Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows is the debut studio album by Liechtenstein recording artist Dahlia. It was released in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2013 by Next Generation Records.

Chasing Shadows is an alternative rock record which incorporates a variety of genres, including electronic, pop rock, trip hop, industrial and Dahlia's self-created genre 'anti-pop' music. Its sound has been noted for it's high originality, while it has been described as both uplifting and dark. All of the tracks on the album were written by Dahlia herself. The album received critical acclaim, with reviewers lauding its uniqueness and composition, while praising Dahlia's vocals. The album peaked at number 1 on the UK Album Chart, selling well over 100,000 copies in it's first week alone.

The album was nominated for "Best Alternative/Rock Album" at the 24th Urapopstar Awards.

Background and writing
Dahlia originally started writing music and publishing it online from the age of seventeen in 2006. It wasn't until 2011 however that Dahlia began writing for her debut album but after two failed recording contracts with minor independent European labels, she spent two years in Sweden writing music alongside Swedish producers. She later caught the attention of Next Generation Records and landed an audition with Coral Harris who signed her. During the audition, which was during Dahlia's first visit to the United Kingdom, she later remarked she was "so out of it" which came off as rude, saying "I guess she liked that I wasn't kissing her ass".

In a 2013 interview, Dahlia said she was grateful she was not in a position to release an album after gaining her first contract because, saying "I wasn't ready as a person. I didn't stand behind my vision the way I do now, and everything was much more about my ego and need for attention. It's about people now. It's about delivering something magical." She described the process of creating the album as a "10-year struggle".

Composition
Dahlia cites her upbringing in an abusive household as one of the main influences on Chasing Shadows, saying "This is the place that I created for myself to escape to, and I want to share it with people now".

"A lot of the songs I wrote when I was really depressed, and then the later songs I wrote after coming out from my depression, so the theme of the album pretty much is overcoming obstacles and overcoming the darkness. I’m really grateful for all these experiences because I believe that until you are absorbed by darkness you can't overcome it and face the light." Dahlia

Lyrical content
The lyrics of the songs on Chasing Shadows focus around Dahlia's depression at the time as well as her life in Liechtenstein. She noted a feeling of oppression and hostility from her home country whilst recording the album, saying "I felt like everybody was always trying to break my spirit. I felt very lonely because I was always very passionate and very over the top. I was not scared to be different. I had to create my own world. I had to work hard and dream hard to get out of that environment." While citing "Last Train Home" as her favourite tracks from the album, she cites "Virginty" as the most meaningful song for her as it tells of the time Dahlia unwillingly lost her virginity, something which she claims "will haunt her until her dying day".

"No Angels" and "Cerulean Tears" discuss Dahlia's childhood. Dahlia has noted autobiographical connections to specific lyrics from most of the tracks on the album. "Last Train Home" concerns Liechtenstein specifically where Dahlia says "being different is not really accepted" and that "the worst situation would be failing in my dream and having to travel back home."

Release and promotion
After the album was in development for several years, it eventually gained a wider European release in 2013 with a release in the United Kingdom and Ireland in June, Italy in August, in Germany in October, and in Austria in November 2013. A release in the United States is planned, however it is not Dahlia's main focus at the current time.

Singles
"No Angels" was released on June 24, 2013 as the lead single and was released on the same week as the album. It charted at #03 in the UK. The second single from the album, "Cerulean Tears" was released on 07 April 2014 and debuted at #02 in the UK.

"Last Train Home" debuted at #17 on the download chart upon the album's release, due to the popularity of the song and the following week rose to a new peak of #07, before peaking at #06 in it's thirteenth week. It has spent 13 weeks on the download chart before any release. Giving it a record for the longest chart run on the download chart, despite no official release. In September 2015, the song was finally released as an official single, and gave Dahlia her third consecutive top three single, charting at #3.

Other releases
On 16 March 2015, "Beautiful From Afar" was released as a Download-only release. It charted at #3 on the Digital chart.

Critical reception
Chasing Shadows received positive reviews from music critics. Rick Florino of Artistdirect raved that the album is "more than just 'alternative music;' it's alternative art. Dahlia's vision extends far beyond the notes recorded on her CD, and that's instantly apparent from her twisted fairytale aesthetic." Heather Phares of Allmusic concluded that "despite its faults, it is one of the most unique albums released by a major label in 2013." About.com's Ben Norman agreed, stating that it is "one of the best and most unique major label offerings of 2013, and hardly something to miss. With Dahlia's emergence into the dance scene, I predict that this is the album to watch." Slant Magazine reviewer Sal Cinquemani complimented the album's first three tracks, "Chasing Shadows", "No Angels", and "Game Over", commenting that "they display enough diversity and musical savvy, if not actual talent, to warrant an endorsement", but criticized songs like "That'll Teach You" ("forgettable") and "Wings Off Butterflies" ("plodding"). He also added that "the formulas employed throughout Chasing Shadows are often trite but the undeniable excitement and awe with which she approaches them is just as frequently refreshing."

Christy Grosz from the Los Angeles Times wrote that "although her songs occasionally feature the otherworldly trilling of Björk, her voice can sound thin and inconsistent, giving the whole thing a somewhat derivative feel" and that "a little more creepiness would give Dahlia the edge that her appearance advertises." In his review for Blender, Andrew Harrison noted that "Chasing Shadowss gothic gray walls of riff and throbbing drum machines are convincing enough, and Dahlia has clearly lived a tough old life so far. Unfortunately, it translates somewhere between pantomime, rather than cathartic music. Vail Dailys Charlie Owen felt that the album "reveals Dahlia's talent but sounds more like she's trying to find a direction than blazing a trail."

Chart performance
The album was released in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2013, alongside the debut single. It debuted at #01 on the album chart, selling 109,513 copies in it's first week. The album went silver in it's second week.

Overall sales: 1,192,625