Nom De Plume Releases 'Circle The Dream' and Connects with Us on the Sonic Landscape Behind the Album
- STAFF
- Sep 30
- 10 min read
By: Staff
“Circle The Dream” is a breathtaking masterpiece, an emotionally charged work that resonates deeply.
Nom De Plume’s new album, Circle The Dream, is an enigmatic journey into the space between aspiration and surrender. The duo, known for their lush, textured sound that blends folk, Americana, and progressive elements, pushes boundaries with this album, demanding both introspection and release. It’s a sonic tapestry, woven together with violin, pedal steel, and saxophone, creating a sound that is both raw and refined, familiar yet entirely unique.
We spoke with the pair behind Nom De Plume about the driving forces behind the album, the personal significance of its emotional anchor, and the complexities of translating such deep emotional terrain into sound. Circle The Dream is more than just an album; it’s an experience. From the heartache embedded in the lyrics to the soaring harmonies, the work feels like both a confessional and a declaration, one that leaves listeners questioning the very nature of their own dreams and the societal expectations that often shape them.
As we delved deeper into the creative process, we uncovered how the landscapes of Maryland and Wyoming played their own roles in shaping the sonic landscape of the album. What happens when music is not only inspired by place but also by the tension between freedom and constraint? The story behind the music is just as layered as the songs themselves.
In this interview, we explore the vulnerability in their songwriting, the catharsis of creation, and the tracks that beckon listeners to dig deeper, feel harder, and reflect longer. It’s a conversation about more than music; it’s a conversation about identity, purpose, and the spaces between. Ready to hear what makes Circle The Dream pulse with life?
Dive into the full interview below and get a glimpse into the mind of Nom De Plume.
Keep scrolling to get into it with Nom De Plume.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Nom De Plume, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. Can you tell us who makes up this powerful duo and what your roles are in crafting the sound and energy of Nom De Plume?
A. Hello and thank you! The core members of Nom De Plume are Mike Magee and me, Aris Karabelas. I am the primary singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and Mike lays the foundation with his unique and melodic bass lines. We work really well together whether it’s on stage performing, or in the studio recording and producing. In the studio, there are so many decisions that need to be made minute by minute, and Mike and I seem to be on the same wavelength, bouncing ideas off each other with great synergy.
Q. We absolutely loved your album ‘Circle The Dream.’ The opening track, ‘While My Eyes Gently Weep,’ had such a powerful yet relaxing feel, almost compelling you to listen intently. Then, ‘Circle the Dream’ hits with this euphoric energy. Those violins, boisterous guitars, and the backup vocals really propel the main vocals. It’s definitely a sing-along anthem. By the time we hit the groovy, rhythmic bass, organs, and the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of ‘We're All Like That,’ it was clear we’d never be able to pick a favorite. When did you first realize that making music could actually evolve from something you did for fun into a potential career?
A. Wow, thank you so much for such great feedback on the album! That means a lot to us. That’s a great question. What’s true for us, and I think for many, if not all musicians and artists, is that we dream of making a career and living from our art. For us personally, it’s always been about love of music, love of songwriting. Expressing ourselves through the music is super important. We cherish every opportunity to do that without really differentiating between “fun” vs “career.”
Q. We read that ‘Circle the Dream’ serves as the emotional anchor of the album, and we noticed it’s the second track. What’s the heart of this song for you personally, and how does its placement set the tone for the rest of the album? Also, you chose to name the entire album after it, does ‘Circle the Dream’ carry a deeper symbolism beyond the other tracks that reflects the album’s overall journey?
