Collective Dreams

By Lyndsi Hardin of TCU Daily Skiff
STAFF REPORTER
POSTED OCTOBER 14, 2011
In eighth grade, senior anthropology major Travis Hildenbrand formed a band with a few of his friends. Now, his band Collective Dreams is performing all over Texas, including a show at Stay Wired on Saturday. Hildenbrand explains how Collective Dreams got started and became what it is today.

How did Collective Dreams get started?
When we were in eighth grade, I started playing with Benjamin Rodriguez and Jonathan Lopez. Then, freshman year, we added our two guitar players, Albert Salinas and Caleb Barber. Through high school, we were this really awful metal band like screaming and guitars and all that. But we played some good shows, like one time we played on an Air Force base. We broke up for a little bit because of personal issues, some people had some hard stuff going on. My sophomore year of college we got back together, and that’s when we started our new sound. Since then, we’ve just been working really hard.

How would you describe your sound?
It’s ambient, experimental and kind of progressive. It’s a lot more chill than it used to be.

How has your music evolved over the years?It started out pretty aggressive, just like angry high school metal music. As we learned our instruments and grew and developed together, we’ve actually gotten more and more progressive and experimental. We like to play with different things, we try not to confine ourself to a genre. We just try to make music that people can feel.

Tell me about the inspiration behind your music.
The idea behind the band, what Collective Dreams means to all of us, is the idea of life together and shared expression. So when we are writing songs, we aren’t just creating something that sounds cool, we’re creating a song around an idea. We’re trying to communicate an experience through a song the same way a painter does through a painting or a playwright does through a play.

What bands have influenced your music?The bands that we admire are bands that have a similar style of songwriting. We’re big Pink Floyd fans. We also like The Mars Volta, Circa Survive and we really look up to Portugal.

Where have you performed before?
We’ve played outside of Texas a couple times, but mostly we make the loop from Dallas to Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Some of my favorites are Stubb’s BBQ in Austin and The White Rabbit in San Antonio.

What are you currently working on?We will have our first album out on iTunes probably in late December or January, so we’re pretty pumped about that. We released a six-track instrumental demo last November. We have been and still are giving that out for free online. Our upcoming release will have some re-recordings of those songs and about seven more tracks. We had TCU alumnus Andrew Young and TCU student Inez Puente play violin on a couple songs for us for the album.

What are you expecting from the show this weekend at Stay Wired?
I just want everyone to have a good time. That’s our goal with every show. We play music because we’re socially awkward people. We can’t just speak to people and connect, so we play music and connect to people. We just want to have a good time with everyone in Fort Worth. It’s always a good time playing here.

Who: Collective Dreams
What: Live music
Where: Stay Wired
When: Saturday, Oct. 15

Doors open at 8 p.m.
Opening bands Jake Paleschic at 9:30 and Signals and Alibis at 10:30
Collective Dreams at 11:30 - TCU Daily Skiff

By Bailey McGowan of TCU 360
MANAGING EDITOR
POSTED MARCH 1, 2012
The self-proclaimed indie/experimental band Collective Dreams plans to release its first full-length album at the start of March.

The San Antonio-based band includes senior anthropology major and original member Travis Hildenbrand as its drummer.

The instrumental band has been together under the name Collective Dreams for the past five years, Hildenbrand said, but has had a variety of members playing together for the past eight.

“With those guys it’s just really organic, and our style of communication is just really open,” Hildenbrand said.

The songwriting came much easier because of this, he said.

“A good example [of the band’s communication style] would be when we were in the studio recording ‘Snow Crab Beach Party,’ like in all of our heads we know what a snow crab beach party is,” he said.

Senior Ted Wick, a strategic communication major, said he heard most of the new album and thought it was “stellar.” Wick booked the band last year and this year for the West Berry Block Party.

“I really do love their live shows. I’ve seen them probably 20 times now,” Wick said. “They just have so much energy and so much passion. Travis is an amazing
drummer.”

Hildenbrand said the biggest challenge has been the time commitment and
traveling.

“Sometimes I feel like I drive my whole life away,” he said. “I can literally sit down and write down on a piece of paper for you all of the towns on I-35 up and down.”

The band has made sure to connect with their fan base through their Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, as well as word of mouth from supporters, he said.

“You have to get as many as possible to hear [the music],” he said. “Then, one out of every five or 10 is going to care, so you have to throw it at as many people as possible.”

Collective Dreams plans to play March 8-10 in San Antonio and Austin during the South by Southwest conference, he said.

The bands influences included Maserati and The Sounds of Animals Fighting. When the band members were younger, they also listened to Pink Floyd and a variety of “screamo” music, Hildenbrand said.

The band released its first instrumental EP in December, and it was a success, Hildenbrand said.

“Know what you’re trying to do with [a band],” he said. “If you’re trying to make music your career, then act that way. If you’re trying to just have a band with your friends, then act that way. Commit yourself accordingly.”

