Ivy’s Triumphant Return: Revisiting the Dream-Pop Legacy with “Traces of You”

After a 14-year silence, Ivy’s comeback album and tour honor the memory of Adam Schlesinger with dreamy, heartfelt melodies and a fresh stage presence.

Long-Awaited Comeback Wrapped in Nostalgia and Courage

Fourteen years away from the spotlight can do a lot to an artist’s nerves, and Dominique Durand, lead singer of the beloved dream-pop band Ivy, was no exception. As she prepared to step back onstage with her band for the first time since their hiatus, a familiar adversary loomed large: stage fright.

The memories of performing in Ivy’s original heyday, which stretched from 1994 through 2012, weren’t all warm and fuzzy for Durand. “I was like, ‘Oh God, I’m going to have to deal with stage fright again and feeling sick and just suffering, and it’s going to be so painful again,’” Durand recalls, on the cusp of Ivy’s intimate return performance at Respectable Street in West Palm Beach, Florida.

But what awaited her was a revelation: the stage fright had vanished. Instead of anxiety, she felt calm and unbothered. “Stage fright is over. It’s gone,” she said backstage just before the show, surprising even longtime guitarist and songwriter Andy Chase. “I’m a totally different person. I’ve been trying to understand why, and I do think it’s age and time and just feeling like, I’m older now, I don’t give a fuck. I don’t care about anything anymore, but in a good way.”

That attitude set the tone for Ivy’s rebirth, a journey fueled by love, loss, and the healing power of music.

“Traces of You”: A Heartfelt Tribute to Adam Schlesinger

The catalyst for Ivy’s return was the release of Traces of You, their first album since 2011 and a poignant homage to the late Adam Schlesinger, who tragically passed away from COVID-19 in 2020 at age 52. Schlesinger wasn’t just a bandmate; he was a creative cornerstone whose presence permeates every note of the album’s 10 tracks.

These songs weren’t freshly penned but unearthed from a treasure trove of forgotten recordings: everything from nearly complete compositions to abandoned ideas and jam sessions, all featuring Schlesinger’s signature touch.

Chase and Durand discovered the trove while assembling bonus tracks for a series of Ivy reissues on Bar/None Records, the label run by Mark Lipsitz, who originally signed the band back in the ’90s. What began as a simple archival search turned into a full-fledged project.

“We went into the archives just innocently looking for a song or two, and we found this treasure trove,” Chase said. “Some of them were 30 years old, and we were like, why the hell didn’t we finish this shit?”

Durand felt a surge of purpose: “Oh my God, maybe we need to do something. Mostly, the drive was, oh, we can continue to make Adam’s legacy here.”

Bruce Driscoll: The Missing Piece to Finishing the Puzzle

To bring these old songs to life with fresh energy, Ivy brought in longtime associate Bruce Driscoll, a talented producer and multi-instrumentalist who had toured with the band and worked with Schlesinger in the past.

Driscoll was practically family—he first impressed Chase as a teenager and quickly earned Schlesinger’s respect. Chase remembers telling Dominique, “I met the next Johnny Marr. I swear to God, this kid is unbelievable.” Though Schlesinger initially doubted Driscoll’s readiness, he soon became a key player in Ivy’s touring band and studio sessions.

For Traces of You, Driscoll skillfully sifted through the original recordings, identifying what held promise and tweaking parts that had previously put the band off—like swapping out drum loops that Durand disliked. His fresh perspective helped transform these long-neglected songs into fully realized tracks that felt both true to Ivy’s sound and new.

“I just heard greatness,” Driscoll said. “And when we’d make small changes, suddenly the potential in those tracks exploded.”

The Sound That Defined a Generation—Revived and Renewed

Traces of You captures the essence of Ivy’s signature style—ethereal dream-pop with a warm, organic feel. The band’s influences are clear, from the polished indie pop of Prefab Sprout to the sophisticated songwriting elegance of Burt Bacharach.

Songs like “Mystery Girl” ooze warmth and a slinky groove, while the closing track, “Hate That It’s True,” is a tender, wistful farewell, with Durand’s voice caressing lines like:

“There’s no goodbye / When I still love you.”

Dominique Durand

Durand and Chase slipped effortlessly back into their creative roles, despite the years apart and Durand’s limited singing in the interim. On “The Midnight Hour,” the album opener, Durand layered fresh vocals over a verse and backing vocals she originally recorded in 1997, creating a haunting duet between her past and present selves.

