PREMIERE - Quarter Short dissects weird dreams in second catchy quirky alt pop single, 'Dreams Have Meaning'

*Photo credit - Darcy Goss (edited for publication)*

Brisbane’s Quarter Short quickly follows up her debut ‘It Keeps’ with her sophomore single, ‘Dreams Have Meaning’, which The Point is premiering ahead of its November 7th release.  

Capturing the essence of alternative pop with songwriter whimsy, the latest track delves into dissecting the curiosities that dwell in our sleep.

After an action-packed, worrisome dream featuring Bruce Willis, ‘Dreams Have Meaning’ forced Quarter Short (Eloise McElroy) to consider whether dreams pose more questions than answers, more problems than solutions. Recounting the Willis dream, she says, ‘I was bamboozled with what the dream actually meant and, how are you supposed to work out its message?’

McElroy conveys feelings of wonder and curiosity through her well-crafted lyrics, all underpinned by her desire to demystify the meaning, writing ‘you’ve dreamt of death in daisies / Will you go crazy / or will you learn.’

 ‘Dreams Have Meaning’ blends super-saturated beats with quirky pop charm and a touch of alt flair. It’s a pastel-coloured kaleidoscope of sound — equal parts The Beatles, OK Go, and Tori Amos — twisting and twirling with whimsy, leaving you a little dizzy in the best way.

There’s a real playfulness running through it, but it never tips into gimmick territory. Instead, it feels refreshingly genuine — the kind of track that sticks with you after the first listen. In a sea of ASMR-pop minimalism and faux femme fatale theatrics, Quarter Short carves out her own lane — catchy yet offbeat, polished yet authentic, keeping it weird in all the right ways. Another strong step forward from the Brisbane artist.

Produced with Cameron Bower, the track features an energised drum track, and sweeping, atmospheric vocals and harmonies, especially towards the end of the track. McElroy received feedback from Gabi Kochlani, formerly of Universal Music, in LA that helped her strengthen the structure, and ultimately supported the artist to believe in her power as a songwriter, which she credits as a total gift for a self-doubting musician.

‘Dreams Have Meaning’ marks the second track of a strong, five-track body of work by Quarter Short, and is out 7th November via all streaming services, but you can hear it first on The Point Music News.