Katie Belle Turns “Bad Dreams" into the Sweetest Synth-Pop Escape!
- Annie
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
Katie Belle is back with an amazing new synth-pop tune, “Bad Dreams”. The American indie-pop artist who splits her time between Los Angeles and her hometown of Atlanta, and is a voting member of the Recording Academy, this time takes us in this absolute groover and into her bad dreams. Do we want to dance to our bad dreams or in them? The answer is definitely, yes! “Bad Dreams” currently along with “Cigarettes” is getting lots of attention on popular streaming platforms as we’re waiting for the release of the EP, “People Pleaser” which is slated for late fall release this year.
“Bad Dreams” starts with a very catchy beat and a deep synth pattern that absolutely will stay in your ears and mind. It creates a nocturnal atmosphere and makes us hooked for the first verse. Katie Belle’s soft, moody vocals glide in after an atmospheric synth sound leads us into it. Her signature vocal style sounds frail and vulnerable, but at the same time defiant and straightforward. Her breathy-voice singing shows her vocal prowess. Every singer knows that singing breathily is not as easy as it seems, but Katie does that quite brilliantly. The lyric video lets us dive completely into the vibe while listening to the song -
“Can’t sleep cause I’m all in my head / Trippin over things that I said / The music keeps me movin, but it’s not loud enough to forget no oh...”
The lines are very personal and relatable as many have experienced situations like this, no matter what personal topic or issue it is about. We’re getting a very close look into Katie’s feelings, but we can feel the same, remember it, or actually be in the same condition. The lyrics are written in colloquial language in the song, which brings us even closer to our own story, as we can identify with it much more quickly. Poetry is out of place here and would never achieve this intimacy, and would also not fit the beat. An electric keyboard supports the beat in the second part of the verse with full chords, which brings tension into the song. A nice low-cut synth sound drives the beat forward and leads us to the pre-chorus. It brings us a clever little turn in the bad dream.
“Twisting and turning, I’m drunk on my thoughts / I know it’s not good, but I can’t get enough...”
Suffering, but this suffering seems to be needed. The drums become more intense and throw us into the chorus, which is initially reduced in instrumentation in the first part, until we hear an open synth sound and the driving drums.
“Keep me up when the stars and the moon collide / I need you to save me from my bad dreams...”
The first line of the chorus starts with a metaphor that shows the pain, but is beautiful at the same time, and tells us that someone is needed to save us from ourselves. After the second verse, a very rhythmic and melodic second chorus with claps and catchy hi-hats gets into the bridge. It's also the first time we more clearly hear her beautiful harmonies that fit perfectly into that groovy section. The voice doesn’t do any big jumps in the range, which wouldn’t fit the song but flow like a dream through it. After the bridge, the last chorus is remarkable, as it is reduced to just a couple of lines in the first part with creative vocal chops and melodic textures. The song keeps surprising us in the right parts and keeps the tension up. Her artistry in the song definitely shows a lot of intimacy and dynamics.
With “Bad Dreams,” Katie Belle delivers a synth-pop highlight that is emotionally deep with dance floor energy. It connects so strongly because it's both intimate and relatable, and the production keeps it modern and radio-ready. Katie’s signature vocal performance, which is breathy, vulnerable, yet determined, lifts the song and makes it unmistakably hers. Even though “Bad Dreams” moves within a familiar pop framework, Katie manages to inject her personal touch that prevents it from sounding generic through clever dynamics, atmospheric synth layers, and relatable lyrics. “Bad Dreams” sets the bar high and makes us curious for what’s coming next from this charismatic and developing artist with a promising future in the pop music landscape. Take a listen below!
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You can check out and follow Katie Belle’s musical journey on her website here: https://www.officialkatiebelle.com
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