“I enjoyed the band arrangement so much that I wanted to record it as quickly as possible”. For a very good artistic reason, one I’m not yet ready to publicly disclose, these words from emerging artist Elsdeer resonated deeply within me.
I first listened to “Destiny” early in the morning, walking towards the bus under a thick fog with the sun still hiding. The song quietly transformed what could have been a bleak start to the day into something rewardingly reflective, adding a hopeful tone that brought warmth and clarity to an otherwise gray moment. That emotional accessibility is one of the real strengths of this track.
With “Destiny,” Berlin-based artist Elsdeer (the project of Denise Dombrowski) opens a new chapter, leaning into a deeper collaboration without abandoning the experimental fingerprints that define her work. Set for release on January 30, the single is the first glimpse into an upcoming EP and immediately signals a subtle but meaningful shift in process and perspective.
What struck me first was how effortlessly the song blends indie folk songwriting with tactile, experimental production details. The fret rubbing, controlled feedback, and moments of sample manipulation feel intentionally imperfect. These are sonic gestures that have become a signature of Elsdeer’s productions. At certain key lyrical moments, saturation is cranked up as an emotional amplifier, adding tension and drama without overwhelming the core of the song. The guitar line itself is very catchy, anchoring the track in a lighthearted, uplifting atmosphere that makes it easy to sink into.
Part of that freshness comes from the way the song was made. Unlike Elsdeer’s earlier, more solitary approach, “Destiny” was shaped collectively with her band, a process she described to me as central to the song’s final form. Recorded at Funkhaus Berlin with Brian Trahan, the track carries a sense of shared momentum. The result is a song about searching for meaning and finding it, not in abstraction, but in the people around you. An idea that resonates both lyrically and sonically, which, together with the collaborative effort, brought me to a personal reinterpretation of the lyrics themselves, in a deeply introspective and genuinely touching twist.
Written by Gabi SaltaSoles, producer and storyteller
