If you’ve ever found yourself mindlessly humming a melody that sounds like a candy-coated fever dream, there’s a high chance you’ve stumbled upon in my dreams kali uchis. It’s track nine on her 2018 debut album Isolation. Honestly, it’s one of those songs that feels like a glitch in the Matrix—in the best way possible.
It’s sugary. It’s strange. It’s suspiciously upbeat.
Most people know Kali for the sultry, bossa-nova-drenched "Telepatía" or the smooth-as-butter "After the Storm," but "In My Dreams" is a different beast entirely. It’s the sonic equivalent of eating too much pink cotton candy while riding a carousel that’s spinning just a little too fast.
Why in my dreams kali uchis sounds so different
Ever noticed how the production on this track feels nothing like the rest of Isolation? There’s a reason for that. This isn't just a Kali Uchis song; it’s a full-blown collaboration with Gorillaz.
Specifically, it was produced by the virtual band and features the unmistakable, melancholic vocals of Damon Albarn (or 2-D, if you’re a lore nerd).
The story goes that Kali and Damon became close after she featured on the Gorillaz track "She’s My Collar" from their Humanz album. They clearly had creative chemistry. While many fans assume this was a leftover Gorillaz track handed to Kali, she has clarified that they actually worked on a bunch of music together. "In My Dreams" was the shimmering, synthetic crown jewel of those sessions.
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The instrumentation is wild. It uses a Bontempi organ—a toy-like Italian keyboard from the 70s—which gives the whole song a "nursery rhyme from the future" vibe. It’s bright and thin, clashing perfectly with Kali’s rich, velvety vocal delivery.
Decoding the lyrics: Escapism or something darker?
On the surface, the lyrics to in my dreams kali uchis seem almost too simple. She sings about a world where the only worry is "what to wear."
"In my dreams, everything is fine / We don't have to worry, we don't have a care."
Some critics at the time found this a bit vapid. They missed the point.
The song isn't actually about being shallow; it’s about the desperate need for a mental exit strategy. When the real world is falling apart—which, let's be real, is a constant state of being lately—the only place left to go is inward.
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The contrast is the hook.
You have these incredibly happy, "everything is awesome" lyrics paired with Damon Albarn’s bridge, which sounds like he’s singing through a thick fog of sadness. When he chimes in with his "la la la" harmonies, the dream starts to feel a bit fragile. It’s like the song is acknowledging that the dream is just a temporary shield against a much harsher reality.
It’s escapism with a side of existential dread.
The technical side of the dream
Musically, the song sticks to a standard 4/4 time signature and stays rooted in F Major. It’s built on 4 and 8-bar phrases that are designed to stick in your brain like gum.
- Production: Handled by Gorillaz (Damon Albarn and Remi Kabaka Jnr).
- Engineers: Eric Stenman and James Musshorn handled the recording.
- Mixing: Jeff Ellis brought that crisp, pop finish to the track.
The vocal doubling on Kali’s voice makes her sound like she’s everywhere at once. It fills the stereo field, making the "dream" feel immersive. Then there’s that abrupt ending. No fade-out. No long outro. Just a sudden stop. It’s like waking up from a nap right before the best part of the dream happens.
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Where to go from here
If you're just getting into this specific side of her discography, don't stop at the streaming hits. In my dreams kali uchis is a gateway drug to her more experimental collaborations.
You should definitely check out "She's My Collar" by Gorillaz to hear the "dark" version of this duo's energy. If you want more of that synthetic, indie-pop shimmer, "Tomorrow" (produced by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala) is the logical next step on the Isolation tracklist.
To really appreciate the craft, listen to the song on a pair of decent headphones. Pay attention to the way the "oohs" pan from left to right during the bridge. It's a masterclass in how to make a "simple" pop song feel like a complex piece of art.
Go back and listen to the lyrics with the idea of "ironic escapism" in mind. It changes the whole experience. Suddenly, that line about "picking what to wear" doesn't sound materialistic anymore—it sounds like a plea for a world where the stakes aren't so terrifyingly high.
Actionable Insight: Create a playlist that bridges the gap between Kali’s neo-soul roots and her synth-pop experiments. Start with "In My Dreams," follow it with Gorillaz' "On Melancholy Hill," and round it out with Tame Impala's "The Less I Know The Better." You'll see the DNA of this song everywhere.