“Dreams I never truly wanted and battles that weren’t mine.” These words ripple through Zoé Hammer’s latest single “Dreams”, a song that shimmers with the quiet ache of self-realisation. The track marks the first glimpse into Birdlike, the Swiss-Brazilian artist’s forthcoming album, and signals a luminous new chapter for the singer-songwriter.
Where her debut Liquid Dream invited listeners into a kaleidoscopic, surrealist world, a place to wander, to lose yourself, “Dreams” moves inward. It’s more grounded, yet still glistening with the otherworldly textures that define Zoé’s sound. Swirling somewhere between dream pop and fantasy, the single pairs cinematic orchestration with introspective lyricism, painting a portrait of emotional renewal.
Five years in the making, “Dreams” traces the artist’s evolution: both musically and personally. The track opens in sorrow, a grand orchestra underscoring the weight of loss and longing. As the narrative unfolds, the composition begins to shift – echoing the transformation at the heart of the song.
“‘Dreams’ was written during a time when I was mourning the rejection of someone that had become the embodiment of everything I had ever wanted in life,” Zoé shares. “At the time, any dream was good enough because dreams were a way out or a ticket to the next chapter. In the song, an older me reflects on ancient dreams I craved but never truly wanted and the battles I fought and lost which weren’t even mine.”
That reflection culminates in a quietly joyful resolution. With new chords emerging every four bars, “Dreams” finds release in motion: a sonic metaphor for acceptance and change. Written in Zurich and later recorded and produced in London, the track feels like a bridge between places, languages, and eras of self.
Accompanying the single is a forthcoming music video that expands Zoé’s imaginative world into visual form. Filmed in an abandoned building and brought to life by a collective of thirty collaborators, the project captures the spirit of creative community – one built on shared wonder and artistic trust.
With Birdlike on the horizon, Zoé Hammer stands poised at a threshold, between reality and reverie, loss and rediscovery. Her music builds universes where even heartbreak feels enchanted.
