‘kissing stacey’ by dreaming soda feels like a toybox memory cracked open. it’s playful, neon, and maybe just a little subversive. it glimmers with the same mischievous energy as a secret whispered at a sleepover

born in melbourne, this duo craft indie-pop with the sugar-rush of video game soundtracks and the art-pop bite of st. vincent. which is no mean feat really. thankfully, the track brims with glossy synths, witty hooks, and plastic-pink sparkle, every beat strutting like a doll on a runway – we absolutely love it.

it’s their latest single, already a fan favourite at shows, polished at hercules studios and ready to blast through your novelty bratz lips speaker. ‘kissing stacey’ turns nostalgia into rebellion, making childhood icons feel deliciously queer, loud, and alive.

so imagine our little happy faces when dreaming soda agreed to share a little more about their latest release, and where it came from.

‘kissing stacey’ is such a unique and playful concept – what was the moment or memory that first sparked this track?
i have so many memories of playing with dolls as a kid, but it was much later in life that i learned that confidently straight people didn’t make them kiss each other; which was something i previously assumed was universal.

the dreaming soda project as a whole was a platform for me to explore more lighthearted childhood feelings, a kind of candid escapism. the idea of making your barbies kiss each other was one of those notes i jotted down, and the song just spilled out of me in about 20 minutes – almost every lyric fell together without any friction.

love it. you mentioned being inspired by a queer marxist analysis of barbie – how did that influence your writing, and what parts of the song reflect that tension between capitalism and queerness?
i’m a big fan of youtube essays, especially ones that dissect nostalgic topics, and alexander avila’s overanalyzing the barbie movies with queer marxist theory hit so close to home. dolls embody overconsumption and conservatism, but they’re also secret vehicles for queer imagination.

i wanted the song to nod to that duality while still being fun – an homage to those private, taboo-feeling explorations kids have in their bedrooms.

dreaming soda always brings world-building into your releases – from comic books to cocktails. what visual world or feeling were you hoping to create around ‘kissing stacey’?
the visuals lean both into and away from typical doll play. the lyric video is a scrapbook of textures, while the music video takes on static doll-scene setups with clever props and angles. the whole world is saturated in colour and nostalgia, playful but deliberate.

you’ve had two successful kickstarters now, and your fanbase seems deeply invested. it’s so cool to see. how has that community shaped your creative direction?
music is all about community. while the art is self-expression, i’ve realised it’s also entertainment, and i want dreaming soda to feel fun to engage with. the kindness of our community has made me trust my instincts more, and i love giving them little extras – like the custom ‘rescued barbies’ from the kickstarter.

lastly, what would young-you have done if you heard this song back then – barbies kissing and all?
honestly, i would’ve gone way past kissing – probably barbie marriages, kids, grandkids. as a kid, making girl dolls kiss was not normal or okay where i grew up, and that carried shame.

a song like this back then would’ve made me feel less alone, less ashamed, and more at ease exploring who i was becoming.

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we love it. thank u for making this dreaming soda, and having a little chat with us too. check out the banger here….. ❤️