Dreaming Soda drops “Kissing Stacey” and connects with us to unravel the surreal world behind the song
- STAFF
- Sep 20
- 7 min read
By: Staff
“Kissing Stacey” is a dazzling, genre-bending triumph bursting with wit, wonder, and emotional brilliance.
Dreaming Soda has returned with a captivating new track, “Kissing Stacey,” a song that unfolds like a secret whispered between childhood memories and the complicated truths we carry beneath the surface. This mysterious duo invites listeners into a world where nostalgia blends with sharp wit and surreal imagery, transforming familiar icons into symbols of identity, longing, and unspoken desires.
The song’s magnetic pull lies not just in its shimmering pop sound but in the layers of meaning hidden beneath its playful exterior. It’s a story that traces back to moments of innocence and play, where dolls became vessels of self-discovery, and yet it challenges those early experiences with a sharp, almost rebellious edge. Behind the music is a creative universe rich with visual narratives, cryptic comics, and bold experiments in storytelling that invite fans to step beyond the music and into a broader world of imagination.
We spoke with Dreaming Soda to explore the inspirations that shaped “Kissing Stacey,” from the bittersweet reflections on consumer culture to the subversive humor threading through their lyrics. They reveal how childhood toys become more than playthings, acting as portals for queer expression and political thought, and how absurdity becomes a tool for navigating identity and memory.
This conversation unpacks the tension between sincerity and satire that defines their work, and sheds light on the delicate balance of capturing a song’s live energy in the recording studio. For those ready to dive deeper into this evocative soundscape, the story behind “Kissing Stacey” offers an invitation to question, celebrate, and reimagine what it means to find yourself reflected in unexpected places.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Dreaming Soda, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. For those just discovering Dreaming Soda, who are the people behind the project? How did the two of you meet, and what made you realize you wanted to build this world together?
A. Dreaming Soda is a duo project; myself (Ella), and my long-time music collaborator Renee! We met at Uni, and bonded over musicians who like to bring a little extra spice to their songs. It pretty naturally bloomed into a desire to create our own chaotic wacky music worlds. A big part of the Dreaming Soda development has been our live shows, we both have so much fun playing instruments on stage, and we wanted to make the songs a blast to play live!
Q. We read that you discovered Alexander Avila’s video essay “Overanalyzing the Barbie Movies with Queer Marxist Theory” on YouTube, and that it’s something you’ve frequently revisited. Can you tell us more about this interesting video? What keeps pulling you back to it? Is it comfort, curiosity, or something else entirely?
A. This youtube video is so beautifully crafted, and Alexander’s subtle and clever comedy is totally infectious. I wanted to write something that could be an ounce as clever as him. I love the discussion this video opened for me, and It was fun to use it as a catalyst for a song that I hope pays homage to his ideas
Q. You wrote ‘Kissing Stacey’ in 2022, but the themes reach back further into childhood play and identity. Do you remember a moment when you first became aware that your way of playing, like making Barbie kiss Stacey, carried a personal truth?
A. Absolutely, for me there was always a sense of shame in what I got up to even in the privacy of my own play. It’s been a validating realisation to learn that making dolls kiss each other is a bit of a universal experience. I think that roleplaying this ideas can be really important and helpful with discovering your own identity and learning about yourself
Q. You’ve said you nearly added ‘Kissing Stacey’ to your debut EP but ultimately gave it its own space. Can you take us into that decision? Was it about tone, timing, or a feeling that the song needed its own moment to shine?
A. A reality of being a DIY independent artist is that sometimes the funds are not in your favour! I used to lament having Kissing Stacey miss out on the hype around the Barbie movie, or not have a spot on the EP, but I am actually really grateful for it to have its own moment now! It is its own world, and I think it was always supposed to have the spotlight
Q. In the lyrics, Barbie is at once a shiny consumerist icon and a chaotic figure hiding skeletons in her closet. How do you personally connect with this framing and description? Is it something you feel represents you?
A. I think the nature of hiding your identity isn’t just about keeping it in the closet; sometimes it’s about filling the closet with so much shit that no one will ever try to venture into it. In ‘Kissing Stacey’, it’s this feeling of shame that has Barbie overwhelming herself with consumerism. She doesn’t need more shoes! She just needs to accept herself!
Q. Your lyrics often sit at the intersection of sincere emotional exploration and tongue-in-cheek commentary. Do you ever worry that the humor might mask the seriousness underneath, or does it allow for a more digestible message?
A. Music speaks to people in different ways, and sometimes digging into someone’s emotions is the point, and sometimes making something fun and silly is the point! I am an avid songwriter, and the beauty of Dreaming Soda is how disarming the playful charm of the songs are. You don’t realise they are hitting home until you’re there. There isn’t really anything that serious going on here, and I personally find that liberating
Q. The surreal and absurd show up often in your lyrics. Lines like "glitter gluttony" and "trapazoid" turn something plastic into something poetic. What role does absurdity play in how you process identity or memory through your music?
A. I always enjoy finding clever visual descriptions that might not make it into a more traditionally written song. It makes me feel empowered to write something weird and quirky, and a big reason why I build Dreaming soda was to have the platform to do just that.
Q. You performed ‘Kissing Stacey’ live for a while before recording it. What changed, or didn’t, once you finally captured it in the studio? Did the energy shift when you moved from stage to recording booth?
A. We actually performed a much more stripped back version we would call the ‘Sexy’ version. It’s been really exciting to finally have the full version out for people to enjoy!
Q. Your releases often come with full visual and narrative worlds: comic books, cocktails, sketch series. What have you learned about how people connect to your work when you expand it beyond the song itself?
A. It honestly is a personal preference to do all this extra stuff, I get so much joy and reward out of building the world, and I think fans like to see the multiple facets of creativity! If you connect with the song, I want there to be a world you can enter, where you can indulge in the sound and visual narrative beyond the track.
Q. From comics to Kickstarter to live shows, Dreaming Soda seems more like a creative universe than just a band. Do you see Dreaming Soda as a musical act, a multimedia project, or something even broader?
A. I hope Dreaming Soda feels like a creative world to its followers. I love bringing in creativity from all angles to help flesh out the world of the songs. It’s a project that rewards you for diving in! There is substance if you go looking for it
Q. ‘Kissing Stacey’ taps into the kind of childhood queerness that often goes unnamed at the time. What do you imagine, or hope, a kid today might feel if they came across this song while still in that early stage of self-discovery?
A. My hope is that they won’t feel the shame and loneliness that I felt. Exploration is important, and it can help you understand who you are.
Q. You end the chorus with the question: “If Barbie’s into Stacey, then what the hell does that make me?” When you sit with that question now, do you hear it as confusion, celebration, longing, or something else entirely?
A. I hear it as the conclusion of the feelings that get discussed in the track. How do you take on the ripples of exploring your identity? Do they become you or wash off? What does what you get up to in private say about you? I think the tone is panic and confusion, hopefully our protagonist resolves it!
Q. Thank you both for sharing so openly. It’s been incredible getting a deeper look into the world of Dreaming Soda. Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon? Are there upcoming projects, releases, or ideas bubbling that you’re especially excited to let fans in on? We’d love to hear what’s next.
A. Thank you for the opportunity! I am so excited that the Kissing Stacey world is finally here to enjoy! We have two more songs that are hopefully going to come out in the next few months, but world building can take a minute! For those who come to our lives shows however, new songs are always being added on rotation :)
Dreaming Soda, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Dreaming Soda’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
