Vlad Holiday

Vlad Holiday
Background information
Born (1989-05-24) May 24, 1989
Origin Bucharest, Romania
Genres
Occupation(s) Musician, Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Instruments Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Synthesizer, Drums
Years active 2006–present
Associated acts Born Cages, Jet Lag Gemini
Website borncages.com

Vlad Holiday (born May 24, 1989) is a Romanian-born singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in New York City. On July 28th, 2017, Nylon (magazine) premiered Holiday's solo project debut "Quit Playing Cool".[1] The song was also featured on Spotify's New Indie Mix playlist, as well as All Genres Hot Tracks on iTunes and Apple Music. [2][3] Holiday was the lead singer and founder of the New York City-based indie rock band Born Cages. In addition, Holiday is also a music producer, who's worked on albums like Donald Cumming's Out Calls Only (Razor & Tie), and Public Access TV's Never Enough (Cinematic Music Group).[4]

Early life

Holiday was born "Vlad Luca Gheorghiu" in Bucharest, Romania on May 24, 1989. He later changed his last name when receiving US citizenship. Holiday's father was a journalist who spoke out against the regime change in Romania once the country escaped communism in 1989, citing that the new regime was just as corrupt. This resulted in their family receiving death threats, which led to Holiday's father escaping to America with political asylum. It took the rest of the family 9 years to legally move to the US, and in September 1999, Holiday (age 10) moved to Bergen County, New Jersey.[5] He grew up in Mahwah, New Jersey, where he attended Mahwah High School.[6]

Career

Solo career (2017-present)

On July 28, 2017, Vlad Holiday announced his solo project through Nylon (magazine). NYLON premiered his debut track, "Quit Playing Cool".[1] The song was also featured on Spotify's "New Indie Mix" playlist, "Fresh Finds: Six Strings" playlist, as well as featured on All Genres Hot Tracks on iTunes and Apple Music. [2][3] Quit Playing Cool's music video was released on VEVO's New Alternative playlist on September 1st. The video features model/actress Yulia Kirillova and is directed by Polly Pierce.[7].

On March 9, 2018, Holiday put out his second single "Children". The song was featured on Spotify's New Indie Mix playlist, as well as The Wild Honey Pie's "Buzzing Daily" and a Paste Magazine & Daytrotter Live Session. [8][9]


On April 6, 2018, "Tunnel Vision" premiered on The 405, where he spoke about the song's lyrics, which question the idea of extreme escapism. “Don't get me wrong, I love escaping from it all every now and then as much as anyone else, but at the end of the day you kinda have to snap back and face the world. There's a whirlpool of social movements happening right now that are actually changing the status quo, which would never have happened if everyone just sat back and waited for everything to resolve itself,” Holiday explains. Holiday held a single release show at Elsewhere Zone One in Brooklyn, NY on April 3, 2018. This third single was also featured on Spotify's New Indie Mix, and True Indie playlists (where Holiday held the cover).[10] Tunnel Vision was played on NYC's Q104.3 WAXQ Out Of The Box radio show with Jonathan Clarke, as well as other college radio stations like WSOU.[11][12]


On May 25th, Holiday released his fourth song, "Obscurity" around a headliner show in Brooklyn, NY at C'mon Everybody.[13][14]


His latest single "Like in the Movies" premiered through MILK on August 24, 2018.[15] The song was also featured on Spotify's New Music Friday and New Indie Mix playlists the day it came out.


Born Cages (2011–2017)

In October 2011, the band began booking shows in New York City under the moniker Electric Sun. The band's first live show was at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 26, 2011.[16] In October 2012, they changed their name to "Born Cages" due to too many people confusing them for a 1970s rock band that shared the same name, fronted by The Scorpions' Uli Jon Roth.[17] The band's first show as Born Cages was at CMJ Music Festival with X Ambassadors.