The newest album was yet to be named, Hildenbrand said. - TCU 360

BY KRISTINE DURAN

Since the elimination of a vocalist and the addition of keyboardist Jonathan Lopez, Collective Dreams has entered instrumental territory. It is impossible to sum up Sunday night’s performance in one word. Hell, it’s difficult to choose which of the myriad of remarks Collective Dreams inspired to include in this review.

Besides hitting the stage almost an hour later than scheduled (a major turn-off in this city’s music scene, but expected), the quintet stunned the diverse crowd, ranging from blond, cardigan-clad ’tweens to Lone Star swiggin’ twenty-somethings. An intense prelude complete with homemade synchronized lights could have spurred a seizure in the nearest epileptic. Although it was a solid opening, technical difficulties were already on the horizon.

Providing a smooth transition, the gentle tides of “Fighting the Undertow” contrasted well with the amped-up intro. “Little Fingers” had the diehards in the front lifting their beers in the air and bouncing in place. What began as another mellow head-nodder developed into a last minute dance party. Too bad that crowd pleaser lasted no longer than two minutes, at best. While guitarist, Caleb Barber worked out some technicalities, Drummer Travis Hildenbrand finally introduced the band… or attempted to. Short of a microphone, Hildenbrand shouted a thank you to the crowd and a few more wor330 Eds obscured by buzzing conversation.

Soon enough the band was back with fan favorite “Breathing Someone Else’s Air.” The sound differed from the rest of the set with a faster tempo and pop vibe. Unfortunately, many of the following songs were marred by a sound snafu. During “Zanzabar” and “Snow Crab Beach Party,” guitarist Albert Salinas couldn’t veil his expression of dismay, furrowing his brow and straining to investigate his surroundings. Things were not going as planned, with Salinas’ hands moving but no sound following. Luckily, by “Greg’s Song,” the band’s closer and memorial to a late friend, all was audible and ended on a tender, totally in tune note.

Unfortunately for Collective Dreams, this show was full of ups and downs, and not just because of their build and release approach to songcraft. Luckily, live performance glitches are no match for the group’s waves of sound. What Collective Dreams lacked in stage presence, they made up for with captivating melodies and crafty lighting.

Collective Dreams
Sun, Oct 10
Sam’s Burger Joint
330 E Grayson
(210) 223-2830
samsburgerjoint.com
- San Antonio Current

CORPUS CHRISTI — Collective Dreams is giving waves in San Antonio's alternative music scene and giving traditional indie music a run for its money.

Concentrating more on music as an experience than a story, the group brings its vision to town on Saturday night alongside big band of chill wavers Deer Vibes and Peace and Quiet. The all ages show will be hosted at Threads and offers a night of dream pop and conceptual tunes.

What started as high school friends jamming hard rock gradually evolved into Collective Dreams' current sound of progressive instrumentation without vocals. Based heavily on the belief of human essence in music, Collective Dreams promotes the individual listening experience by allowing the audience to interpret their music without the distraction of words.

Drummer and founding member of the band, Travis Hildenbrand, spoke about the spiritual aspect of Collective Dreams' music and on the inner workings of San Antonio's independent music scene.

Q: Why the choice of no vocals?

A: "Choosing to create music without a vocalist is one of the core aspects of our identity as a band. We create sounds that are representative of our feelings, ideas and experiences. Therefore, in our eyes, having someone sing to you while the music is playing is the same as having someone tell you what you are experiencing. We believe that vocals would rob the listener of the opportunity to fully interpret our music."

Q: Is there a spiritual aspect to your music?

A: "I think I speak for all of us when I say that all music, all art, is deeply spiritual. Just as each one of us has a unique 'spirit' or essence, so too do the songs. I definitely think our music has a spiritual aspect in that it allows us to more clearly access the core essence of others and ourselves."

Q: How is San Antonio as an independent music location in terms of community support?

A: "Our experience with the San Antonio music community has been a mixed bag. The first hurdle for us was being accepted as a part of it. The music industry isn't too different from the playground or the office: there's the in-crowd and the out crowd. San Antonio is great if you are on the right side of that fence."

Q: What is Canadian Caveman Productions?

A: "Canadian Caveman Productions is a booking/promotion company I started with one of my friends outside of Collective Dreams. Starting the company has allowed us to control more of what goes on as far as when we play, where we play, who we play with, and how much we get paid. It also allows me to help out musician friends by putting them on bills outside their hometown."

This weekend's show will be the group's second to last tour date with Deer Vibes in Texas. Collective Dreams plans to then return home to San Antonio and plan the release of their debut full-length album available on iTunes in February.

IF YOU GO

What: Collective Dreams, Deer Vibes and Peace and Quiet

Where: Threads, 423 William St.

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $4

Information: 884-7323
- Corpus Christi Caller Times