Alt-Pop Artist DEE HOLT Makes Her Compelling Debut With New EP ‘When I Close My Eyes ‘
May 6, 2022 BY Jason Currell
After taking a leap of faith by singing a few lines in front of her family, her boyfriend, and his family, today, Montreal bedroom-pop artist dee holt brings her musical vision into focus with debut EP When I Close My Eyes, out now via Nettwerk. What started as an intimate performance has blossomed into an acclaimed six-song project co-produced with friend and collaborator Benji Nadeau. The 18-year-old proves wise beyond her years with alt-pop bangers that sound effortless and authentic. Listen to When I Close My Eyes on all digital retailers (here).
dee and Benji turned out to be a match made in heaven, with singles getting added to Spotify’s Fresh Finds and RADAR Canada program. “Picture,” and “Nobody Like You” received rave reviews from SHEESH Media, Early Rising, and Week in Pop. Often, she’s been likened to pop purveyors like Billie Eilish and BENEE but with a demeanor all her own.
dee elaborated on what it was like working with Benji on the new EP:
“Our first session, he asked me to improv and I couldn’t do it. Now I’m okay with messing up, who cares? We go back and laugh at it. That’s why when you listen to a lot of my songs, you hear me and him laugh in the background. I find that so special. It’s our thing. I just want to keep it as authentic as possible. I’m really going to push myself to see where my music goes, to see how far I can grow.”
Along with the EP release, dee shares a lyric video for “Stuck in the Middle.” Utilizing her background in animation, she puts her signature style on the track.
WATCH & SHARE “STUCK IN THE MIDDLE”HERE:
ABOUT DEE HOLT:From singing to her dad’s guitar in VHS home videos and performing at family gatherings, to studying music and art in high school, dee holt’s life has been saturated with creativity from the very beginning. But despite all the external affirmation of her musical talent, she never thought about making a career out of it. As dee says, “Of course your mom’s going to tell you you can sing, right?”
It’s fitting then, that the performance that started her career wasn’t an audition or in front of a label, but an intimate gathering for her and her boyfriend’s parents to meet. When, on cue, dee’s mother suggested that she sing, dee turned to face the wall so that she could play the guitar without laughing. After she had finished, she turned around to see tears in her boyfriend’s eyes, the eyes of both his parents, and his little brother, too.
It was impossible to ignore any longer. dee doesn’t just have a good voice; she has a gift.
Leaning into uncertainty and the idea of music as more than just a hobby, dee connected with local producer Benjamin Nadeau. The two quickly formed a creative partnership that has evolved her musical style and pushed her out of personal comfort zones. With Benjamin, dee released her first two singles, “Hardest Part” and “Olivia.” dee, who is studying animation in college, directed and animated the music video for “Olivia” herself. With a musical father and a mother who paints, the project is a perfect meeting of her two artistic influences: music and art. Fittingly, and almost as a nod to that dually artistic upbringing, it’s the song that launched her into the public eye. “Olivia” landed her on Spotify’s LOREM playlist, among countless others, and the momentum didn’t stop.
“A month later people were still reaching out,” explains dee,” I had so many people commenting on the “Olivia” video. It touches you. Each and every comment I take to heart. It lets me know, ‘Hey, this could work.’”
With creative input in both the music and visual elements, the project translates that much more of dee’s singular and magnetic sensibility. “With my cover art and visuals, I like to say that it’s fully me. It’s more authentic. It pushes me to learn new things and push myself.”
DEE HOLT IN THE PRESS…
“Dee has crafted an infectious plucky guitar-driven, bedroom-pop track centred about openly admitting to her new lover that she is going to ‘fuck’ up this relationship, so if anything you might as well enjoy the ride. Dee lures you in with her delicate and vulnerable vocal tone at times reminiscent of Billie Eilish’s typical whisper-vocal delivery.” – A1234
“…keep tabs on this remarkable upcoming artist – she will be a superstar…” – Early Rising
“I think we’re fan-girling… big, big, big, fan… along that alt-pop vibe, great lyrics…” – Bops n Bangers: A GRRRL Music Podcast
“It’s hard not to hear a resemblance in tonal similarities with the great Billie Eilish – which is the highest of compliments – yet dee has her own demeanor, soaked in banter and youthful bliss… dee holt is simply Canada’s next artist to keep close tabs on in 2022.” –SHEESH Media
“Heralding from Montreal is the ascent of dee holt who contributes to the modern day new chamber pop pastoral canon… Daphné Holt’s collaborations with Benji Nadeau distill the character of pop novellas into concise and catchy compositions.” – Week In Pop
Track List:
- Picture
- Nobody Like You
- Olivia
- Stuck In The Middle
- Drive Around
- When I Close My Eyes
