[ad_1]
The band Holly Hollows explores gentle and darkish of their newest self-titled undertaking, “Holly Hollows”, a theatrical indie pop rock journey to the afterlife for artists. The identify itself, a charming mixture of caprice and darkness, completely displays the essence of the work – a journey into the unconscious, the place desires and shadows intertwine.
Holly Anne Mitchell, founding father of Holly Hollows, is a multi-faceted artist who wears the hats of author, producer, and performer. She attracts inspiration from private experiences and a lifelong fascination with the human situation. This newest creation, encompassing each a musical album and a theatrical manufacturing, guarantees a poignant exploration of inventive pursuit, self-discovery, and the ever-present craving for that means within the face of mortality. Put together to be drawn into the world of “Holly Hollows,” the place the boundaries between actuality and the afterlife blur, and the place the pursuit of inventive achievement confronts the complexities of the human spirit.
The place did the identify “Holly Hollows” come from? What does it signify for you and your music?
These songs signify a journey into the shadow of the unconscious, so I wished a reputation that was stuffed with darkish whimsy. I’m a poet so I’m a sucker for alliteration– it jogs my memory of the macabre of Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hole, however I additionally assume “hallowed”–writing these songs was a non secular journey for me they usually maintain a particular sort of magic.
Your music delves into gentle and shadow, good and unhealthy. What attracts you to discover these contrasting themes?
I’ve at all times had a fascination with the hero’s journey, and Carl Jung’s technique of individuation–touring into the unconscious to seek out the self, and to combine the lightest and darkest elements of your being into wholeness. I used to be at all times afraid of my shadow–my childhood in a fundamentalist church induced me to reject and suppress elements of myself I assumed have been damaged. My artwork turned a secure area to insurgent, embrace vulnerability, and discover a method to self-acceptance.
How did you provide you with the idea for “Holly Hollows The Musical” and what impressed you to discover the afterlife for artists?
I misplaced two buddies prior to now six months, each proficient artists. What devastated me was that their concepts and desires additionally died with them. I imagined there was a spot the place all their unfinished work was ready for them, and that their creativity would stay on by inspiring others to hold on their legacy, together with me. That place is the Hollows.
With out giving an excessive amount of away, are you able to inform us about any challenges or obstacles your essential character faces within the underworld?
Holly struggles with incompletion in her life–unfinished songs, unrequited love, and a deep need to realize significance by means of fame. The ache of longing drags her to the underworld, the place all her undone desires come true. However getting the whole lot you ever wished would possibly flip a dream right into a nightmare, and that’s precisely what Holly faces after demise.
What do you hope the viewers will really feel, expertise, and even query after watching “Holly Hollows The Musical”? Is there a selected emotional affect you goal to realize?
The subject material is confronting me as a recovering achiever. I chase after one thing, however after I obtain it, the victory is empty. There’s at all times one other mountain to climb or another person who’s climbed a lot increased. What’s it inside us that wishes the factor we’re jonesing for? For me, it was the will for my life to matter, and the worry of being unlovable. Would you like what you need from a spot of affection or a spot of inadequacy? If you’re useless and gone, what legacy do you allow behind? A superb existential disaster is best than a powerful cup of espresso to kick my ass into gear.
The present explores the afterlife for artists. What message do you hope to convey to aspiring creators by means of this story?
Holly Hollows’ journey is just like mine, and that of many artists: we’re compelled on a quest for significance. However as creators, what we do takes on a non secular nature, and as we evolve from the will for significance, we transfer towards the will for contribution. It’s so arduous as a result of our programming and early story that thrust us into the world advised us the best way to be beloved and to be secure is to be distinctive and to be a person, and that by means of achievement our lives can have worth. However we’re a lot greater than our work. We aren’t the work, the work is the portal, for our transformation, and the transformation of others. We’ve to discover a more true identification, past the work, past our tales. By transcending the should be particular, we truly uncover what we’ve been in search of: our true, genuine voice–a legacy of inventive contribution. We not want approval exterior of ourselves. We all know when the work is full as a result of it pursuits us. All the pieces turns into a whisper of inspiration. We seize the inspiration, sculpt it right into a medium, and transfer on to the subsequent undertaking to continue learning, rising, and sharing.
