Active from 2013 | Genres Alternative/Indie, Pop | |
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Albums When the Storms Would Come, The Man Who Sold The World (Live In London), Paint, The Pacific EP Record labels Wonderlick Entertainment, Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. Similar Ball Park Music, Gang of Youths, Steven Curtis Chapman, Ali Barter, The Preatures Profiles | ||
Holy Holy are an indie rock band from Australia, formed by songwriters Timothy Carroll (vocals, guitar) and Oscar Dawson (guitar) in 2013, and the pair are now joined by Ryan Strathie (drums), and touring musicians Graham Ritchie (bass) and Matt Redlich (keys, backing vocals).
Contents
Carroll from Brisbane, and Dawson from Melbourne, initially met as volunteer English teachers in Southeast Asia. They reconnected in 2011 in Europe. Carroll was living in Stockholm. Dawson had moved to Berlin with his then band, Dukes Of Windsor. When Dawson traveled to Sweden, Carroll asked him to assist with some songs, which came together to form the basis for their debut EP: The Pacific EP, and their debut album, When The Storms Would Come.
The Pacific EP
Holy Holy released their first single "Impossible Like You" independently in May 2013 and the band played their first shows in capital cities around Australia soon after. They signed to Sydney label Wonderlick Recording Company in December 2013, soon after presenting 2014's The Pacific EP. Meanwhile, Carroll enlisted drummer Ryan Strathie (Hungry Kids Of Hungary) and bassist Graham Ritchie (Emma Louise, Airling), to join the band. Producer Matt Redlich (Ball Park Music, Emma Louise, The Trouble With Templeton), joined them as a guest, and the five-piece opened for Boy & Bear, The Preatures and Ball Park Music.
The Pacific EP was reviewed strongly, listed by NME as one of their "tracks you need to hear", and a 5-star review from triple j musical director Richard Kingsmill for debut single "Impossible Like You", saying the song was "close to perfection". Holy Holy cited influences such as Neil Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits, as well as contemporary acts including Midlake, Band of Horses and Grizzly Bear.
When The Storms Would Come
Between 2011 and 2015, the band recorded debut album, When The Storms Would Come, with producer Matt Redlich. They recorded largely to 16-track 2-inch tape. The album was released in mid-2015 and debuted at #11 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, reached #8 on the iTunes chart and #8 on the Apple Music Chart. The album received a 9/10 with XS Noise, 4/5 with Front Stage, and 4.5/5 with Renowned For Sound. The band played sets at Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay in July 2015, Falls Festival, as well as a headline slot at the annual BIGSOUND music conference in Brisbane in late 2015. They sold out almost every show of their twenty date national tour throughout Australia, and played conferences, festivals and headline shows throughout Europe and the UK, including The Great Escape, London Calling in Amsterdam, Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool Music Week and Primavera Sound in Barcelona. Artrocker magazine in the UK hailed Holy Holy in their Top 6 bands at The Great Escape in 2015, saying "will probably soon take over all of the universe with their wholesome psychedelic take on alt-rock, alt-country, dusty roads and beards".
Discography
Songs
You Cannot Call for Love Like a DogWhen the Storms Would Come · 2015
Sentimental and MondayWhen the Storms Would Come · 2015
Impossible Like YouWhen the Storms Would Come · 2015