The Resurrection of Daydreamers & Nonsmokers: How o’six Rebuilt a Sound That Was Never Supposed to Survive

When o’six first started making music, it wasn’t in a fancy studio or backed by a label. It was in Ankara, Turkey, during the lockdown, with a few friends and a camera. The group was called Daydreamers & Nonsmokers, and their sound was as unexpected as their origin — synthpop blended with hip-hop, paired with DIY visuals shot between curfews. It wasn’t supposed to work. But it did.

Now, four years, a continent, and a breakup later, o’six is back with Da’Hakan, the other half of the duo, for a surprise return. Their new single, “FELINA,” marks more than just a comeback — it’s a rebirth.

The Name That Stuck

The title FELINA comes from Marty Robbins’ “El Paso,” a haunting western ballad where the narrator falls for a woman and dies because of it. For o’six, Felina isn’t just a character — she’s a symbol of everything they’ve been through. The love. The downfall. The fate. He calls this song their resurrection. After all the burnout, bad deals, and distance, the music still pulled them back.

A Sound That Lingers

If FELINA feels like it could soundtrack a late-night drive or a dream you’re not sure you want to wake up from, that’s the point. The production blends crisp synthpop, brooding electronic textures, and flashes of hip-hop in a way that feels cinematic without ever trying too hard. You might hear Depeche Mode, Kavinsky, The Weeknd — but it’s grounded in something more personal.

o’six has always used music as a form of escapism. Even when the songs are heavy, they’re wrapped in a kind of dream logic. “If someone listens and thinks ‘I’ve felt that, but never knew how to say it,’ then it did its job,” he says.

Built on Zoom Calls and Grit

What makes FELINA even more impressive is how it came together. With one of them in Canada and the other still in Turkey, most of the creative process happened over Zoom. It wasn’t perfect. Audio delays made it nearly impossible to jam in real time. So they went old school. Acoustic guitar sessions over Zoom became the workaround, even for trap beats.

The music video was another challenge. They filmed separately, matched lighting setups, and sent footage back and forth. o’six handled the editing and used AI to build a storyline around the evolution of the Felina character. It was scrappy, resourceful, and full of heart — a callback to their earliest days.

No Outsiders Needed

Though they considered working with other producers, the duo quickly realized that no one else could really capture the mood they were going for. In the end, o’six produced the track himself — just like before.

“I used to layer everything until it was full and loud,” he says. “But this time, I trusted my voice more. I kept the production tight, recorded every synth layer separately, and made space for the lyrics to breathe.”

It shows. FELINA isn’t just a song — it’s a statement. It sounds like two people reclaiming something they almost lost.

What's Next?

Right now, o’six is focused on finishing his solo album, Midnight, Echoes & Love, which he’s been quietly building for two years. He’s hoping to put together a band and start performing again, ideally in Toronto — though he admits a live comeback in Turkey might happen first.

The duo also plans to keep releasing new music as Daydreamers & Nonsmokers. FELINA is just the beginning.

More Than Just a Comeback

What makes o’six stand out isn’t just the sound — it’s the intent. He isn’t trying to fit into a scene or chase a trend. He’s building a world. One that’s emotional, cinematic, and deeply honest. He makes music for people who are stuck. People looking for an exit, or at least a place to sit with the weight of whatever they’re carrying.

“In my songs, I use dreams as a space for escape,” he says. “Even if the emotion is heavy, I try to frame it in a way that makes it easier to sit with.”

That’s what FELINA does. It doesn’t try to fix the feeling. It just gives it a place to live.