After 14 years, one of Australia’s best loved bands Holy Holy, today release ‘Sweet Bitter Sweet’ – their final new music before they go on an indefinite hiatus.
The band also kick off a final run of national shows tonight, with the epic ‘A Grand Hiatus Tour’ starting in Adelaide at the Hindley Street Music Hall.
‘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 project’s first single, the heartfelt love letter to fans Love You Still, was released in April.
Following their 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.”
New tracks 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 breathtaking 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.”
“It was refreshing for these sessions not to have much of a plan. We weren’t sure what we were making, and it didn’t have to be too much. It’s really just an intimate parting gift for fans. A few final moments of creativity and a look back over the work we made. It’s got some really special moments on it, and we hope fans enjoy it.”
So Be It also comes with a breathtaking video produced by the band’s long-time collaborator Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore.
Holy Holy will say farewell for now to Australia with a massive run of final shows across the country, supported by some of this country’s rising stars. Rowena Wise will bring her blend of indie, garage-pop and alt-folk to all shows except Perth and Victoria, while rising singer-songwriter Lotte Gallagher will deliver her full band show for the Victorian leg of the tour. Rounding out the Perth leg of the tour is Darcie Haven, who will showcase her deeply personal songwriting alongside her band. Grace Woodroofe will open both the Sydney and Brisbane shows with her blues-tinged songwriting. With sold out shows in Perth and Melbourne and the remainder of the tour close to selling out, get in quick to catch Holy Holy on ‘A Grand Hiatus’ show near you.
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
