Now & Next: Holo

Now & Next is a quick-fire interview series built around two simple but telling questions. We ask artists to reflect on where they’re at in their career and creative journey, and where they’re headed next. For each answer, they pick two tracks: one that sums up where they’re at right now, and another that hints at where they’re going. The artists also drop a few lines about each track, giving us a peek into their creative mindset.

now and next BANNER GENERIC

Now & Next is a quick-fire interview series built around two simple but telling questions. We ask artists to reflect on where they’re at in their career and creative journey, and where they’re headed next. For each answer, they pick two tracks: one that sums up where they’re at right now, and another that hints at where they’re going. The artists also drop a few lines about each track, giving us a peek into their creative mindset.

Holo Q&A

Where Am I?

I’ve just returned from 2 months at home in Australia, so I’m stoked to be back in my studio in Berlin with my guitars and other hardware around me. I also got married a month ago, so it feels like I’m at the beginning of an exciting new chapter. I’m in a productive period - my LYAM EP was just released, I have another EP coming out in a couple of months and I’m finishing off my second album to come out later this year too.

Where Am I Going?

I don’t aspire to be a world-dominating DJ. I just want to make as much music as possible and for it to get better and better. I want to try new things; maybe drum and bass, ambient or trip hop. I tried techno on my LYAM EP (“Cycles”) and that was really fun stepping into an area I felt I didn’t belong to. I want to do more collaborations with friends and other musicians to write music I couldn’t do myself. And I want to build a new live set with more hardware and that features other musicians too.

Track (Now):
Bourgie Bourgie
Ashford & Simpson

"I heard Francois K play this track to close his set at Fed Square in Melbourne earlier this year, so it really feels anchored to the present moment. I think it’s a masterpiece of arrangement but also as a recording. There’s a lot going on, but it’s balanced and cohesive. I feel similarly about the things going on in my life right now - there’s a lot to balance, but it’s all valuable and all makes sense."

Track (Next):
UTOPIA
Black Loops

"I listened to this new one from Black Loops 5 times in a row the first time I heard it! He’s completely doing his own thing here. There’s a clear and distinct emotion - part melancholy part optimistic - which the chords evoke and the other elements support. It’s dreamy and wide but the tough drums keep it down to earth and danceable. It represents the kind of sound I’d like to experiment with in the future, but also the mentality I’d like to share in producing. Restraint, focus, clarity, and centring around emotion rather than functionality."

Where Am I?

I’ve just returned from 2 months at home in Australia, so I’m stoked to be back in my studio in Berlin with my guitars and other hardware around me. I also got married a month ago, so it feels like I’m at the beginning of an exciting new chapter. I’m in a productive period - my LYAM EP was just released, I have another EP coming out in a couple of months and I’m finishing off my second album to come out later this year too.

Track (Now):
Bourgie Bourgie
Ashford & Simpson

"I heard Francois K play this track to close his set at Fed Square in Melbourne earlier this year, so it really feels anchored to the present moment. I think it’s a masterpiece of arrangement but also as a recording. There’s a lot going on, but it’s balanced and cohesive. I feel similarly about the things going on in my life right now - there’s a lot to balance, but it’s all valuable and all makes sense."

Where Am I Going?

I don’t aspire to be a world-dominating DJ. I just want to make as much music as possible and for it to get better and better. I want to try new things; maybe drum and bass, ambient or trip hop. I tried techno on my LYAM EP (“Cycles”) and that was really fun stepping into an area I felt I didn’t belong to. I want to do more collaborations with friends and other musicians to write music I couldn’t do myself. And I want to build a new live set with more hardware and that features other musicians too.

Track (Next):
UTOPIA
Black Loops

"I listened to this new one from Black Loops 5 times in a row the first time I heard it! He’s completely doing his own thing here. There’s a clear and distinct emotion - part melancholy part optimistic - which the chords evoke and the other elements support. It’s dreamy and wide but the tough drums keep it down to earth and danceable. It represents the kind of sound I’d like to experiment with in the future, but also the mentality I’d like to share in producing. Restraint, focus, clarity, and centring around emotion rather than functionality."