The album additionally acts as a sonic gateway to the theatrical world of “Holly Hollows.” In your opinion, which musical points of the album will function probably the most highly effective hooks to attract listeners deeper into the story and join with the characters?
The songs have a cinematic high quality, surreal, provocative, and infrequently erotic. Listeners will respect refined nods to my favourite artists who push creativeness’s limits like St. Vincent, Labrinth, Madonna, Lana Del Rey, Karen O, Christine and the Queens, and Adrianne Lenker. The lyrics come straight out of my poetry journal. They’re visceral and multisensory, and the theatrical model of the musical will heighten the senses of sight, style, odor, and even contact to impress an introspective journey that borders on psychedelic. For this album, I wished the melodies to be addictive, in order that they hang-out the listener, and for the poetry to crawl in and crack the guts open, and in time reveal what’s able to be introduced from the shadow into the sunshine.
Juggling writing, producing, and starring in your musicals appears like lots! What are the most important challenges you face when taking up all these roles? What are the most important rewards of taking up so many obligations?
Masochism is my superpower, ha! Really, yearly I problem myself to do one thing actually arduous–run a marathon, be taught a language, write a novel, and transfer throughout the nation. It builds my resilience within the face of uncertainty, and fashions a sort of braveness that helps me in life and artwork. I’ve at all times been nice at time administration, however you’ll be able to’t totally plan the inventive course of, it leaves no room for magic. The problem is accepting that you would be able to’t management outcomes, that some initiatives have their very own timeline, and it’s best to by no means in one million years do the whole lot by yourself. The most important reward is if you interact a group to help and allow you to, you deepen these relationships, and by letting the universe add its personal concepts to your undertaking, you utilize and strengthen religion in order that magic has room to shock and delight you.
You’ve described your inventive journey as a metamorphosis and restoration from PTSD. How has your inventive expression helped you heal?
When my companion Evan died in my arms once we have been on trip, my world stopped. I had a tough time residing after that. Not simply due to the grief, however as a result of PTSD made my mind cease working. I wanted one thing to stay for, so I made a decision to work with my buddies to supply my musical Blood Provide. Going to rehearsals, singing, and being in group revitalized me. As soon as that undertaking was achieved, I used to be prepared to inform my story. So I poured my experiences into metaphor within the type of a novel, a poetry e book, and a brand new musical. Giving my ache to my characters helped my mind to heal, helped me make sense of the unimaginable, and accepted that there’s love and wonder within the ugliest of locations.
You additionally work as a ghostwriter and novelist. Are there any frequent threads that tie collectively your totally different inventive retailers?
My work is at all times on the intersection of creativity, psychology, and spirituality–these three topics by no means stop to intrigue me. I’ve been fascinated with demise–What occurs earlier than we’re born? What occurs after we die?–since my grandfather died of a sudden coronary heart assault after I was 5 years outdated. As a toddler, I learn a number of Stephen King secretly, since my mom forbade his books in our home. Worry, horror, demise, rebirth, these themes proceed to hang-out me and propel me to make sense of them by means of metaphor.
You’re a multi-talented and impressive artist. What different inventive endeavors are in your horizon?
I simply completed an attractive, dystopian, spirituality novel known as Thea and the Human Expertise, so I’m on the hunt for a writer. We’ll be producing the stay musical of Holly Hollows in Hollywood this yr. I’m additionally in talks to remount a stay manufacturing of my different musical, Blood Provide: A Zombie Apocalypse Love Story, with the objective of creating it into an animated collection. I’ve obtained different songs I’d wish to construct and launch with my producer Kyle McCammon earlier than the yr is out. Finally, I’ll preserve residing a inventive life: proceed to develop, be taught, and be impressed in order that the subsequent undertaking whispers itself to me.
Pictures: Jonti Shepherd @jontiwild
[ad_2]
Source link