For Immediate Release
January 2026
Sasha Kristoff - Awake & Dreaming
Sasha Kristoff, lead vocalist of Awake & Dreaming | Photo: Awake & Dreaming

Awake & Dreaming Unveils "I U Me" Radio Re-Release with Award-Winning Production Team

Canadian alt-rock band taps 9× Juno Award winner Jay Dufour and legendary mastering engineer João Carvalho (Rush, Tragically Hip) for the definitive version of their breakthrough track

"I am you and you are me."

— The line that hits at 1:22, the moment the song reveals itself

Sasha Kristoff - I U Me music video
From the "I U Me" music video behind the scenes

— In a world where the noise becomes unbearable, Awake & Dreaming offers a reminder: you're not alone in it. The Canadian alternative rock band announces the re-release of "I U Me," now featuring a brand new mix and master from two of Canada's most decorated audio engineers.

This isn't just a remaster. It's a rebirth. The track has been reimagined from the ground up—shorter, tighter, and purpose-built for playlist and radio. The ethereal textures remain. The intimate vocals still build into crashing guitars. Every element hits with the precision and power of world-class production.

The new version was mixed by Jay Dufour, a 9-time Juno Award winner with 18 Billboard #1 singles to his name, whose credits include July Talk, Finger Eleven, and James Barker Band. Mastering duties fell to João Carvalho, the legendary engineer behind albums by Rush, The Tragically Hip, Death From Above 1979, Alexisonfire, and Carly Rae Jepsen.

"I U Me" explores themes of connection in an age of isolation—the idea that beneath all the noise and chaos, we share the same experience of all being exposed to it. The song builds from whispered intimacy to cathartic release, with the definitive moment arriving at the 1:22 mark when the chorus breaks open.

World-Class Production Team

Jay Dufour

Mix Engineer
9× Juno Award Winner
18 Billboard #1 Singles
37 Gold/Platinum Records
July Talk • Finger Eleven • James Barker Band

João Carvalho

Mastering Engineer
2,000+ Albums Mastered
Grammy-Nominated Engineer
Canada's Premier Mastering Studio
Rush • Tragically Hip • Alexisonfire • Carly Rae Jepsen
I U Me music video - dancers
From "I U Me" official music video — exploring duality and connection
Sasha Kristoff portrait
Sasha Kristoff, lead vocalist and co-founder of Awake & Dreaming

Track Information

Track: "I U Me" (Radio Version)
Artist: Awake & Dreaming
Genre: Alternative Rock / Indie
FFO: Radiohead, AURORA, Muse
Duration: 4:44
Original Release: January 17, 2025
Key Moment: Chorus break at 1:22
Written by: Sasha Kristoff & Stefan Schneider
Mixed by: Jay Dufour
Mastered by: João Carvalho

About Awake & Dreaming

Awake & Dreaming is a four-piece alt-rock band from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Sasha Kristoff (vocals/keyboard), Stefan Schneider (guitar), Phil Lee (bass), and Ryan Dugal (drums) create music that builds from delicate piano into arena-scale walls of guitar—quiet moments that feel vulnerable, screams that feel earned. Their sound pairs dystopian urgency with blockbuster spectacle and glam-rock theatrics.

UK's AnalogueTrash has called their work "flawlessly future-proof"; Foxfire Magazine wrote they're "making moments people will want to go back to." Rockermag praised the band's "ability to craft music that is both thoughtful and immediately impactful" — then came back and called Something To Believe In "a triumph of indie rock storytelling." SoundVille in Spain wrote that I U Me "redefines the alt-rock genre." LoudTO covered their El Mocambo set opening for Rough Trade, writing they brought "alt-rock tunes filled with rebellion and hope." Canadian Beats reviewed the rebuilt Something To Believe In, calling the chorus line "the kind of line that begs to be shouted back." Eleven press reviews from ten outlets across five countries.

Notable Performances: Rough Trade with Carole Pope at El Mocambo (Toronto) + two more co-bills • Canadian National Exhibition (Toronto, twice) • The Delancey (NYC) • Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto)

200K+
Spotify Streams
18K+
YouTube Subs
50+
Live Shows
10
Press Reviews
3
Music Videos

Media Contact

Awake & Dreaming music.awake.and.dreaming@gmail.com
+1 (519) 871-1811
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Also from Awake & Dreaming: "Something to Believe In" — New Mix by Jay Dufour (March 2026)

High-resolution photos, EPK, and additional press assets available upon request