by mariah estran
photos by cami liberty
As we sit at home, endlessly scrolling through social media applications feeding us images through millions of blue-lit pixels, there’s one realm (or page) in particular that is drawing in hundreds. It oozes neon-green hues, and hypnotizing ever-changing sounds fill the air. A simulated universe that belongs to DBMK, an alternative duo consisting of Kyle Knudsen and Colton Ward. “We started building a world for all these songs to live in,” they emphasized; that world being their upcoming EP, Jump in the Dark. This testament to their intricate planning, branding, and musical maturity that is also taking listeners on a journey of self-acceptance.
Stemming from a D.I.Y background, they merged their minds to create an endless cycle full of intensive sound development. “Every single day, we would get up, and make. And make until we went to sleep," Knudsen explains as gravitas radiates from each word. Their commitment was necessary. It helped them overcome an obstacle, one that could have been detrimental to their process. They lived in separate states for a year, but quickly adapting, saying, “That’s the beautiful thing about technology. We were able to file share, and never miss a beat." And being versatile while creating Jump in the Dark rewarded them phenomenally.
The two found themselves in a L.A. studio with Dean Reid and Kieron Menzies after the producers had a cancelation in their schedule, producers who have worked with some of pops finest such as Lana Del Rey, FKA Twigs, and Miguel. This was now DBMK’s time to show why they deserved to be there. “It felt like a crazy world because we were there to make something,” Knudsen recounts, “The rooms that we suddenly found ourselves in were just previously out of our reach.” Aware of their small band status, they knew the only acceptable option was to do this session right. “We had that gusto to make up for the fact that nobody knew who we were.”
One specific song stuck out to the producers, and it goes by the name “Haunted House.” Give the recently released track a listen, and you will understand why. It draws you in with its addictive, twisted grip followed by an unexpected gust of knock-you-out-your-chair dynamism. “‘Haunted House’ gave us physical manifestation to what we were doing musically,” Knudsen says when asked about the track. “It was kind of a safe house for people that were a part of this kind of movement we had in our minds.” The single is what holds their upcoming EP together. Ward further explaining, “Even though it’s the third single we’re putting out, it encapsulates everything the record is about.”
Those other songs they referred to are “Smilin” and “Thin,” singles that were released back in mid-March and April. But it cannot go without saying that they set up a clear plan for each release. There is no random order or favoriting one song over the other. As they say, “it’s done in literal phases.” Each song relates to different elements of accepting ones-self. “'Smilin’ deals with mental, while ‘Thin’ deals with your physical self,” they both point out. The concepts they are demonstrating in their work are relatable or will be at some point in everyone’s life. “Many of us feel that we have to fit into whatever mold that is laid out in front of us. The record (Jump in the Dark) encourages people to think if they’re happy doing that.” A concept apparent in their visuals. The music video for "Thin" showcases them dancing and singing in front of a camera, which they now openly admit was a nerve-wracking experience. So, they came together, thinking of the empowerment behind stepping out of your comfort zone, and said: “What if we had everyone (who wanted to) send in a video of them doing anything to our song? Lip syncing, dancing, or just creating art.”
Knudsen and Ward did just that, creating a fan (who are appropriately called The Kult) version of their video, where they put together footage of those individuals dancing and creating other art. “We were getting a lot of messages about the video saying, ‘I was super anxious to do this,’” recounting the initial reaction. “It was blowing us away that so many people stepped out of their comfort zones and just showed something they love. It was very inspiring.”
photos by cami liberty
It's more than inspiring, it's admirable. These two didn't stop when the music felt relatable on the surface. Instead, they created this community. Their own world they hope others find intriguing. A lot already do, followers voluntarily call themselves “The Kult” because they feel at home. The two make it clear that “DMBK has always been something a little bit more than just a band.” There’s work put into their visuals, and content being created even during a time they must do so independently with only an iPhone in hand. There is something new each day, whether that be at-home videos, photoshoots, or Spotify playlists. DBMK has developed an enticing environment, with a flourishing future in the pipeline.
In the last few weeks, DBMK is keeping the ideas rolling while they simultaneously release songs from Jump in The Dark. “We are working on a way to bring live shows to the internet,” they say without revealing too many details. “We are really trying to make it something special. We want everyone to hangout; we want this to be as successful as possible.”
The duo keeps us on our toes, leaving us with something to look forward to each coming week. With parting words, they say, “We’re excited to meet you and bring you into this thing with us."
So, are you ready to join DBMK?
