Gabe Elias - “Digging”
Canadian singer-songwriter Gabe Elias has just released the retro-toned indie folk single, “Digging.”
This song exudes a lush, timeless quality with a relaxed atmosphere and a rich acoustic guitar tone at its core. The acoustic guitar holds a mellow yet clear texture, driving the rhythm of the track with subtle nuances that evoke a heartfelt sense of intimacy.
“Digging” is propelled forward by a simple and steady drum groove, conjuring a feeling of warmth and nostalgia. In a lot of ways, it is reminiscent of the drum mix used by Neil Young in the early 1970s, just that the snare isn’t panned to the left. The bass guitar anchors the song, providing support to the drums and maintaining the track’s momentum with its deep resonant sound.
The finishing touches to “Digging” consist of some delightfully classic elements in the form of flute, harmonica, violin and what sounds like a clarinet. The flute and clarinet provide a pleasingly breathy and airy texture, while the harmonica and violin add an authentic layer of gritty character, enhancing the retro vibes.
The vocals of Gabe Elias are pleasingly distinctive and filled with a sense of heartfelt reflection. His voice melodically weaves from breathy tones and gritty notes of yearning, to falsetto tones with a great sense of expressive, wistful conviction. The song compares “the monotony of life to digging a hole, and after a repetitive journey the narrator finds a 'natural spring' - demonstrated by an energetic breakdown at the end of the song.”