Known for his show-stopping dancing skills on the ballroom floor, Dancing with the Stars alum and World of Dance judge Derek Hough ventures into the music industry with a heartbreaking and important debut single that focuses attention on men's health, mental health and suicide prevention.
Said to have been affected by the untimely death of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington earlier this year, new single “Hold On” finds Hough struggling with taking the vital steps forward to recovery. With ominous production at the forefront, the artist details his internal battle, while wondering if anyone would miss his presence if he were to end it all. The subject matter is intense and sensitive, yet Hough is able to convey the message with a sense of understanding and self-experience.
With eyes set on survival, Hough becomes a comforting voice, pleading with those who he encounters with similar problems to lean on him for support. It’s the ability to relate, the uneasy questions asked, that turns the somber “Hold On” into a more authentic and urgent offering. Even though the darkness of depression and thoughts of suicide can cloud one’s judgment, Hough hopes to be the glimmer of light breaking through, using a pop-leaning track to do the heavy lifting.
While Hough does not showcase too much of a vocal range on the new release, thanks to his raw emotion and encouraging overall message, he is still able to effectively make a lasting impact with listeners. “She said, ‘will anybody even know if I’m gone, and I can’t take another night alone’, and I said, ‘hold on, hold on to me’,” Hough stresses on the chorus, one with a simple notion yet delivered with a calming sense of comfort and embrace.
On the surface, songwriting skills are limited. Short verses are included, but ultimately, the repetitive nature of the chorus accounts for a bulk of the four-minute track. However, supporting elements of “Hold On” lift the project to rousing heights. Hough’s personal connection to the issues being tackled, the slight rock-tinged backing drums and dramatic piano blend to create an encompassing environment that would not sound out of place on a film soundtrack.
“After experiencing firsthand the effects of suicide in my extended family, I became curious of the human condition and how we could possibly reach a point where we felt that there was no hope,” the artist said of the song. “The thought of someone suffering in silence, feeling alone and feeling like there is no way out breaks my heart.”
To accompany Hough’s official debut single, a music video for "Hold On" was also shared recently. Depicting two strangers – one suffering from PTSD, the other dealing with the loss of a daughter – coming to each other’s side in their hour of need, without another second to spare. The visual perfectly brings the words to life, doubling as a PSA for those suffering to seek the necessary help. As a whole, the project successfully accomplished a respectable goal.
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