0
Skip to Content
Holly Dodson
Holly Dodson

“Undoubtedly one of Canada’s finest Synth-Pop exports.”
- Electronic Rumours, UK

With a sound that fuses classic-pop sentiments, post-punk rebellion, vintage synths and a voice that NME likened to “a young Madonna”, Holly Dodson is a singer, songwriter and producer who’s songs are like Polaroid snapshots of an ever-shifting zeitgeist. After more than a decade as the front-woman of the acclaimed synth-pop project Parallels, Holly is stepping off the page under her own name with her new solo record coming late 2025.

Over her prolific 16+ year career, Holly has unearthed a powerful truth about herself as an artist: she thrives in the space between conformity and rebellion. Like a love letter to icons who dared to re-invent the rules, she creates like a true Gemini. Embodying the duality of synth-pop/new wave, pop/rock, fresh/familiar - she’s not one to be put in a singular box. Her songs are the work of a keen observer.

As the driving force behind her retro-infused acclaimed synth-pop project, Parallels - she formed the foundation of her identity. Tinkering with vintage synths and painting with vocal melodies, she transformed between her roles as singer, songwriter, producer which ultimately resulted in 5-acclaimed studio albums and an international fanbase. Self-taught to become self-sufficient, she learned from a young age that this was true freedom.

She grew-up hovering outside the door of her Dad’s recording studio he built in 1976, enchanted by the rock ’n’ roll sounds coming from their basement. During the summers, her family would pack in a minivan and go on tours across Canada. 

As a teenager, Holly was an outsider at DIY punk shows in abandoned downtown warehouses in her hometown, Toronto. Which lead her to eventually co-found Parallels. The project emerged out of the Myspace/Mp3 blog explosion that produced ‘indie sleaze’ and represented an era of the Toronto music scene that has since been washed from the weather-slicked sidewalks of Queen St.

Parallels became the reason to tour the world, win awards and critical acclaim, share billing with superstars and climb charts. It lead her to eventually uproot herself to the land of make believe on the west coast. Still orbiting between home and home - Toronto and Los Angeles - she continues to find big inspiration in the journey in-between, where her creativity is challenged and her magic happens. 

View fullsize Oh hey 2025 🖤 
One thing about this year, I know to be true,
there’ll be brand new music, from me to you ✍️🪄

📸 @bradakinnan who recently scanned a ton of negatives 🎞️ 

 #comingsoonmusic #synthpop #indiemusician
View fullsize Now that the @iloveparallels tour is mostly behind us, I’m trying to figure out what to do with my life after not wanting the party to end 🥰 A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who danced with us on tour! It literally would not have been possibl
View fullsize That’s a wrap on the US leg of the @iloveparallels tour supporting @olliewride! Thanks to our amazing crew that made it all happen. Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago & Brooklyn - you were all so beautiful! We love you for making it out and da

contact

hello@hollydodson.com

COPYRIGHT © 2025 HOLLY DODSON