A. Yes, I do think “Circle the Dream” can be considered the emotional anchor of the album. I like to think of it, and the other songs, like a mirror. We designed the album to reflect the listener back to themselves. I’ve always been drawn to songs that leave space for interpretation, and I’ve had moments where learning what a song was “really about” from an artist felt like a letdown. So, yeah, I’m a big fan of not explaining songs, and leaving that to listeners; I love to hear fans’ interpretations. We decided not to open with the title track but instead intentionally placed “While My Eyes Gently Weep” first to set a tone of vulnerability and openness. Each track shows a different side of the album’s emotional core. The order was chosen to let those feelings shift and build naturally. That being said, “Circle the Dream,” as the second track, comes in with (as you noted) euphoric energy, kind of like an emotional ignition. Beneath that rousing sound, I think the song portrays a kind of wrestling with conflicting thoughts, feelings, and ideas. And these themes are carried throughout the album.
Q. The album was crafted across such a vast range of landscapes, from Maryland to Wyoming. How did these different locations influence the atmosphere or sound of the music? Were there specific places or moments that helped shape the way the songs came together?
A. The landscapes definitely left their mark. We recorded across a wide stretch of places, and each one had its own rhythm, its own emotional weather, so to speak. Some sessions felt urgent and raw, shaped by the stillness and isolation around us; other sessions were supported by warmth and community, which found its way into the arrangements. You fall into a kind of flow when recording, and the places we found ourselves in, from quiet winter towns to buzzing creative hubs, subtly fed into the sound. The album carries traces of all those places, even if you can’t name them outright.
Q. Was the tension between following dreams and succumbing to societal expectations a theme you set out to explore in Circle the Dream, or did it emerge more organically as you wrote the song?
A. I wrote “Circle the Dream” with that tension in mind. It came from a personal wrestling match between a variety of thoughts and emotions, including chasing something personally meaningful vs feeling pressure to conform. The song gave me space to explore that tension, which I think many people can relate to. That emotional friction is part of what made it feel like the right track to center the album around.
Q. We’ve read about the variety of instruments you incorporated, such as violin, pedal steel, and saxophone, and how they add unique layers to the sound. What do these instruments bring emotionally that a more traditional indie setup might not capture? How does the complexity of using these instruments influence the engineering process and the overall sound of the album?
A. It’s a new world in indie music right now. I think the boundaries are more open, and that gives us room to be more experimental with our choices. For us, it always comes down to serving the song. If a track is reaching for a certain feeling or atmosphere, we ask, “What instrument can best evoke that?”
Take “Lazy,” for example — we wanted it to feel like a smoky, late-night club, and the baritone saxophone gave it that sultry texture. The pedal steel, on the other hand, brings something more ethereal. It adds a kind of shimmer and eeriness that traditional indie setups don’t usually reflect. Violin, too, can cut straight to the heart. While recording this album, we viewed these instruments not as just decorative, but tools to evoke emotion. And from an engineering standpoint, it adds complexity where you need to balance textures and make space for tones that don’t typically coexist.
Q. Are genres like Americana, folk, or alt-country something you’ve always embraced from the very beginning of your journey, or have they evolved over time from experimenting with other genres or influences?
A. Honestly, typically I don’t think much about genre unless I’m asked, which happens a lot, so I’ve had to come up with an answer. (laughs). But in truth, we just play what feels right. Even from our earliest albums, there’s definitely been a thread of alt-country, folk, and indie rock in our sound but it’s never been about fitting into a category.
Genres can be useful shorthand, but they can also be limiting. For us, it’s more about chasing a feeling or a mood. If something speaks to us creatively or emotionally, we follow it, whether that means adding pedal steel, or a harmony, or letting a song drift into something more experimental. It’s pointless for us to try to be anything other than what feels true in the moment.
Q. 'While My Eyes Gently Weep' is such a vulnerable, raw moment on the album. When you dive into such personal, fragile territory in your songwriting, what does that process feel like? Do you find that vulnerability strengthens the song, or is it more challenging to tap into?
A. How do you know the song is about me? (laughs). It would seem being vulnerable is not so easy, is it? (laughs) I think most people have moments in their lives where they experience these same feelings. I hope the song content and lyrics are relatable to many folks. The process feels cathartic, its why I write, to process all these feelings and thoughts floating around my head. Yes, it can strengthen a song, yet it is challenging to tap into…the creative process can demand both.
