In a world where electronic music is often power over passion, Finnish producer Alex Stonebay and cohort Tom Øderton find a wonderful and all too rare balance with the latest single, “Don’t Wake Me Up.” The song is a trancey bass music experience, as much dreamscape as a dance floor anthem.
“Don’t Wake Me Up” immediately envelopes you with its opening chords. Stonebay’s defining production touch, honed through years in the vibrant electronic world, is clear with Rugby, with lush, layered synths and rhythms that throb like a heartbeat. Every sound, from the ambient textures to the shimmering electronic melodies, reverberates with a kind of compassionate urgency, feeling deeply intentional.
The emotional punch is what makes this track stand out. Stonebay’s vocals soar above the production, instantly relatable with a raw, sincere, overtly human performance. You won’t find forced dramatics here, just an honest confrontation of longing and vulnerability cushioned in anthemic hooks and a wash of warmth and melody.
And then there’s the chorus, a soaring, ecstatic release that feels like taking flight. It’s an example of the moment that could easily fill a festival field with hands in the air but is every bit as effective alone in your room, headphones on, eyes closed. You don’t need a crowd to sense the connection, as Stonebay and Øderton have constructed something intimate but expansive. The track’s polish is unarguable. Everything is arranged with precision, but it never seems overproduced. The beat is insistent but not overpowering, and the mood remains airy enough to transport you to the dreamy place the song so delicately conjures.
Stonebay has never been one to stay in one lane as his previous output winds its way through energetic, hyper pop to festival-ready EDM bangers. But “Don’t Wake Me Up” might be his most emotionally grounded effort yet. It’s evidence that electronic music can be as vulnerable as it is vibrant. Don’t Wake Me Up” is a mood, a moment, a reminder that sometimes the best place to be is between a dream and reality.
Connect with Alex Stonebay on Instagram – @alexstonebay
Follow Alex Stonebay on Spotify
Follow Tom Øderton on Spotify
