Where it works
Travel montages, fashion films, memories and late-night edits.
Building it in practice
Dreaminess comes from blurred edges. Heavy reverb and chorus, slow attack times, gentle tape wobble and chords such as major sevenths that never quite land create a floating sensation. Keep drums soft and simple, or leave them out. If a result sounds muddy rather than dreamy, ask for a clearer lead melody on top of the haze.
Prompts to try
Dreamy shoegaze-style instrumental, washed-out guitars, soft drum machine, hazy
Dream pop with chorus guitar, warm pads and a slow, floating beat
Dreamy ambient with shimmering textures and distant piano