T-LOG 0004 - DREAMWAVE
Memory
DREAMWAVE was the fifth track I wrote for Album I.
The drums came first—tight, rhythmic, and driving. Initially, they served as the intro, but the pattern leaned too closely toward the feel of Billie Jean. That similarity forced a shift. I restructured the track to move away from that influence and find its own identity.
At the time, I was heavily inspired by blending the sounds of Chromatics and The Midnight. The core idea was a rolling bassline shaped by sidechain compression against the kick drum. This created a pulsing effect—where the bass dips in volume with each kick, giving the illusion that it briefly jumps an octave. That movement became a defining characteristic of the track.
Despite having that sonic foundation, I wasn’t sure where the song was going. I remember looping the first 16 bars repeatedly while my husband’s niece was visiting—just letting it play while I tried to figure out the direction.
Then the lyrics came quickly.
The vocal process was straightforward. My primary vocal chain only needed minor adjustments to fit the mix, which made this one of the smoother recordings during the project.
Looking back, “DREAMWAVE” stands out as one of my favorite tracks—both lyrically and musically. It evolved significantly from its original idea, and that transformation is exactly what makes it memorable.
Meaning
At its core, “DREAMWAVE” sits in that space between sleep and reality—the moment where emotion feels more vivid than logic.
The opening lines introduce a kind of internal conflict. There’s tension between clarity and uncertainty—“reading between the lines,” recognizing signs, but not fully understanding what they mean yet. It sets up that feeling of being pulled between intuition and control.
The recurring plea—“please, guide me”—acts as the emotional anchor of the song. It’s not just about another person. It can be interpreted as surrendering to something larger: a relationship, a feeling, or even the subconscious itself. There’s a vulnerability in letting go and asking for direction instead of forcing it.
The shift into colors—black and white, then red and blue—represents movement from simplicity into complexity. What starts as something clear becomes layered and emotionally charged. That transition mirrors how relationships (or internal states) evolve over time.
Lines like “the anchor is aweigh” reinforce the idea of release. There’s a departure happening—letting go of stability in exchange for movement, risk, and possibility. It’s a decision to drift rather than stay grounded.
Then the tone changes with “I said, Dance.”
That moment feels intentional—almost like breaking out of overthinking. It’s a pivot from introspection into action. Instead of analyzing the dream, the narrator chooses to live inside it.
The repetition of “My Dreamwave” becomes a kind of ownership. What started as uncertainty turns into something personal and controlled. By the end, the line “This time I’m gonna fly” suggests resolution—not necessarily answers, but confidence in moving forward anyway.
Overall, the song tracks a progression:
from uncertainty →
to surrender →
to release →
to control and momentum
It’s less about finding clarity and more about trusting the feeling, even if it doesn’t fully make sense.
Lyrics
A dream in black and white
To read between the lines
This time it’s fight or flight
You know these are the signs
Please, guide me as I fall fast asleep
Please, guide me through
Please, guide me through
A dream in red and blue
Guide my way
At the thought of losing you
The anchor is aweigh
But this time you’re all mine
Guide my way
You know this is the sign
The anchor is aweigh
Please, guide me as I fall fast asleep
Please, guide me through
Please, guide me through
Please, guide me as I fall fast asleep
Please, guide me through
Please, guide me through
I said, Dance
My Dreamwave
My Dreamwave
This time I’m gonna fly
This time I’m gonna fly
Please, guide me as I fall fast asleep
Please, guide me through
Please, guide me through
Please, guide me as I fall fast asleep
Please, guide me through
Please, guide me through
