'I Thought My Phone Was Glitching': Keli Holiday Reacts To Whirlwind Success Of 'Dancing2'
“It was really this visceral, wholesome, human thing that made me cry tears of joy,” says Holiday of his song's surprise impact.
Keli Holiday (Credit: Mitch Lowe)
Adam Hyde, better known as Keli Holiday, has enjoyed an enormous month since the release of his latest single, Dancing2.
The first taste of forthcoming new music from the singer, who’s also one half of electronic music duo Peking Duk, Dancing2 is a joyous ode to love and growth.
@themusicau @keliholiday reacts to going viral with Dancing2 #themusic #ausmusic #newmusic #dancing2
♬ Dancing2 - Keli Holiday
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Originally written as a love letter to his girlfriend, Abbie Chatfield, the initial plan wasn’t to release a song until Holiday realised the beauty of what he was writing. And it’s fair to say that he didn’t expect the ensuing success of the single.
Since its release last month, Dancing2 has soundtracked weddings, first kisses, battling cancer, and beautiful showcases of love and friendship. It’s found a home on TikTok and Instagram, where a trend has taken over, listeners taking the song and letting the world into their lives.
@keliholiday had 2 make our own one o these #newmusic
♬ Dancing2 - Keli Holiday
@keliholiday #duet with @ella.barkerr your bond has made my day #mumsoftiktok #newmusic
♬ Dancing2 - Keli Holiday
@keliholiday #duet with @Danielle tears of joy ❤️you got free entry to every keli show #ausmusic #newmusic
♬ Dancing2 - Keli Holiday
@keliholiday thank you for supporting my #newmusic with such beauty #ausmusic
♬ Dancing2 - Keli Holiday
Beyond social media, Dancing2 is having a huge impact.
With the single, Holiday has topped the ARIA Australian Artist Singles Chart, as well as the Spotify Viral Chart in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, plus number two on the Spotify Viral Chart in the UK. It’s also #1 on the TikTok Viral Chart in Australia and top 10 on Shazam in every capital city in Australia.
“I had no idea it would connect in the way that it has,” Holiday tells The Music. “But it really, to me, affirms the fact that we all love love. It’s a very simple thing; we’re all simple creatures. To see this wholesome resonance amongst people in reaction to the song is really, really something that’s beyond music to me. I’m in awe and lost for words.”
Adding that he “genuinely didn’t expect” any kind of reaction—including how it would connect—to Dancing2, Holiday recalls seeing the TikTok trend rolling and how that made him feel: “I thought my phone was glitching,” he quips.
“It was really this visceral, wholesome, human thing that made me cry tears of joy,” he says of the social media trend. “[It started with] People getting married, then battling cancer, beating cancer, then it was people dying, then people being born… it became this all-encompassing picture of humanity. And to think that my song has soundtracked [those moments] is a trip!”
Holiday explains that the “whole thing” – from starting a TikTok trend to topping the Singles Chart in his home country – has been “emotional” in a “great and joyful” way.
“It’s nice to open social media and see this really joyful presence through a shining screen, for once,” he smiles. “So, I’m happy, regardless if it’s my song or not. It’s nice to see that, so I’m stoked.”
@keliholiday I wanna hang with you #dancing2 #newmusic
♬ original sound - keli holiday
As for what comes next, there’s a new Keli Holiday album on the horizon, as he’s working on the follow-up to his 2022 album, KELI, and 2024 EP, JESTERMAN.
“To me, I would consider [it] the first real Keli Holiday album because I’ve set out with the intention of making a cohesive body of work,” he reveals.
“With the reaction to Dancing, it hasn’t actually changed the game plan at all. Because, if I was to do that, it would be changing the move of releasing Dancing as the first song, which is by no means a conventional single,” he says, with quotation marks around the word single.
He continues, “So, we’re sticking to our guns and can’t wait to share it. It’s a body of work I’m super proud of.”
So, will his Australian albums get to hear some new music anytime soon? This week, Keli Holiday is playing some shows in New Zealand, and Australian dates will be announced shortly.
“I’m gonna be tightening up the set over there [in New Zealand], testing some of the new music from the album, making sure the flow feels right, and most of all, making it sweaty and tight,” he teases, before adding that by the time the shows land in Australia, “I’m gonna be very, very giddy to share it all.
“I’m just excited. I can’t wait to bring some shows to Aus, which should be very soon. But until then, keep banging the song in your room, or wherever you may.”
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