One of Australia’s best loved and most critically acclaimed bands, Holy Holy, today announce the release of their final new music before they go on an indefinite hiatus.
‘Sweet Bitter Sweet’ is a special double EP split into two unique sections – five brand new songs + seven reimagined versions of some of the band’s most beloved tracks from across their 14 year career. The double EP will be released Friday 9 May, with the first single Love You Still out now!
After making the decision to take a break, Holy Holy – aka vocalist Timothy Carroll and guitarist/producer Oscar Dawson – spent some time together writing and recording in studios on the Mornington Peninsula and Byron Bay over the past six months. As always, they hit a rich vein of creativity and, unsurprisingly, a theme of saying farewell emerged from their new music.
“Initially, we had planned to record acoustic versions of some of our favourite songs from Holy Holy,” says Carroll. “The lyrics and stories come through more when songs are played stripped back and it’s always a test of the songwriting to see if the work can stand up without the clothing of layers of production and effects.
“During those sessions, we couldn’t help but write some new songs too. So, what has emerged is a double EP: five new songs and four stripped back versions of past material. We also added orchestral versions of three songs from our fourth album, Hello My Beautiful World, featuring cinematic string arrangements of our songs by Brisbane composer Toby Alexander, with additional instrumentation from Oscar and some extra vocal layers from me.”
Carroll says the project’s first single, Love You Still, is “about enduring love – the kind that remains perpetually, even if you never see that person again, even if they’ve passed on, or if things have become difficult. Some loves just stay with you.”
Forthcoming new tracks from the upcoming body of work include the soaring We Think which is reminiscent of the band’s revered ‘Paint’ album era, the wild epic Island, the autobiographical title track, and the breath-taking So Be It, which Carroll says is “about what it feels like to say goodbye – and how strange and uncomfortable that can be.
“We often try to soften the moment by making plans to see each other again or promising to keep in touch. But this song is about sitting with the feeling, letting it be – because the living of life is the saying goodbye.”
Holy Holy will say farewell for now to Australia with a massive run of final shows across the country.
Presented by triple j
HOLY HOLY – ‘A GRAND HIATUS’ TOUR
For more information visit: https://www.holyholymusic.com/
Friday 09 May – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
Saturday 10 May – Freo Social, Perth *SOLD OUT*
Sunday 11 May – Freo Social, Perth
Thursday 15 May –Torquay Hotel, Torquay
Saturday 17 May – The Forum, Melbourne *SOLD OUT*
Sunday 18 May – The Corner, Melbourne
Thursday 22 May – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul (AA)
Friday 23 May – Drifter’s Wharf, Central Coast
Saturday 24 May –Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Sunday 25 May – King Street Bandroom, Newcastle
Thursday 29 May – Du Cane Brewery, Launceston
Friday 30 May – Odeon Theatre, Hobart (AA)
Saturday 31 May – Forth Pub, Tasmania
Thursday 05 June – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
Friday 06 June – Kings Beach Tavern, Caloundra
Saturday 07 June – The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
With thanks to Sony Music Australia
