“I hope people open their minds when they listen to [the album].”

That philosophy sits at the heart of EG Vines’ newest album, Kaleidoscope Dream. Blending Americana storytelling with alternative rock energy, the record draws from a life shaped by a conservative upbringing, a decade spent working in corporate America, and the leap of faith required to leave it all behind in pursuit of music.

“Way back in the mid-’90s, when I was a kid, my friend and his dad would just play me cool stuff that wasn’t on regular radio. I grew up in a conservative household, and it was kind of restrictive on what we could listen to,” Vines said. “I really got into classic rock and alternative rock in the mid-’90s. I caught the itch with the grunge bands, and the alternative rock bands of that era were the first ones I really latched onto.”

Those early influences continue to shape Vines’ music today. Drawing inspiration from artists like Radiohead and Jason Isbell, his songs refuse to be confined to a single genre. Instead, they reflect whatever he is thinking, feeling, and experiencing at a given moment.

That mindset is perhaps most evident on the album’s lead single, “I Like ‘Em Braindead.” Inspired by Vines’ years spent in corporate America, the track critiques those in positions of power who exploit others for personal gain.

“[I wrote this song after] watching the news and getting tired of the bullshit, just seeing people being taken advantage of over and over,” Vines said. “Whether it be a politician or a megachurch preacher or CEOs only out for themselves, that’s why I wrote that song.”

Although the song confronts systems of power, it is also rooted in Vines’ own experience. After spending 10 years in the corporate world, he realized music was no longer something he could keep on the side.

“I did a corporate gig for 10 years and always had music on the back burner,” he said. “I just kept coming back to it, and I never pursued it fully. It’s always been there.”

Leaving that career behind allowed Vines to fully commit to the passion that had been with him since childhood—a leap that ultimately shaped Kaleidoscope Dream.

Vines describes the album as his most diverse project to date, balancing socially conscious songwriting with deeply personal reflections. “I think a lot of [the songs] feel more introspective about relationships and love and loss,” he said. “I think it’s my most diverse record. People might think, ‘Oh, this is too diverse for me,’ but we’ll find that out.”

The album will go from songs that focus on lyrics, such as the family-based “One Day” and the 90s-inspired self-reflective “Kaleidoscope Dream,” to the in-your-face rock with “I Like ‘Em Braindead.”

While Kaleidoscope Dream draws heavily from Vines’ own experiences, he says the songwriting process itself is far less intentional than people might expect.

Once those ideas began to take shape, Vines surrounded himself with a group of musicians who helped bring his vision for Kaleidoscope Dream to life. Among them was the late Timothy Very, former drummer of Manchester Orchestra, whose performances appear throughout much of the album.

“Tim Very, who was the drummer for Manchester Orchestra, played on most of my record,” Vines said. “He unfortunately passed away in February. He was an incredible drummer, such a great dude.”

The album also features bassist Jimbo Hart, a longtime member of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, while producer Dan Hannon served as co-producer, helping shape the album’s expansive blend of genres.

Now, Vines is taking Kaleidoscope Dream to the stage after celebrating its release with an album release show on June 14 at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville, Tennessee. Backed by a six-piece band, Vines performed the record front to back—something he joked he will “never be doing again.”

“The first time I played on a stage I just felt something: the connection, the energy, the camaraderie—there is almost nothing better,” he said.

Whether that connection comes from the audience, the musicians beside him, or the songs themselves, it is what continues to drive Vines after all these years. Leaving behind the familiarity of corporate life and his upbringing to pursue music full time was a leap of faith, but one he has never looked back on.

“I want people to live the life they choose more often than the one someone else chose for them,” he said.

Photos courtesy of Clarion Call Media | Interviewed on June 4, 2026