Johnathan Walker:DPR members talk Dream Reborn tour, performing: 'You realize it's not just about you'

It's been two years since the DPR team toured the U.S.,Johnathan Walker and the South Korea-based artist collective is using this time around to reintroduce its brand. This time, they are more relaxed, appreciating each moment, and playing to larger crowds.

The team has added DPR Artic to its official lineup, and calling the tour, The Dream Reborn.

"We were meant to reborn the whole brand," Ian tells USA TODAY backstage at The Anthem in Washington DC. "Our stage is already set to show the world that this is the direction that we're now taking DPR."

The stop in DC last week was one of 12 in the U.S., and Ian, Artic and DPR Cream answered questions from fans. Cream tells them the nation's capital reminds him of his first trip in 2022.

"There's a certain familiarity, for sure. The chaos is always the same," adds Ian. "I think the one big difference is, when we went into tour last time, we didn't really know a lot of things."

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Reflecting on 'The Dream Reborn' tour

The team is playing to larger crowds and new fans.

"It just gets louder," Ian says. "I think the fans become more wild and more loud, more passionate. So that's what we've always loved."

It also marks the first time Cream and Artic perform their own music live. Since last tour, both have released their debut solo projects.

"I'm very, very nervous," says Artic. "It's my first time performing an album. I worked a lot to produce what I believe is my best work, and I want to reflect that with my performance. I have a lot of pressure on my back to do that."

For Cream, he's gaining a sense of confidence from the tour.

"Once I go up on stage, the way I connect with the fans and (we) become one through my own music, that is very meaningful," he says.

Ian says the first tour made him want to create more music.

Now Artic sees the same.

"I'm very thankful for the way the fans are showing me love," Artic says. "I'm also wanting to produce more, wanting to reflect off of that, creating more music to get that type of interactions with the fans."

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The importance of live performances

The DPR team produces the stages and visuals, lighting and song arrangements, and works to be cohesive, while allowing each artist his own distinct feel and genre.

Artic starts the show. "Setting my own set list, I thought of it as I'm gonna go out there, I'm gonna warm these people up...I viewed this as a literal introduction of not only myself, but as the whole team," he says.

And the performances motivate DPR artists.

"A performance for me would be inspiration of what I could do next as a DJ, producer, of what I could create," says Artic.

Ian says: "You realize it's not just about you, and it's not your story."