Song of the Day: Arcy Drive’s Sun-Drenched Folk Rock Dream, “Oak Tree (Daydream)” - Atwood Magazine

      A whimsical and sun-drenched tribute to the joys of life's simple moments, Arcy Drive's “Oak Tree (Daydream)” encourages us to escape the clamor, relish nostalgia, and savor the present.

      Follow our Today's Song(s) playlist.

      Stream: “Oak Tree (Daydream)” – Arcy Drive.

      At some point, the so-called 'Information Age' transitioned into a period of information overload. The continuous access to everything, everywhere, at all times, paired with incessant notifications, has ultimately overwhelmed our minds, diminished our concentration, and rendered life, in general, more toxic and less enjoyable. However, not all hope is lost. I believe that art, particularly music, has the power to rescue us—especially songs like “Oak Tree (Daydream).” Arcy Drive's first single of the year is a delightful folk rock daydream basking in warmth. It's a three-minute burst of sonic joy—an acoustic celebration of life’s simple pleasures that reminds us true joy and fulfillment won’t come from endless scrolling, but rather from disconnecting, stepping outside, and engaging with the world around us.

      **Oak Tree (Daydream) – Arcy Drive**

      I told my feet, I’m sitting by the big oak tree,

      Cardinals and jays singing for the yellow bees.

      Sitting by the big oak tree,

      Yelling “ollie oxen free.”

      The red swing chair is said to never break,

      I know I never want to leave this place.

      Dreaming of the big oak tree,

      And shouting “ollie oxen free.”

      So high I feel grounded,

      The sun shines, bringing light and life all around me.

      So take me higher and higher.

      “‘Daydream,’ ‘Oak Tree,’ or whatever you choose to call it, is without a doubt the most unique song Arcy Drive has created together,” frontman Nick Mateyunas shares with Atwood Magazine. “The song has undergone an incredible journey and has allowed me to connect with people I never thought I would meet again. I wrote it in Buffalo, in my grandpa’s backyard, where I created many cherished childhood memories with my siblings and cousins. I was visiting my grandpa for his birthday, and during those slow days, I would sit outside in the sun, reflecting on the green years that felt so distant. I sensed my youth slipping a bit on that visit to Buffalo.”

      “I honestly didn’t think much of the song at first, but for some reason, it was the first one the band wanted to explore when we got together to write this past winter. We gathered around the piano and played with the tune, and in that moment, I started singing, ‘What a day for a daydream’ over a new section. I knew what I was doing, but those words felt right for the song and that moment.”

      Someday I’ll return to

      Playing games like a child.

      I’ll take my kid to see cardinals

      And those sunny days.

      I’ll show him the big oak tree

      And teach him “ollie oxen free.”

      Arcy Drive’s debut album ‘The Pit’ is set to release on April 18th via AWAL. What Mateyunas describes and what we're hearing—what he and his bandmates experienced while writing and recording this song—represents a genuine cathartic release. It acknowledges that times change, yet we don’t need to lose ourselves amid that chaos; we have the power to 'opt out' and pursue that elusive happiness. “Oak Tree” is indeed a dreamy song, he adds. “When I sing it, I can feel my childhood and envision my future... It was the first time I felt, as a band, that we accomplished something significant. Hearing a specific line in the song reminded me of my grandma, and with all of that combined, it became overwhelming—I had to step out of the studio because I felt emotional... I’ve never experienced such weightlessness. The sun had a distinctly unique glow, reminiscent of how you imagine it in a cherished memory when everything is hazy. I recall drifting through the fields, laughing and crying, telling my grandma I loved and missed her.”

      “That was one of the happiest days of my life. I remember coming back into the studio and feeling love for everyone present.”

      So high I feel grounded,

      The sun shines, moving life all around me.

      So take me higher and higher,

      Oh take me higher and higher.

      Arcy Drive © 2025.

      Released on January 10th, “Oak Tree (Daydream)” is the sweet, sunlit celebration that 2025 has been yearning for. It’s going to be a long year, and we’ll require music filled with love, light, and laughter to guide us through. With this song, Arcy Drive—along with special guest John Sebastian