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Photo – Alana Potts

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The ambitiously creative alt-rock indie pop group HOLiDAY are proud to announce their new single, “Lover”, out today. Formerly a dynamic trio from three separate corners of the globe, serendipitously meeting in the creative vortex of Byron Bay, the band has recently expanded and now resides in tranquil Tasmania. Hard at work defining their sound, HOLiDAY’s influences are a mix of alt-rock royalty; Wolf Alice, London Grammar, Foals, Sam Fender, Florence + The Machine.

Following the release of their debut single “Next Best Friend”, “Lover” gives us a second glance at their upcoming debut EP *In Holiday, set for release in April 2023, showcasing their self-produced talents and recent endeavours with ARIA Award-winning Producer Adrian Breakspear (Gang Of Youths, Amy Shark, Clews etc.). HOLiDAY aligns with a resonance of anthemic artists of recent times, romantically referenced as ‘the lovechild of Florence Welch and Foals’, unapologetically merging gritty alternative rock with heartfelt indie pop. The self-produced ‘Lover’ leans into this territory and was finalised by the polished mix of Adrian’s handy work.

LISTEN TO “LOVER” HERE

“Lover” is a melancholy love song that begins with beautifully intimate vocals from Meg Hitchcock but then drops into this suspenseful but fluid-rock groove. There’s a feeling of maturity and earnestness in the song that has been a natural part of the song’s evolution, which was initially quite a simple pop song. There are elements in the production, the way that the drums and guitars were recorded, that are lending inspiration from Kings Of Leon’s – ‘Closer’.

“There’s been a recent transition for us as a group where we’ve acknowledged our alternative rock core, and it’s beginning to define our sound, and we like it – it’s almost a relief to let this rock edge pierce through our music now and into this song”. There are thoughtful influences of current favourites Wolf Alice, and with that big (all band members at full swing) ending, we lean into other similar big moments and pinnacle endings from influences of Sam Fender & The War On Drugs.

Instrumentally, the sonic guitar outro accompanied by driving bass and hard hitting drums exemplifies the staple on-stage sound of HOLiDAY and Higgs’ brothers Jesse & Jade doing what they’ve done for many years together (Jesse on bass + guitar – Jade on drums). ‘Lover’ was tracked in the Higgs family home and produced by bandmates Marcos Micozzi, Meg, Jesse and Michael Townsend (newly band member). Team HOLiDAY loves a challenge, and turning the Tassie rainforest ranch into a fully functioning studio is one of their favourite pastimes.

Meg speaks on the songwriting process for their latest single, “‘Lover’ is, quite simply, a love letter to cupid. When I first wrote the song, I had just found a gem of a mythology book in a dusty old bookstore in Mulluminby (a Harry Potter-esque scene where your browsing is accompanied by the classical piano playing of the owner). As I read the story of Eros,  I was met with a deep longing to find a partner, and to be completely honest – I’d never written a ‘love song’ before. My hardened feminine exterior that I’d proudly built up had a lot of hurdles to overcome before doing so. A lot of mental chatter… ‘it’s too soft,’ ‘you won’t be taken seriously as a musician,’ you get the idea. But as always, when you come back to honesty and stop caring about what others may think, you tap into an authentic truth that not only frees you but frees others too. So in the writing of ‘Lover’ and the raw honesty of saying ‘actually I do want love, really big love’, I wrote a song that people seem to connect to.“    

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The film clip is based on the notion that “Lover” was written as a ‘love letter to Eros (Cupid)’, “So we thought to ourselves – who better to play the lead role than our good friend Tommy Franklin, who is literally the embodiment of unconditional love!” Remember Tommy? The freestyling-cult hero-dancer guy who got famous for randomly dancing on the street – then became a household name through spreading his happiness as a finalist in Australia’s Got Talent. “Salty rain” you know the one and only! Anyhow, after flying Tommy down to Tassie for a weekend of power, what followed was nothing short of sensational.

Set at the Tasmanian National Park beach of West Head, Narawntapu and Launceston’s renowned Princess Theatre, the production leans into these scenic locations’ prominent beauty to help tell the tale. This, combined with a cracking pair of handmade angel wings, a chance finding of a flamboyant 80s wedding dress, and surprise access to a rotating stage, magic happens! The whole film clip was self-produced by HOLiDAY, from the direction and scripting to the filming and editing via band members. Directed by Meg, produced by Jesse and filmed and edited by Director Of Photography Jade Higgs (HOLiDAY’s drummer) and his partner Eden Wilday – who just so happen to be amazing film makers.

HOLiDAY continues to build on sounds that came before, and the band stands out for its creative drive to bring innovation to their music. The charming combination of female and male vocals lands the band in the realm of other joint lead vocal groups alike, receiving recent praise for festival appearances as “a modern-day Fleetwood Mac with hints of The XX” (Damian Costin, Live Nation).

“Lover” is available on all streaming platforms NOW!

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Follow HOLIDAY
Instagram – Facebook – Youtube – TikTok
Spotify – Apple Music – Vimeo

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AMNPLIFY – DB