Ditty’s New Album Confronts Colourism & Climate Catastrophes Through Poetic Soundscapes

After nearly six years, Berlin-based singer-songwriter Ditty is back with KĀLĪ, her much-anticipated second album. Released earlier this month under the German label Clouds Hill Recordings, this 10-track bilingual album blends her signature poetic songwriting with influences from both India and Europe. KĀLĪ is an exploration of Ditty’s migrant past, race, gender, spirituality, and the uncertain future, wrapped in a raw, emotive soundscape.

Born in New Delhi and now based in Berlin, Ditty has always carried her heritage with her, and KĀLĪ is no exception. The album’s title holds multiple meanings in Hindi — a dark skinned woman as well as the powerful goddess Kāli, the mother of the universe. Ditty also reclaims the word as a way to address her own experiences with colourism.

Ditty’s music is deeply rooted in personal reflection and social themes, particularly her commitment to environmental and climate advocacy. Her sound remains stripped-down and intimate, combining gentle piano melodies, handclaps, tambourine chimes, and natural soundscapes like birdsong, crickets chirping, and the rustling of trees. Some tracks, like ‘AZADI’ and ‘Money,’ were even recorded outdoors, capturing the sounds of nature as an integral part of the music. “For ‘AZADI,’ we recorded my voice and guitars in the Aravali forest. The birds and the forest sang along and are also recorded LIVE on the track,” she shares.

KĀLĪ was brought to life with the help of musicians from around the world, including Ditty’s longtime collaborator and producer Bowls, known for his work with Peter Cat Recording Co, and Andi Haberl, drummer of German indie-electronica band The Notwist. The album merges live music and poetry, artistically chronicling Ditty’s journey through life-changing experiences such as loss, illness, migration, and marriage.

KĀLĪ is also an audio-visual experience in itself. Ditty has worked with movement artists, filmmakers, visual artists, photographers, and sound engineers to create a multi-dimensional project. The music video for ‘Hold Me,’ directed by Shrutiman Deori, was nominated for the TIMD Best Music Video award, while ‘Mamma,’ shot by Venus Maku, is currently airing on MTV Alternative Nation and MTV UK.

KĀLĪ is a personal offering, a reclamation of identity, and a fearless exploration of sound and self. Through poetry, organic textures, and a dialogue with the natural world, world where nature and music intertwine, Ditty embraces her past, honours the present, and looks toward an uncertain but hopeful future. The artist is now embarking on her first major German tour, starting at the end of March, and KĀLĪ is available on all streaming platforms, with a special limited-edition release on 100% recycled vinyl.

Follow Ditty here and listen to the album below:

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