Chase even joked during a concert that Durand had been the one who initially rejected some of the newly finished songs. But in working with Driscoll, small tweaks made all the difference. “Songs are like humans,” Durand said thoughtfully. “Why do you like certain humans? It’s chemistry.”

More to Come: Simple Days and Beyond

Traces of You is just the beginning. Ivy has already completed a second album, Simple Days, packed with 23 more songs featuring Schlesinger’s involvement. Set for release in late 2026 or early 2027, Simple Days offers a more upbeat counterbalance to the nostalgic, melancholic mood of Traces of You.

Chase emphasized their commitment: “If Adam wasn’t on the song, we wouldn’t finish it.”

The band’s reunion shows have drawn loyal fans from across the globe—one flew in from France for their New York show, another drove in from Washington state for their Chicago set. Durand, who once worried only a handful might show up, was humbled by the turnout.

Chase acknowledges the resurgence of dream-pop’s popularity, with a new generation of bands citing Ivy as an influence. The band Slow Pulp has even invited Ivy to play a couple of shows this fall, starting November 2 in Berkeley.

Durand summed it up perfectly: “As a musician, that’s what you want. You want to leave a little influence, a legacy or inspiration.”

The Bonds Behind the Music: Friendship, Conflict, and Resolution

The roots of Ivy’s story go deep—Chase, Schlesinger, and Durand all met in their early 20s, weaving their personal and professional lives tightly together. Schlesinger was the driving force behind recognizing Ivy’s potential, encouraging Durand’s vocals on a demo tape that landed the band a deal with Atlantic Records.

For years, Schlesinger lived just across the street from Chase and Durand in East Chelsea, and the trio shared everything from vacations to studio time at their Stratosphere Sound studio.

But working with Schlesinger wasn’t always easy. Chase describes him as a demanding, opinionated creative powerhouse who could be tough to handle. “Working with Adam for a week could be very taxing and took a strong constitution to not implode,” Chase said.

Tensions boiled over eventually, leading to Ivy’s indefinite hiatus and a personal split between Chase and Durand. The Stratosphere studio closed its doors after 14 years. Chase was blunt: “I wasn’t happy with Dominique, and with Adam personally. I was fed up with him. I was fed up with everything.”

Yet Durand stayed in touch with Schlesinger, who remained passionate about Ivy and their music. After a four-year break, Chase and Schlesinger reconciled and began thinking about new projects together.

“The last conversation I had with him, three or four weeks before he passed away, was exactly about doing another Ivy record,” Chase shared. “We were all friendly again. We felt like it was long overdue.”

That promise was tragically cut short, but Ivy’s new albums and tours stand as a testament to their bond and Schlesinger’s enduring influence.

Keeping the Dream Alive

Though Ivy's current tour dates end this fall, more live shows are planned to support the upcoming Simple Days. And with dozens of unreleased tracks waiting in the vault, the story of Ivy’s music is far from over.

“You feel alive when you’re doing something you love with people that you love,” Chase said. “Making these new Ivy songs was so much fun. And so for that reason, I’m just hoping that we do go back and pull some more out.”

If you’ve ever been captivated by ethereal melodies and heartfelt lyrics, Ivy’s comeback is a dream worth following.

FAQ

• What is Ivy’s new album about?
  Traces of You is a tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger, featuring unreleased and unfinished songs that showcase Ivy’s dreamy, atmospheric sound.
• Who was Adam Schlesinger?
  Adam was a founding member of Ivy and a prolific songwriter who sadly passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19 complications.
• Is Ivy touring now?
  Yes, Ivy reunited for live shows in 2026 and has plans for additional concerts tied to their upcoming album Simple Days.
• How did Bruce Driscoll contribute to the new album?
  Bruce helped bring old recordings to life by updating arrangements and adding fresh production, honoring Adam’s legacy.
• What should fans expect from the upcoming album Simple Days?
  Simple Days offers a more upbeat and hopeful vibe compared to the nostalgic tone of Traces of You, continuing the celebration of Schlesinger’s work.

Ready to bring a piece of Ivy’s timeless dream-pop magic into your space? Shop your favorite album cover poster at our store here and let the music inspire your walls.