Sally Dige - Holding On

Emerging out of the German school of New Wave, Synthpop, and Electropop comes Sally Dige, a Danish-Canadian artist based in Berlin. Dige was raised by her visual artist mother and farmer father and learned her own brand of arts due to the contrast of old-meets-new in her childhood. From being raised in such a chaos and enlightenment, it has brought audiences the world over to her music. 

Starting in 2012, Dige released a self-titled two-track single via Fabrika Records, and went on to release her second single Forget Me/Losing You via Night School. After a two year wait, audiences were treated to her debut album Hard to Please which won over the hearts of many. That being said, Dige experienced a personal tragedy in 2015 which led her to hospitals and self-isolation. The emotional turmoil that followed did not consume Dige but inspired her to write, create, and explore as a means of release. Armed with just one synth and her voice, Dige went on to create Holding On. 


If the eccentric dance rhythms that reminisce ages past that are immediate present on the first and title track 'Holding On', then I do not believe you belong on this earth. Dige's voice itself is present as an instrument; it is deep, powerful, and commanding. While some of her songs edge onto 80s synthpop territory such as the following song 'Emptiness', others bring about a more ethereal electronic New Wave ascension as in 'Be Gone', 'Sail to Me', and even 'No Need To Pretend'. 

But, just as with the starting track, there is an undeniable dance core to Holding On - one embedded in grief and depression, but it is there nonetheless. 'I Can't Be' and 'This Life' are prime examples of that, as well as the previously mentioned title track. Following on that note, the final song on the album takes the pop ballad to a whole new level with an extended mix of 'Holding On'. I have no problem with it going from three-and-a-half minutes to nearly six minutes in total as the song is absolutely gorgeous. 

If Sally Dige has not already proven herself as a new face in the New Wave and synthpop scenes, then it should be for sure that she has now. I've said all I need to say, so I'll leave her music to speak for itself. 
Sep 16 2017