“BAD DREAMS” by Katie Belle

As a refreshingly polished take on sleeplessness, Katie Belle's newest single, "Bad Dreams," distills the discomfort of restlessness into a gorgeous piece of electro-pop. "Bad Dreams" is co-written and produced with Italian songwriter and producer Fabio Campedelli. Together, they infuse the essence of midnight angst into a hypnotic sound that is undeniably sleek and intimately personal. The track was created in Campedelli's Los Angeles studio, ultimately enveloping Belle's tasty vocals in layers of synth and heavy beats. Belle's voice is raspy yet airy, sliding from intimate to determined, a reflection of the push and pull of a restless mind. The arrangement balances atmosphere and propulsion: ambient sounds motivate reflection while strict rhythms propel the track forward, catering to the duality of confession and catharsis.

"Bad Dreams" is distinctive for how it shifts turbulence into movement more than anything else, the lyrics reference restless late nights, felt alone by the emotional weight of unsure cognition, while the rhythm encourages listeners to lean in rather than lean out. It's a song that gives power; it includes the invitation for its audience to not only turn unease into energy, but address that festering unease with movement – desire. That tension – fragility mixed with owning quiet strength – takes the song its distance. It's also a first look at Belle's forthcoming People Pleaser EP, which will sonically address feelings of vulnerability, self-discovery, and emotional resilience. The cross-cultural collaboration with Campedelli creates an interesting zoomed out perspective.

Katie Belle’s Atlanta roots meet European production sensibilities, combining to create a sound that feels both of the moment and out of time, rooted and expansive. With, “Bad Dreams,” Katie Belle has continued to establish herself as a pop artist who can create accessible songs while also creating thoughtful content. The precision, emotional clarity, and polish to the song turn it into something more. It’s additionally an invitation to find rhythm in uncertainty and comfort in cataloguing possibilities through reflection and insecurity. When Katie makes private madness a shared sonic experience, she turns immobile, midnight ajar-ness into something people can relate to in both feeling and motion —an elegant representation of endurance, wrapped with her glistening electronic palette.