Sydney’s Dreaming Soda Need Your Help To Release Their Single ‘Barbie’

Eora-based chaos-pop group Dreaming Soda are itching to release their next single inspired by the American fashion doll Barbie, but just like any independent artist, releasing art that you love and are proud of will always come at a cost, a cost only few musicians can realistically afford on their own.

As a result, the duo have taken to the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to spearhead a campaign that’ll help make Barbie’s release as impactful as it can be.

The pop outfit have been releasing music since 2022, dropping their debut EP Just Before The Internet in the same year. Their music is a delicate, nostalgic mix of indie rock similar to The Naked And Famous, and pop and dance elements likened to the sounds of Confidence Man.

This isn’t the first time the group have used crowdfunding, turning to the generosity of Kickstarter funders to help produce a 16-page fully illustrated comic book to go along with the release of their EP.

Writing on their campaign’s story, the pair said: “These songs encompass memories and feelings of a bygone era, and were the shimmering introduction to the world of Dreaming Soda that we hope to follow up with the release of Barbie.”

Barbie is described as a fusion of pop, indie rock and electronica elements that was inspired by a YouTube video the pair saw titled Overanalyzing the Barbie Movies with Queer Marxist Theory. The video essay sparked an internal reflection within themselves and established discourse on the way an iconic plastic doll became a figure of peak consumerism and heteronormativity, while still existing as a way for young people to explore their queerness. 

“It inspired me to write a tongue in cheek pop track that tries to capture this essence. What does it mean to be a child that makes their Barbie dolls kiss each other?” they wrote.

“Does Barbie need multiple dream houses and almost countless outfits? I had a few Barbies growing up, and adored the original Barbie films. I also really loved the Bratz movies, and I feel like Bratz-doll energy is not excluded with this song.”

In the breakdown of their goal, Dreaming Soda has noted a $2500 pledge, alongside their own personal savings, to fund costs for studio and production, mixing and mastering, distribution, press image photography, marketing and Kickstarter fees. Refusing to be deterred by the costly reality of bringing Barbie to life, the group are determined to let their freak flag fly.

“The song will come out regardless of these funds being raised, however with the added support of financing press photography, marketing and world class engineers, Barbie will be given a greater chance of reaching people and being a memorable song to a wide audience.”

In a time where independent artists are bearing the financial brunt of wanting to create the most, dedicating your time and funds to the Dreaming Soda cause will definitely be worthwhile.

If you want to keep the essence of free, chaotic pop music alive and support those at the helm of it all, check out Dreaming Soda’s Kickstarter campaign here.