Atlanta-born artist Katie Belle returns with “Bad Dreams,” a synth-electro-pop single. Released on August 8, it is co-written and produced with Fabio Campedelli in Los Angeles. The track follows her earlier single “Cigarette” and continues to build anticipation for her forthcoming EP People Pleaser.
Known as a voting member of The Recording Academy and an artist with roots in both the Atlanta and LA music scenes, Belle has crafted a reputation for blending intimate storytelling with modern pop textures.
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“Bad Dreams” begins with a pulsing beat and low buzzing tones, immediately painting the restless mood of insomnia. As the rhythm presses forward, Belle’s breathy vocals enter softly, echoing the unease of sleepless nights. Lines such as “Can’t sleep ‘cause I’m all in my head, trippin’ over things that I said” reveal her candid reflection on overthinking. The production builds gradually, shimmering with layered synths, until the chorus breaks through with a hypnotic urgency: “Keep me up, when the stars and the moon collide. I need you to save me from my bad dreams.”
The lyrics balance fragility and defiance. By admitting “doing bad things, I got bad dreams,” Belle ties her insomnia to impulses and regrets, creating a tension between vulnerability and thrill. The bridge adds another confession—“Losing control, I don’t like it like that”—yet the track refuses resolution, cycling back into its relentless rhythm like a mind that cannot rest.
As a cultural reflection, “Bad Dreams” resonates with a generation that struggles with anxiety and sleeplessness in a fast-moving world. The glossy synth layers give it a retro nod, while Belle’s delivery keeps it strikingly present.
Ultimately, “Bad Dreams” works as both a late-night confession and a pop anthem, turning the chaos of insomnia into something strangely irresistible. Katie Belle has managed to make sleeplessness sound unforgettable.
