Music is the greatest thing in the world. It connects us to ourselves, our communities, our loved ones and those from our past. But with the advent of music streaming services and recording technology at nearly everybody’s fingertips, so much music is created and shared every week — almost too much.

While the casual music enjoyer won’t find time to dig a little deeper to discover new tunes, I devote countless hours to listening to new artists across different music genres and getting recommendations from those around me. Thus came the creation of this column, “Underground Earworms,” which aims to highlight an artist or project that has flown under the radar of most people and deserves a spin. 

And for this first edition, I’m pleased to introduce to you, dear reader, Dreamer Boy.

With music drenched in solace, heartache and yearning, Dreamer Boy effortlessly fuses indie bedroom pop nostalgia with classic Americana rock energy and a dash of southern twang. Los Angeles-based and Waco, Texas-raised musician Zachary Arthur Taylor released his final album under the stage name in 2024, but the stories and personas he created remain sincere and sweet-toned.

Dreamer Boy first gained popularity through his 2019 single, “Puppy Dog,” which he released while touring with Clairo. With the lighthearted tune about puppy love and yearning for a friend to turn into a lover, Dreamer Boy proved his musicianship. He sings about his “puppy dog eyes” and “floppy ears” with spaced-out chord progressions and harmonious vocals.

Before “Puppy Dog,” his debut album titled “Love, Nostalgia” introduced his signature indie cowboy aesthetic. The dreamy album remains a gem amongst a sea of soulless bedroom pop, with tracks like “Lavender” and “Bluff” rich in character and soul, making listeners feel like they’re daydreaming. 

While the album undeniably leans very indie pop, tracks like “Falling for the Wrong One” introduce some twangy guitar melodies and lyrical motifs that would later define Dreamer Boy’s most recognizable sound. 

Dreamer Boy began to lean more into the southern sound on his sophomore album, “All The Ways We Are Together.” But whereas “Love, Nostalgia” was an indie pop album with a hint of cowboy undertones, the sophomore album sounds like a battle between the two sounds, with a handful of tracks prominently featuring the southern charm that differentiates Dreamer Boy from other artists.

It’s slightly dissatisfying to hear a surf-rock-inspired track like “Best of Me” placed immediately before “All Or Nothing,” which features instrumentals that sound like they could be straight out of a spaghetti western, though the vocals on the track are autotuned.

“Don’t Be A Fool” marks Dreamer Boy’s early ability to perfectly marry the two sounds as a prominent melody played on a steel guitar lingers throughout the song and flawlessly intermingles with vocal effects in the post-chorus.

While none of the tracks from the album are individually unappealing, Dreamer Boy’s seemingly diverging styles might leave listeners hungry for a more cohesive sound. And boy, oh dreamer boy, did he deliver on his final album, “LONESTAR.”

A masterclass in genre blending, authenticity and storytelling, “LONESTAR” follows a persona of Dreamer Boy as a rodeo clown reeling from and experiencing love in America. For Taylor, the album reflected his reconnection with his Texas roots after he spent time at his grandfather’s farm and reflected on moving from Nashville, Tennessee to L.A. 

The result is a genre-transcendent work of art seething with honest lyricism, delectable instrumentation and intoxicating energy. 

Tracks like “Big Sky,” featuring Miya Folick, and “Harmony” are soaked in nostalgia, Americana textures and classic rock influences, while invigorating tracks like “If You’re Not In Love” and “Baby Blue” sound wild and free with catchy lyrics and boisterous choruses.

Arguably the most solemn track off the album, “Suckerpunch” feels like a gut punch as Dreamer Boy sings about throwing caution to the wind and taking a hit to stay with someone he loves. Lines like “I’m blacked out on the mat / But I’ll go another round for you” are sung in a perfect cadence that captures the sometimes unimaginable pain of yearning after another.

Just before “Suckerpunch,” the lead single off the album, “Heartbreaker” features gripping electric guitars coupled with lyrics evocative of experiencing a tragic, small-town romance like “I’d see her all the time at five and diner” and “put a gun to my rib / And then she sent me a mile.”

At the pinnacle of Dreamer Boy’s most refined work lies “Twin Flame,” featuring rising Americana artist Goldie Boutilier. With angelic vocals from both artists, this transcendent track pairs remarkable steel guitar melodies with an indie rock-style chord progression as it tells the story of lovers who fell for each other too hard, too fast. Comparing the two to stars that “burn too bright and overheat,” this song encapsulates almost every emotion present in the album.

Though Taylor has hung his cowboy hat up to start his band Ballet, Dreamer Boy’s music remains tender and perfect for those looking for a fresh indie experience, especially yearners who love a little too hard and hold on a little too long.

Aden Max Juarez is a sophomore writing about non-mainstream music in his column, “Underground Earworms,” which runs every other Thursday. He is also an Arts and Entertainment editor at the Daily Trojan.