KEVIN HOLLIDAY - Interview

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Tell us a bit about Kevin Holliday.

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

I think more than anything, me making music came purely from expression. Growing up I was definitely not an artist or anything like that. It was more of a recent thing.

When I first got to college I was playing baseball and doing that whole thing. Once I stopped doing that I was hanging out with a bunch of people who did this (music).

I fell into it and fell in love with it.

With that being said, I feel like my music is all expression. It’s me trying to be as genuine as possible.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Can you tell us a bit about your album, ‘Ladybug?'

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Last year I went on tour and I had an entire album ready. I was ready to put it out once I got off the tour.

Right before I went on tour, I broke up with my girlfriend. It was the type of thing where I needed to write about it. When I got back, I rented out this cabin in upstate (New York). I planned to be there for a day or two to clear my mind and go hiking. I brought my laptop and guitar with me.

There was this massive snow storm and I ended up getting stranded a bit. I had to stay a lot longer than expected. I wrote the entire album in that span.

It allowed me to be vulnerable in a way I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. I think that’s why the album comes across so upfront and so raw. It’s my most genuine work so far.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Spending all that time up there in isolation definitely brings forth good art. That introspective period allows for you to be with your emotions more vulnerably.

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Yeah definitely. You can’t bulls*** it. It’s just you.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Yeah, and you didn’t have a lot of s*** with you. Just a guitar, computer, and some other things.

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Yeah a laptop, computer, and a midi keyboard or some shit, haha.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Do you think it’s important for you to be in isolation while you’re making stuff?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

I make beats with other people, but I never write with other people. To feel fully there and fully present, I have to do it myself.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

So is there anything special to you about Ladybugs (album title)?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Everything about the album is really personal. Ladybug is a nick-name that my ex-gf called me. It was also related to the whole experience of the album. IDK if you know this, but Ladybugs are bugs that live in isolation. So I had to do that with that as well.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

For 'Brown Eyes' off the album you have ladybugs all over yourself.

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Haha.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

What was that like, and was it related to what we just talked about?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

We just thought honestly it would be a really intriguing image. When I make something, I am a visual person. I usually have an idea for what I want for a video or anything like that.

I just thought that image would be really striking. I wanted to base the video around that.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

I can tell that your approach to art direction is locked in. How do you try to approach that?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Me and my manager figure out how all of it is going to look before we make a plan around it. For me everything has to be really connected in a way that makes sense.

You're building a world, not just putting out a song. In order for people to buy into the music, you have to build a world around it.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

World building is so important. That’s the number one thing with regards to art direction I look for when I want to feature artists on ETHEREAL. It’s always whether or not they have good art direction and a sense of self expression through their music.

There’s so many artists who aren’t ready to make the jump to be who they want to be through their art. They’re holding back - they’re not being their authentic self.

…

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Outside of that project, what kind of themes / emotions do you like to explore in your work?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

I think one of the main things for me is incorporating a lot of my influences. Growing up in Brooklyn I heard a lot of different things. That was a beautiful experience for me.

My mom and dad would play a lot of Marvin Gaye & Prince, my brothers were really into 50 Cent and Jay-Z. One of my brothers is really into metal.

Incorporating all of my influences, makes something new, and really important to me.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Would you say you're more soul and rap focused?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Yeah, but I wouldn’t limit it to that. I listen to a lot of punk & post punk as well.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Would you be interested in exploring punk music in your work?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Actually, my next project is more rock & punk focused.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Do you think stylistically making a jump between those two is natural for you? Do you find difficulties in that?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

Nah, not really. I got into that style of music during high school. I think me making that sort of thing doesn’t feel that far out for me.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Can you tell us a bit about your track. ‘Tennis Courts.’

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

It’s always this way for me for some reason. The best songs I write, I write them really quickly. It was a stream of consciousness type thing. I didn’t write anything down honestly. The process of making it was really smooth. I feel like that’s how I know I have something good.

I try to feel free while making stuff.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

What’s next for Kevin Holliday?

KEVIN HOLLIDAY

For me, a huge part of the equation is doing live sets. I feel like that is so intertwined with what I do. I want to focus on performing and getting in front of people!

LINKS: Bandcamp - YouTube