B-Side Guys

First impressions only happen once. Madison, Wisconsin’s Get Well Now makes theirs count with “A Dream at Ten,” a debut single that suggests this newly-formed indie rock outfit possesses songwriting maturity well beyond their brief collective existence.

Recorded at Blast House Studios with professional polish that enhances rather than sanitizes their emotional intent, the track unfolds as a meditation on rootlessness and the phantom ache of lost belonging. Opening with childhood domestic imagery—houses, yards, bunk beds—the narrative quickly establishes both physical and emotional geography before revealing the fractures in this foundation.

The arrangement demonstrates remarkable restraint, employing space and dynamics to highlight the storytelling rather than overwhelming it. When the narrator describes monthly visitations and “handoffs at the station,” the instrumentation provides emotional counterweight without melodramatic flourishes. This approach creates breathing room for the lyrics to establish their narrative of childhood displacement and adult restlessness.

What elevates “A Dream at Ten” beyond similar examinations of domestic dissolution is its refusal to simplify emotional complexity. The recurring declaration of being “not anchored” comes across less as celebration of freedom than recognition of perpetual transience, while the repeated assertion that the narrator will “never rest” suggests both determination and resignation. This nuanced perspective avoids both nostalgic idealization and cynical dismissal of home’s gravitational pull.

The track reaches its emotional apex with the transformation of childhood dreams into current nightmares, followed by the stark realization that “the house I knew is haunted.” This progression from memory to present recognition creates narrative momentum that mirrors the emotional journey from innocence to experience.

Formed in mid-2024 by friends in Madison, “A Dream at Ten” serves as compelling introduction to Get Well Now’s musical approach, suggesting their forthcoming EP (due February 27th, 2025) may continue exploring similar emotional terrain. The professional production quality enhances rather than disguises their authentic voice, creating a sound that would sit comfortably alongside established indie rock acts while maintaining distinctive character.

The positive reception from “friends and strangers” suggests Get Well Now has tapped into something universally relatable despite the specificity of their narrative—the persistent yearning for home even when its physical manifestation no longer exists or perhaps never truly did.