By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
EUROPEAN experiences are driving the musical evolution of emerging Australian duo Holy Holy.
Brisbane singer-songwriter Timothy Carroll and guitarist-composer Oscar Dawson, from Melbourne, crafted their debut EP while living in Stockholm and Berlin in 2011.
The pair demoed tracks in the apartments, stairwells and snow-covered studios of both great cities.
They continued the collaboration back in Australia, exploring musical directions without even knowing where they might lead.
The approach serves them well on When the Storms Would Come, to be released next week.
The release, several years in the making, contains Triple J number-two hit History.
“It’s taken place over a long period of time, recording here and there and taking time between each session,” Dawson explained to the Independent.
“It’s the evolution of songs. We first recorded a draft a few years ago but it’s not like what the band is now.”
While the pair is finally happy to release the album, they also recognise the balancing act between studio and live performance.
“We have to be able to pull it off live,” Dawson said.
“Sometimes we’ll hit something in rehearsal or playing live and it sounds good, like something we can work with in the studio.
“But sometimes you have to draw the line, although the line is different for every song.”
The musical project has now morphed into a five-piece band, with the duo enlisting drummer Ryan Strathie and bassist Graham Ritchie. Reclusive producer Matt Redlich joined them as a “special guest“, hiding behind a Prophet-08 synth.
Carroll and Dawson will reconnect with their European roots when they embark on a tour later this year, jumping off from the UK.
“We’re looking to go back later this year. There’s a hunger for Australian music,” Dawson said.
“Europe is great because different countries have different tastes. Audiences in northern Europe particularly seem to be interested in what a band like us can do.
“It’s a comfortable place to tour because there is respect for musicians.”
Holy Holy plays Geelong Workers Club on 3 September.
