INTERVIEW: Holy Holy

Australian five-piece Holy Holy have recently completed a sell out tour in their home country, and played a string of packed shows across Europe and the UK. The band’s ability to mesmerise crowds with their intelligent lyrics, and intricate channelling of atmospheric guitar sound, has seen their debut album When The Storms Would Come receive superb reviews from fans and critics alike. Here, the band talk to Gigslutz’ Kate about creating their sound, what bands they’d like to see live; and gin, [lots of] gin…

Hello Timothy, Oscar, Ryan, Graham, and ‘special guest’  Matt Redlich – aka Holy Holy . How are you?

Oscar: Quite well, thank you. A little under the weather after a whole bunch of touring. My liver is hurting. How are you?

I’m good, thank you! You released your debut album When The Storms Would Come in the UK on October 23rd. What did you do to celebrate the occasion?

Tim: We were in Brussels that night. We played at La Bontanique. It was the first show of the tour and a good one to kick things off. I don’t think we realised it was the UK release date at the time, but we were celebrating anyway – so that was lucky!

Some new listeners might see the band name and make religious or divine connections – was that the intention when you chose the name?

Oscar: No. It wasn’t the intention. Was, to some extent, the concern. We didn’t want to be misleading, and we also don’t want to have awkward conversations. We aren’t religious. In some cases, and with due respect, we are critical of organised religion. With a name like Holy Holy, of course, we understand that people can miss that. We are fascinated by the power and gravitas of certain elements of religious iconography and symbolism. So, perhaps that may have contributed to us being attracted to the name.

You were ‘the most talked about band’ at Big Sound Festival, which is Australia’s equivalent to the UK’s The Great Escape. Do you think festivals are the best way to get your sound across and spread the word about your music? 

Tim: I really enjoy intimate club shows where the audience is there to see two or three bands. At those kind of shows we get to play a longer set and connect more with the audience. Festivals are great  too, as we get to see other bands we love, and hang with our friends that also play in bands. Festivals also give us a chance to play some huge stages, which is always a thrill. The recording process is also really important for us as a band. We don’t live in the same city, so recording is a good time to hang out and really focus on the songs in minute detail.

‘Holy Gin’ was my favourite track on your debut album – could you explain the process of writing and recording the song?

Oscar: It started out as some chords and a melody on Tim’s guitar. Then I put together a basic demo of the tune, quite late one evening, thought nothing of it, and sent it to the band. Ryan Strathie, our drummer, somehow got a hold of a recording of Allen Ginsberg’s recitation of his own poem ‘Howl’. Strictly, it’s just a section of the poem – the footnote. Ginsberg is bellowing these lines, ‘Holy Holy Holy….’. It goes for several minutes and he is using this phrase, combining words with the ‘Holy Holy Holy’; ‘Holy Peter, Holy Allen, Holy Solomon, Holy Lucien…’. And so on. So, we had this instrumental demo, with a poem whacked over the top of it. It just stayed this way for months and months. We weren’t quite sure where it put it. And so, in the end, it was one of the last songs we recorded on the record. Finally it emerged as a fully fledged song; we played it again, Tim built a story around it, and Matt (Redlich, our producer) used the chorus module from an old Yamaha CSM70 synthesiser to process Tim’s voice. All of which gave it a feel that is unique on the record. The song is designed to transport you, and I think, with Ginsberg’s poem echoing in our heads, it did that to us. With luck it does that to the listener to.

I’m a fan of Ginsberg, surprised I missed that reference! Do you think songs which reference alcohol go down as smoothly as their namesakes?

Tim: Well, alcohol can be a bit of a cliche. You know – songs about drowning your sorrow in whiskey and finding love at the bottom of a bottle and all that shit. So you need to tread carefully. I do love gin though.

Is there a particular instrument you definitely wouldn’t consider using when writing or recording a song? If so, why?

Tim: I can’t think of anything I could rule out. I’d actually love to work with an orchestra.

Do you have a favourite track from your debut record?

Tim: I feel like “You Cannot Call for Love Like a Dog” was a good song for pushing ourselves and being more bold with the motifs. It’s also quite sparse in places which is something we are working on. Often times if you listen hard to your favourite songs there’s just a few good ideas being presented. Less is more.

If you could have written any song – old or new – what song would that be?

Oscar: Born To Run, by Bruce Springsteen. No; Bohemian Rhapsody. No; No Surprises. No; Wonderwall… See, this game has no end to it.

Finally, which band would you most like to see play live this year?

Oscar: Well, I would be keen to see Tame Impala. I missed them at Splendour In The Grass (Aus festival) in the middle of the year. Or, equally, Foals. With any luck, we’ll see them over NYE at Falls Festival in country Victoria, where we are also playing.

Kate Crudgington

@KCBobCut

Kate Crudgington

Kate Crudgington

Assistant Editor for Gigslutz (2015-2017) Now Co-Founder, Co-Host & Features Editor for @getinherears