Q. The album touches on themes of longing, resilience, and internal conflict. Was there a particular moment in your life that made these themes feel especially important to explore, or did they stem more from a lifetime of experiences?
A. It’s really both. Some songs begin with a small spark, for example a moment in time, a feeling, or a conversation that lingers. And others draw from something deeper. For better or worse, I’ve lived through enough to have plenty to pull from. Longing, resilience, internal conflict, those themes aren’t abstract to me. They’ve shown up in different ways over time, and the songs are a way of making sense of them, not necessarily resolving them, but giving them a place to live outside myself. I don’t think of songwriting as autobiographical, though. It’s more like emotional translation. A single experience might echo across multiple songs, or a fictional story might carry something deeply personal. The goal isn’t to tell my story necessarily, but to create space for someone else to find theirs.
Q. Songs like ‘Circle the Dream’ have such a cathartic release to them. Is songwriting a way for you to work through emotions and experiences, or is it more about giving that sense of release to others?
A. Absolutely, it is both! Songwriting is a way for me to process emotions, to make sense of experiences that don’t always have easy explanations. But it’s also about creating space for others to feel seen. Growing up, the songs that moved me most were the ones that felt like someone had reached into me and named something I didn’t know how to say. That sense of “wow, this person understands” is very powerful. It’s not just about relating to the lyrics, it’s about feeling less alone. So yes, writing is cathartic for me. But the real magic happens when someone else hears it and says, “I feel that too.” That’s the kind of connection I hope our music offers to people.
Q. This album seems to invite listeners to dig deeper, to really feel something. Is that a goal for you with this record? How do you hope people will connect with the music once they’ve listened through?
A. Yes, absolutely! Our album was meant to be experienced as a whole. It’s not singles-oriented; it’s more of an old-school listening experience, where the sequencing and emotional arc matter. We hope people come back to it, not just once, but again and again, peeling back layers like an onion, discovering new sounds, meanings, and emotional connections each time they listen.
Q. What do you want your listeners to walk away with after experiencing Circle the Dream?
A. I hope listeners walk away thinking, “Wow, I love this band — where have they been all my life?” (laughs). But more than that, I want the album to feel like a hidden gem they’ve stumbled upon in the woods, that’s unexpected, powerful, and full of mystery. The kind of thing that makes you wonder: What is this? Where did it come from? Who left it here? If it sparks curiosity and invites reflection, then it’s done its job!
Q. What are your top three dream venues to perform at, and what would be the first song you’d perform if you could take the stage there?
A. What an interesting question! I’d say Radio City Music Hall is definitely a dream, and so is the Warner Theatre in D.C.; I’ve seen so many incredible shows there, and I love the feel of that space. Red Rocks is another. It such a historic and iconic venue. If we had the chance to take the stage at any of these, I think we’d open with “Paint Can” from our second album Ashes to Argyle. Its energy would match the excitement of being in such an amazing venue.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A. Some of the biggest influences on my personal growth and artistic perspective have been friends and local artists who create purely for the love of it. But it’s not just artists; I’m inspired by anyone who commits to something with heartful intent, whether it’s cooking, teaching, building, or just showing up for others. There’s something powerful about people who remain true to themselves, who do what they do because it matters to them, not because it’s expected or rewarded. That kind of integrity often quietly impacts others. Watching it in action has shaped how I think about purpose and staying connected to the deeper reasons we create.
Q. We can't thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! So, what’s next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We’d love for them to hear it directly from you!
A. Our next record is loosely mapped out! We have many songs to choose from to fit the concept, and we’re excited to see where they lead. Right now, we’re focused on touring and supporting Circle the Dream, which has been such a meaningful release for us. The radio play has been incredible, and we’re grateful for every new listener who’s discovered the band through this album. More than anything, we’re appreciating the moment. It’s been a great success for us, and we’re doing everything we can to keep that momentum going and to capture the hearts of new fans.
Nom De Plume, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
