Enter the Stratosphere
A majority of genres are defined by their core instrumentation and what they give special importance to. Jazz has its brass section and values the art of improvisation, Rock is loaded with overdriven guitars and an emphasis on attitude. You get the idea. Dream Pop however, is different. It is a genre characterised not mainly by its instrumental make-up or a musical philosophy, but rather the atmosphere created. As if it wasn’t obvious from the name itself, we’re talking about a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere being created. Songs that cloak your eardrums in a blanket of luscious textures and transport you into the stratosphere.
The sound of counting sheep
Dreaminess is a difficult thing to pin being a subjective point of discussion. It is a vibe after all, so the question is how to achieve this feeling through musical means. It would be lazy to claim that playing slow and drowning everything in warm pads is the answer (although keys are great at creating a desired dreamy effect). The tried and tested Dream Pop formula is airy textures and a washed-out ambience. Vocals will often be delivered in a subdued, hushed or breathy style. Heavy usage of modulation effects and atypical reverbs (such as shimmer verbs) help transform guitars and keys sufficiently to emanate a sense of otherworldliness. The combined effect of all of these qualities is similar to a soft glow effect, or an instagram filter but in music form. It’s all about that relationship between the washy spaciousness and crystal-like textures, these are usually what sounds mystical and “unreal” to our ears.
Melody isn’t everything
When most musicians are questioned on what the most important aspect of music is, the expected response is that melody trumps everything else. You’ll hear people say that a song without a catchy hook is not a good song and that the first thing you should think about when first writing a song is its melodies. But much like how food is not all about the taste, but also the presentation and varying textures, music is just the same. Melodies can only shine when they are rhythmically coherent and set in an appropriate harmonic context. And sometimes even the simplest of melodies can flourish when it's surrounded by an enchanting, breathtaking atmosphere.
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