terry and Ellie Hayman, could be just what you’re looking for.
“Dreamboy” is a narrative podcast with incredibly skilled voice acting, sparkling storytelling, a gripping plot and an excellent music score. The podcast tells the story of Dane, a tired musician spending his winter in the fictional town of Pepper Heights, Ohio, looking to get some rest. Despite his best efforts to just relax and write some music, Dane constantly gets mixed up in odd situations. Often, or rather always involving three twelve-year-old vigilantes and a bruise covered Instagram model, both on the path to save a murderous zebra.
“Dreamboy” has an undeniably relaxing ambiance to it. Although it has a soft-spoken narrator and a score that just might lull you off to sleep and into the arms of an actual dream boy, it’s far from boring. The dynamic plot and expert storytelling keeps the listener sucked in at every turn. Just when things seem to calm down for Dane, something weird throws a wrench into his life once again. Not only that, but his use of personal and relatable language keeps the listener holding on. Even during slow-moving parts, such as when Dane is making breakfast, the listener can’t help but be enthralled.
Instead of keeping a strictly silly narrative, or a serious one, “Dreamboy” does an incredible job of balancing. The show teeters between a witty absurdity and a highly emotional, and deeply personal narrative. It will make you laugh, cringe and maybe not cry, but at least make you feel kind of upset. Dane’s life is absurd, and funny when viewed from the outside. But, when seen, or rather, listened to, through his point of view the listener can appreciate how serious it feels to the characters. That is not to say there are not actual dark parts. There are very serious parts tastefully peppered in that cover a dark subject. It’s enough to tug at the listener’s heartstrings, or make them squirm.
Often when listening to a podcast, it can be difficult to focus on it because of the many distractions of the world. With “Dreamboy,” it’s hard to pay attention to the world around you. It’s highly immersive, so that when you pop in some headphones and close your eyes, you’re suddenly there with Dane. His highly detailed description paired with an extremely personal and intimate way of speaking goes beyond keeping the listener sucked in. It all feels real when you have those headphones in. It’s as if you’re on the phone with a friend who’s filling you in on his weird day. This down to Earth relatability comes through when Dane stumbles on his words to impress his love interest, Luke. But instead of making him laugh, he makes himself look dumb.
Listener beware! “Dreamboy” is not necessarily family-friendly unless you have a really cool family. While not raunchy or vulgar by any sense, Dane uses curse words perhaps more than he should and talks about sex often. Some listeners might think it adds realism, or just not care, while others might be repulsed by it. Either way, it should be noted.
Whether you have a long trip, need something to listen to while cleaning or are just in the market for a new podcast to listen to, one thing is for sure. Don’t sleep on “Dreamboy”!