There is a particular comfort in “Stream of Dreams” that caught me straight away. The production is wonderfully polished without becoming sterile, and every part of the arrangement seems to have been given the right amount of attention. The friendly vocal tone helps enormously too. Being born in 1991, I have a natural weakness for that 90s pop-rock feeling, and this track presses precisely the right nostalgic buttons without sounding like a museum piece. It is easy on the ears, but there is enough detail in the arrangement to keep me listening properly.
The lyrics are where the song becomes considerably more interesting. “These broken stars / Burning out across the sky / Chase all the likes / They don’t know who you really are” sets up a very recognisable picture of our strange relationship with visibility, influence and the endless little boxes we build for ourselves online. I particularly like the way the writing moves between these observations and the much warmer invitation of “Don’t you wanna spend it with me“. That contrast gives the song a human centre. Beneath all the noise, trends and scrolling, there is still somebody asking us to put the phone down and share a bit of time.
Musically, that invitation is wrapped in something genuinely pleasant. The song has enough movement to keep it alive, but it never feels anxious about getting somewhere. I can imagine putting this on during a beautiful morning walk, head somewhere between the clouds and the pavement, letting the world become slightly softer for a few minutes. The strings and woodwinds arranged by Jordan Lehning add another dimension to the production, giving the track a fuller colour without taking away from its pop-rock heart. I came away from it feeling happier than when I pressed play, and that counts for a lot.
About ØZWALD:
ØZWALD is the indie project of Lifehouse’s Jason Wade and Steve Stout, built from their shared affection for The Beatles and independent music. After making seven records in five years, the duo are now allowing themselves more freedom through individual singles and collaborations rather than having every song answer to a full-album structure. Their forthcoming “Strange Thoughts” will be the eighth record from the pair, with this track featuring a live string quartet and woodwinds arranged in collaboration with Jordan Lehning in Nashville. There is something refreshing about musicians who give themselves permission to loosen the boundaries around their own work. “Stream of Dreams” feels like the result of that freedom, and I’m glad they let this one out into the world.
Follow ØZWALD: