Ezekiel Villanueva - “Just a Bad Dream”
A ’70s rock feel, a catchy chorus and a guitar solo that knows exactly when to arrive
Editorial Review | Partner Feature
The guitar riff in “Just a Bad Dream” was what caught my attention first. There’s a nice, loose feel to the picked guitar, with that little touch of wah-wah coming in and an organ quietly sitting behind it. It’s not trying to do too much and that’s part of what I like about it. When the vocals come in, I get that ’70s rock feeling straight away. The guitars return, the song starts to grow, and it settles into a groove that feels easy to get into.
The chorus is strong and catchy, but the song doesn’t stay there for long. It drops back into the riff, lets the guitar and a few ad-libs carry things for a bit, then builds again. I like that back-and-forth. It gives the track room to breathe instead of pushing everything at full force from the start. The parts fit together well and there’s a natural flow to the way it moves. The second chorus is where I really got hooked. There’s another guitar riff running underneath and it leads into a solo that feels like it belongs right there. It’s melodic, rhythmic and just plain cool. The song has been building toward that moment, and when it arrives, it delivers. The guitar takes the lead without losing the feel of the track. That’s the part I’d go back to.
Ezekiel Villanueva names Audioslave, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots and A Perfect Circle among his influences. They each have their own sound, but there’s a shared appetite for rock that has weight and melody, with vocals that carry some emotion behind them. Villanueva says he wants to make music for listeners drawn to dynamic, genre-defying rock, and “Just a Bad Dream” gives a good sense of that direction.
The song has a classic-rock feel, especially in the guitar and organ combination, but it doesn’t feel like it’s simply reaching for the past. What works for me is the way it changes shape. The riff has a relaxed quality, the chorus brings the power, and the solo gives the track a proper high point. Villanueva describes the song as a mix of raw energy, intricate melodies, powerful riffs and emotive vocals. Those elements are there, but they come together without making the arrangement feel crowded.
I keep coming back to that guitar. The opening riff has a great feel and the solo is the moment that makes the song click for me. It’s not overdone and it doesn’t arrive out of nowhere. It feels earned. “Just a Bad Dream” has that ’70s rock warmth, a chorus that sticks and a guitar part worth hearing again. I’d happily turn this one up.
🎧 Stream "Just a Bad Dream” by Ezekiel Villanueva on Apple Music
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