With an array of influences like Coldplay, The Verve and U2, it's hard to imagine that Madison-based ethereal alt.rockers Polydream started out as an acoustic duo working the coffeehouse circuit. But it's true.

When the duo met record producer Britton Rice, everything changed. Rice joined the band and produced a debut EP that garnered attention from far and wide.

Now, with a publicist, a slick and emotive and full-blown full-length disc, "Send Me to the Sun," Polydream is ready to hit the road and move to the next level.

Before the band does that, however, we asked Rice about the history of Polydream, the new record and where the band is headed.

OnMilwaukee.com: Tell me a bit about the genesis of the band.

Britton Rice: The Polydream you hear now is a result of about a decade of evolution. The band started as a Jon (Knudson) and Lucas (Etten) just playing acoustic guitars in coffee shops, they were just kids playing covers. Soon thereafter, they started writing originals, and became full band, with more of a '90s alternative influence, I think. At that point, Jon was only playing guitar and was not the lead singer.

Eventually, Jon took over singing duties when their lead singer left. Around this point is when they changed their name to Polydream and added Eric.

OMC: You joined just before the EP, right? How did that come about?

BR: In late 2004, I spoke at the Alliant Expo Center about rock drumming and record producing. At this seminar, one of the bands playing there was Polydream. Back then, they were much different from what you hear now, but nonetheless, I saw a lot of potential.

I agreed to produce the EP "A Rigid Shard of Balace:1," but all our roles eventually merged, and I got more entrenched in the band, helping them write and play.

I joined at a turning point for them, because I think they were interesting in going a slightly different direction, and eager for collaboration. At that point I agreed to be considered an actual band member. So, our ideas began to merge nicely and we began adding more of a variety of instruments and sounds and approaches to the palette.

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