It has felt like everyone has had their turn raving about singer-songwriter on the rise, Holly Humberstone. The right track has finally arrived (“The Walls Are Way Too Thin“) which allows me to give some EQ Music Blog support around her and chip in with some thoughts about the dark pop songstress of my own. It hasn’t been hard to notice Holly, her name and music have been picking up praise in all the right places. From the internet and appropriate digital platforms to radio and television placements. You’ll have been hard-pressed to have missed her, as she is pretty much everywhere. This is what you would expect of the runner-up in the BBC Sound Of, tastemakers poll.
Holly did the right thing putting out predominately acoustically led focus singles and the debut EP “Falling Asleep At The Wheel” by way of introduction and establishing herself. Her exposed vocals and lyrics stood out, as well they should. Deeply personal accounts painted into her lyricism note she has the upper hand with storytelling. She is an artist who is eager to diversify and not become hemmed into any one style. And why I never discounted her from delivering a track that fell into the sphere of either indie-pop or indie-electronic of the kind we adore on EQ Music Blog. The subtle indie-electronic vibe of “The Walls Are Way Too Thin” elevates her artistry. The playlist/radio plays are sure to skyrocket because of having a hummable melody that grabs us first before drawing us into the intricacies of the storytelling.
When I look at Holly Humberstone, I’m seeing a young cousin of Alanis Morissette. Her style of candid lyricism isn’t very far removed from the Canadian-American seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter. Musicality wise the differences are obvious, Alanis prides herself on jangly pop and quirky rhythms. Whereas, Holly’s vocals have more of a soulful quality and music more mainstream-centric.
I am a first-timer to Holly Humberstone music videos also. The Raja Virdi directed clip for “The Walls Are Way Too Thin” is a dimly lit affair, but translates a sense of struggle, claustrophobia and being alone. Holly says of the track… “I wrote “The Walls Are Way Too Thin” about a time in my life when I felt like I’d lost control of where I was heading and struggling to find my place in the world.” And therefore, in the video, she appears stuck in an air vent of a burning building trying to find her way out. If being stuck at home and episodes of cabin fever wasn’t bad enough for the majority of us during the past year and a half. The memo went out about opening the UK back up but maybe it didn’t reach Holly, (I jest.) All the same, I very much like that she went the extra mile for her art, here.
Connect with Holly Humberstone
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollyhumberstonemusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/holhumberstone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyhumberstone/