Born from the heat and haze of the Tucson desert, Weekend Lovers are bringing the monsoon back. The three-piece dream-pop outfit, led by bassist, vocalist, and songwriter Marta DeLeon, channels the intensity of long, dry summers and the relief of rare rain into music that’s lush, cinematic, and emotionally raw.
DeLeon’s musical roots stretch from the indie scenes of Seattle to the art-pop enclaves of Brooklyn, and that cross-country lineage bleeds into the band’s sound: infectious hooks meet gut-punch lyricism and shimmering post-rock textures, all dusted with the glitter of ’80s pop and new wave nostalgia. The result feels both brand new and eerily familiar, like rediscovering a song you already loved.
Their new album, In Your Dreams, marks a full-circle return, a reflection on post-pandemic life, creative renewal, and the surreal act of chasing meaning in an uncertain world. “It’s about getting back on the merry-go-round,” DeLeon explains, “writing again, playing live again, and finding the dream in it all.”
We had the chance to sit down with the guys to learn all about the record, the story around it and much more here at Music Crowns!
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Congrats on your new album ‘In Your Dreams’! How does it feel to have it out in the world?
Wow it feels daunting but freeing as well. The records been done and we worked on it off and on the last two years at Saint Cecilia in our hometown of Tucson. It’s basically most of the songs we wrote together since we started playing again, in late 2021. Post pandemic.
Can you take us back to Tucson and describe the moment Weekend Lovers truly became a band?
I (Marta l) started this project moving back to Tucson where I grew up. I definitely felt more space and time to collaborate with Rick and Dane this time around. Which to me personally, is how I always operated in bands since I started playing rock n roll back in my Seattle and Brooklyn days. The sum of the parts makes the whole project in my mind. I enjoy that process also. Otherwise I get in my head or stuck or shelve little ideas without developing them.
“Rad Red” channels a lot of 80s and 90s alternative energy. What drew you to that sound for this track in particular?
Oh for certain, I immediately felt the pull of post rock Sonic Youth vibe meets Siouxie and Banshees on Rad Red. It was born out of the opening delayed riffs of guitarist Dane Velasquez’s idea, then we played it a couple times as a band. He recorded the practice then we pieced the structure together a few more times. I came up with the melody as we went. I hear it in my head while playing bass.
“Greasy Diamond” is rebellious and political, while “Not Chill” reflects generational trauma—how do you decide what personal or societal themes to tackle in a song?
Still in the moment of the music or instrumentation coming together. When i sing and before the lyrics are more fixated, I feel a mood that I’m beginning to embrace and then label it mentally. I’m predicting what the subject will be also. Kind of like looking at the sky and predicting the weather that day. Playing it live then recording it you feel that catharsis. I also am attracted to putting macro and micro meanings in there lyrically. For example, in “Greasy Diamond” the verses are foreseeing what that powers that be are about to steal from us as people. But the choruses are about ones personal grief. Those two themes are similar and run parallel to me.
What is your favourite song on the record currently?
Ah for me Marta I feel “Not Chill” because its end product was unpredictable. I loved it. The choruses are like big waves of strength walls coming at you but hold the emotion of declaration. I had a hard time finishing the lyrics for recording because they felt simple and repetitive but luckily the complex confessional emotion came through. But I probably be disappointed in myself if it hadn’t. Lesson learned. Ha.
What inspired you to cover Sade’s “Sweetest Taboo,” and how did you approach making it feel like a Weekend Lovers song?
I’m a fan and appreciate her span of love songs in various emotions. It’s intimidating, but I felt I had a small key of access since I sing fairly comfortably in her range. I had sketched 20 seconds of the verse to Dane just bass and vocals in a slightly different key – that made it sound more slanted or mournful. The rest was gorgeous, swampy, sultry like our short monsoons here in the desert in late summer. But I can’t take the credit, that was all Rick and Dane expanding that sound which is our sound yes for that cover. We didn’t talk about it too much in prep and it was recorded fairly quickly. I love doing covers, as long as we make them our own.
If you could take Weekend Lovers anywhere in the world for a dream tour, where would it be and why?
Europe seems fun and easy for touring. Though I always wanted to cross country tour in the U.S. – I’d say opening for Deep Sea Diver or Warpaint! We are lucky we have opened for many great touring bands here just in Tucson too.
And finally, what’s next for the band creatively, any new sounds, collaborations, or experiments on the horizon?
I don’t know. I’m always writing. I try to be simple, but maybe in a differnt way like building on one part for the whole song. I feel I have a lot to learn still with writing and other areas which is humbling. Maybe a music video for The Sweetest Taboo to unravel the record further more to our audience.
