Holy Holy (Australian band)

The Pacific EP

Holy Holy released their first single "Impossible Like You" independently in May 2013 and the band played their first shows in capital cities around Australia soon after. They signed to Sydney label Wonderlick Recording Company in December 2013, soon after presenting 2014's The Pacific EP. Meanwhile, Carroll enlisted drummer Ryan Strathie (Hungry Kids Of Hungary) and bassist Graham Ritchie (Emma Louise, Airling), to join the band. Producer Matt Redlich (Ball Park Music, Emma Louise, The Trouble With Templeton), joined them as a guest, and the five-piece opened for Boy & Bear, The Preatures and Ball Park Music.

The Pacific EP was reviewed strongly, listed by NME as one of their "tracks you need to hear",^[3] and a 5-star review from triple j musical director Richard Kingsmill for debut single "Impossible Like You",^[1] saying the song was "close to perfection". Holy Holy cited influences such as Neil Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits, as well as contemporary acts including Midlake, Band of Horses and Grizzly Bear.^[1]

When The Storms Would Come

Between 2011 and 2015, the band recorded debut album, When The Storms Would Come, with producer Matt Redlich. They recorded largely to 16-track 2-inch tape.^[4] The album was released in mid-2015 and debuted at #11 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart,^[5] reached #8 on the iTunes chart and #8 on the Apple Music Chart. The album received a 9/10 with XS Noise,^[6] 4/5 with Front Stage,^[7] and 4.5/5 with Renowned For Sound.^[8] The band played sets at Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay in July 2015,^[9] Falls Festival, as well as a headline slot at the annual BIGSOUND music conference in Brisbane in late 2015. They sold out almost every show of their twenty date national tour throughout Australia, and played conferences, festivals and headline shows throughout Europe and the UK, including The Great Escape, London Calling in Amsterdam, Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool Music Week and Primavera Sound in Barcelona. Artrocker magazine in the UK hailed Holy Holy in their Top 6 bands at The Great Escape in 2015, saying "will probably soon take over all of the universe with their wholesome psychedelic take on alt-rock, alt-country, dusty roads and beards".^[10]

Paint

Straight off the back of a relentless touring schedule and festival appearances for their previous album When The Storms Would Come, Holy Holy announced they were back in the studio. Enlisting the help of touring friends Ryan Strathie, Graham Richie and Matt Redlich, the band spent over a year developing their sound. In August 2016, the band announced their new work was very nearly on its way, and released its initial single 'Darwinism'. The name was said to tie in with the theme of evolution, with Darwinism meaning 'evolution of species by natural selection advanced by Charles Darwin^[11]'. They subsequently released the single 'Elevator' which coincided with the announcement of the official release of their sophomore album 'Paint'.

During the week of album release, Holy Holy released numerous videos for different songs from the LP - artists' interpretations of the songs; as part of a mini art series called Painting to Paint. The project was headed by Australian artist James Drinkwater.

The album was critically acclaimed and received reviews of 4 stars from theMusic.com.au and Rolling Stone Australia. It reached a peak position of #7 on the ARIA Australian Albums chart for its first week of release.

"Faces" and new LP

On 21 September 2018, Holy Holy released a new single entitled "Faces", and an Australian national tour.

Album

Extended play

Singles