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Feb 20, 2025 By Caleb Campbell Photography by Sebastian Madej

Next month, Brighton-based Spanish singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gizmo Varillas is set to share his new album, The World In Colour, arriving on March 21st via Sonteca Records. The album follows his 2017 debut, El Dorado, his 2018 follow-up, Dreaming of Better Days, and his third full-length record, 2020’s Out of the Darkness. Those albums introduced his upbeat songwriting voice amidst a flurry of stylistic turns, blending together shades of funk, reggae, rock, soul, and a warm pop sensibility.

This year, Varillas has already shared his latest single from the record, “Into the Night,” and today he’s back with another new track, “Still Holdin’ On,” premiering with Under the Radar.

“Still Holdin’ On” opens with a gliding run from harpist Amanda Whiting before quickly settling into a percussive funk groove, buoyed by syncopated guitars, playful drum fills, and swooning ‘70s vocal harmonies. Varillas soaks the track in breezy vintage rhythms and dazzling disco aesthetics, rendering it with an upbeat gleam and a sense of propulsive forward motion. That danceable shine is equally reflected in the hopeful lyrics, with Varilla singing, “Still holding on / To all the love that life brings / Still holding on / To all the moments that life brings / Still holding on / And a new day begins / I’m holding on.”

The accompanying video also finds Varillas returning to London in the latest in a series of videos show with Emiliano Bechi Gabrielli for the album. Varillas says of the track and video, “‘Still Holdin’ On’ was inspired by the early days of chasing my dream of becoming a musician. Moving to London, working kitchen and cinema jobs just to make rent, and pouring every spare moment into songwriting was my reality. After a long and tiring shift, I’d come home with a fire inside and work on my songs. Holding on to the dream that began when I first picked up a guitar kept me going, no matter how tough it got.

I believe that going through hardship gives you perspective on life and gratitude for what you have. It shapes you, and the big city certainly shaped me early on. This song is a tribute to perseverance - the resilience to keep pushing forward despite the obstacles. It’s about finding my voice amidst the city’s chaos, moving in sync with its rhythm, and discovering the beauty around me despite the struggle.”

Check out the song and video below. The World In Colour is out everywhere on March 21st via Sonteca Records.