City Light Dreams

In an ever-expanding music world, it takes more effort than ever before for passionate artists to fuel a charge toward finding a unique sound and spreading it to the masses. But the reward of finding this kind of musical bond is much greater than the risk, and such is the ethos upon which Chesapeake, Virginia 5-piece alternative rock outfit CITY LIGHT DREAMS exists.

The development of CITY LIGHT DREAMS began when lifelong friends Christian Zawacki and Justin Carter—who met when they were toddlers— and ran into each other for the first time again in mid 2008 in 8 years. They discovered each other’s passion for music and began to write, record and jam ideas. Taking cues from some of their favorite artists and musical icons, Christian and Justin explored a fusion of rock that channeled elements of 90’s alternative, pop punk and modern indie rock. When they realized that their hobby was more of a passion than a pastime, the pair recruited mutual friend and local musician Aaron Littman on bass to join their efforts. Upon his arrival to the burgeoning music project, Aaron suggested another local musician and close friend—singer Lindsay Oglesby—to bring a new dynamic element to the table and front the project. The band then added Jake DeGraff to the mix to round out the line-up, becoming one of the first female-fronted rock outfits in their region, while beginning to redefine the current state of the local Hampton Roads music scene.

In their newly assembled formation, CITY LIGHT DREAMS hit the ground running to develop a unified musical identity. Matching energetically charged anthems with driving rock grooves, the five-piece mesh pop sensibilities above bouncing guitar work and towering hooks. The result of this sonic discovery is the band’s debut EP BLACK OUT.

“Black Out is about searching for and finding things out for yourself,� notes Aaron Littman. “This is what we did to build this band and the songs that make up the EP.�

Within their musical thunder, CITY LIGHT DREAMS tackles lyrical perspectives that give insight to their faith as it relates to real life experience. “I write a majority of my lyrics from my experience and my faith,� explains vocalist Lindsay Oglesby. I get a lot of inspiration from stories in the Bible and from different people that I encounter. I also write a lot of poetry that has helped me to compose songs on the EP,� she continues.

CITY LIGHT DREAMS completed released BLACK OUT on July 14, 2009 with the EP skyrocketing to #54 on Smartpunk’s Top 100 sales list within the first weeks. Meanwhile, the band has continued to become established as a powerful force throughout their region, sharing the stage for selected dates alongside such artists as Breathe Carolina, Versa Emerge, Piece The Veil, Copeland and many others while picking up fans of all types along the way.

And what it is that makes up the total package of the songs on Black Out—whether it be the slinky guitar leads of Carter and Degrff, Zawacki’s pounding rhythmic thunder, the driving low end of Littman or Oglesby’s pure vocal power—one thing is for sure…CITY LIGHT DREAMS has found their identity and are on track to see their own name in lights as a breakout band that is here to stay.