A Melodic Daydream

"Primarily a duo consisting of singer Lnz Schilling and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Chris Newton, the Denver-based A Melodic Daydream delivers an impressive record with its self-titled debut. Newton's guitar playing is lush and textured with an excellent sense of both melody and dynamics. Schilling's voice is powerful and commanding and blends well with Newton's playing. A couple of highlights are the "Baba O'Riley"-esque outro on "Psychopath Trash" and the big chorus on "Fiddling With Nero," which is the record's catchiest song. The band's sound might be too middle-of-the-road for a lot of indie kids, but a lot of young bands could use it for lessons in both songwriting and musicianship."
~Andy Smith
- Pop Culture Press

"Edgy pop-rock that boasts emotional female vocals with charged up guitar-driven rock-n-roll. A Melodic Daydream shines with a mixture of stewed up classic rock-n-roll, electronic rock, and pop. The songs cull their inspiring cuts from the guitar whom has a great knack for writing hooks but they really get the fire under their bridges by their vocalist who can attest to having terrific range and a full-bodied voice. Nice." - Smother Magazine

Lnz Schilling and Chris Newton, the mouth and hands behind the music known as A Melodic Daydream, are a combination of rock, country, easy listening and a twinge of electronics and pop. For one guy writing the primaries of the instruments, it's pretty impressive. And for a vocalist to throw down some perfecting vocals helps their audience understand why the band has won awards. The track "Sorbet" is distinctive for its amiable, chill electronic sound....They are definitely something you'd expect to come across in a cafe or on a bigger stage in some southern states (or wherever edgy rock country music may be embracing)...run out and give it a try if the positive notables compel you to feed your audio curiosity.
- NowOnTour.com

“Like a Tesla Coil appears to be an unassuming piece of hardware until it's turned on, so does the duo of LnZ Schilling and Chris Newton that make up A Melodic Daydream... It is at this point that once the switch gets thrown that you know you are not looking at your average act. The sheer electricity, stage presence and raw talent are of such a caliber that A Melodic Daydream can go toe to toe with even the most dynamic of full bands and end up on top. “
~Doug Newville - Colorado Music Buzz

"This month's cover artist, a Melodic Daydream really hit the mark with Pool or the Pond. After listening to this EP for the twelfth time I could easily understand why it is one of the top selling discs at MileHighMusicStore.com-and why the group commands over 2000 plays a day on MySpace. Starting off the EP is a cover of "Tempted" and a Remix of "Money Tree," thrust up several notches by LnZ Schilling's impeccable vocals and Chris Newton's stellar guitar work...These songs showcase the vast writing and perfoming talent embeded within this brilliant duo. LnZ really shines through out the recording with incredible vocals skills reminiscent of Fiona Apple, Joan Baez and Tori Amos...I suggest buying several copies since your likely to burn the first one out with repeated plays." - Colorado Music Buzz

For most aspiring musicians, the game plan is simple.

A: Become rock star.

B: Settle down with a spouse and raise children.

Local acoustic pop duo a Melodic Daydream, consisting of husband-and-wife team LnZ Kayd and Chris Newton, has flipped this script. Kayd and Newton were married and had a son before they ever played together on stage.

"It was a backward way to go about it," Kayd says of being life partners before being musical partners. "Chris was always the one doing music. I had done music when I was younger. Chris was doing his solo stuff, and he was always writing and recording."

Then one day, she says, he asked her to sing on a studio track.

"It was fate, as we like to say," Kayd says.

Since then the married couple has performed as a duo and with a full band as a Melodic Daydream and has released a full-length record and three EPs, including last year's In the Middle. A Melodic Daydream plays Saturday night at Boulder's Rock 'N Soul cafe.

"People see starting a family as settling down and changing and reevaluating," Kayd says. "It kind of became our opportunity to go out and live the dream."

It didn't take long for the daydream to become reality. Soon after forming as an acoustic act (Newton plays guitar, Kayd sings live and plays piano, melodica and harmonica in the studio), the duo caught the ears of esteemed guitarist Dave Beegle, who took an active interest in the band.

"At first it was slightly intimidating, but he's definitely become one of our best friends," Kayd says. "Over time he's really become an integral part of what we do."

Beginning as producer, Beegle also serves as the band's occasional bass player both live and in the studio, schedule permitting. While a Melodic Daydream mostly gigs as a duo, Saturday's show will feature a full band, including Beegle on bass. Beegle will also open the show with an acoustic performance.

"All the stars aligned, so we were able to do it," Kayd says.

While the band plays locally each month, it also tours throughout the country, building a fanbase through regular road trips and the frequent release of new material. All of the group's releases came in a two-year span ("Never Came Back," off the duo's latest release, In the Middle, is a must-hear worthy of national attention), and Kayd says they're currently working on another EP, which will come out later this year.

It's a schedule that forces Kayd and Newton to wear many hats -- parents, partners, artists, coworkers. Trying to balance all of those roles is a tall order that would make short work of a lesser couple.

"It's pretty difficult sometimes," Kayd says, but adds that the payoff is worth the struggle.

"Having this fun together has been this glue that has made everything else work," she says. "It's definitely a challenge, but at the end of the day we get to do what we love -- and we get to do it together.

"It definitely works for us. It's our way of life." - The Boulder Camera