Born Cages signed to Razor & Tie and their new label Washington Square, who Rolling Stone announced as The Hold Steady planned a new album.[18] Born Cages' debut full-length album, I'm Glad I'm Not Me, was released via Washington Square on June 2, 2015. The album artwork was created by London-based illustrator Matthew Cooper, who's worked with Arctic Monkeys, The Kills, Caribou, Franz Ferdinand, Noel Gallagher and Paul McCartney.[19] Due to Rolling Down The Hill and Metaphor's radio play, I'm Glad I'm Not Me became the No. 9 album at Alternative Specialty radio during the week of December 10, 2014.[20] On August 5, 2014, Buzznet premiered Born Cages' "Rolling Down The Hill," as the band announced a headlining tour in support of the new single.[21] On September 4, Fresh New Tracks premiered a Rolling Down The Hill remix from German producer Glastrophobie, which reached the No. 2 spot on Hype Machine's Popular Remix Chart.[22] Yahoo! Music premiered the song's official music video on November 1, 2014.[23] On November 21, 2014, the video won mtvU's The Freshmen competition.[24] On the week of November 19, 2014, Rolling Down The Hill reached No. 7 on the Alternative Specialty Radio chart, with spins on stations like LA's KROQ and NYC's Q104.3. The single also features B-Side track, "Fuel To The Fire," which was an old demo from the band's first studio recording.

Photo by Nicole Mago

On April 7, 2017, Born Cages released their second studio album, Exit Signs In A Burning Building, which was produced by Vlad Holiday, with additional production by bandmate Matt Maroulakos and Justin Gerrish (The Strokes, Vampire Weekend). The band performed the new album at SXSW Music Festival in March 2017, where NPR raved, "Undeniably great songs... Every moment was Instagram-ready, and every song made me want to throw my hands in the air... I look forward to saying, 'I saw them when...'"[25] The album will contain two of the band's latest singles; "Ain't Gonna Happen", which charted on Spotify's United States Viral 50, and "Half Asleep", whose music video premiered March 8 on VEVO.[26][27]

The band has shared stages with bands like The Subways, Hockey, Magic Man, X Ambassadors, Donald Cumming (of The Virgins), Har Mar Superstar, JD Samson, Said The Whale and Public Access TV.[28] On February 19 and 23 of 2012, the band opened up for Guns N' Roses in Chicago and Maryland.[29][30]




Credits

YearArtistReleaseCredits
2018Elanor FriedbergerAre We Good (Cate Le Bon Remix)Mastering Engineer
2018Vlad HolidayLike In The MoviesProducer / Engineer / Mixer / Mastering Engineer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Bass / Drums / Keyboards
2018 Bastian Baker Stay Executive Producer / Co-writer / Engineer / Programming
2018Slum SociableCan’t Figure It OutProducer / Co-writer / Engineer / Mixer / Programming
2018Vlad HolidayObscurityProducer / Engineer / Mixer / Mastering Engineer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Bass / Drums / Casio CT-370
2018Bastian BakerAll Around UsExecutive Producer / Co-writer / Engineer / Additional gang vocals
2018Vlad HolidayTunnel VisionProducer / Engineer / Mixer / Mastering Engineer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Bass / Drums / Keyboards
2018Lissy TrullieHereProducer / Engineer / Mixer / Co-writer / Guitar / Programming
2018Vlad HolidayChildrenProducer / Engineer / Mixer / Mastering Engineer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Bass / Drums / Keyboards
2018The BritanysWhen I'm With YouMixing / Additional Production
2017Vlad HolidayQuit Playing CoolProducer / Engineer / Mixer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Bass / Drums / Keyboards
2017Born CagesExit Signs In A Burning BuildingProducer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Keyboards
2016Public Access TVNever EnoughProducer / Engineer on "In Our Blood," "Sudden Emotion," and "Sell You On A Lie"
2016Various ArtistsTransformers Roll OutProducer / Engineer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Programming on Born Cages song "Our Revolution"
2015The VirginsRich GirlsTV Mix
2015Donald CummingOut Calls OnlyProducer / Engineer / Programming
2015Born CagesI'm Glad I'm Not MeProducer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Keyboards / Programming
2014Kidz BopKidz Bop 25Assistant Engineer, Synthesizer Programming
2013Various ArtistsNow That's What I Call Music! 45Producer / Songwriter / Vocals / Guitar / Keyboards on Born Cages song "Don't Look Back"
2008Jet Lag GeminiFire The CannonsSongwriter / Backing Vocals / Guitar
2006Jet Lag GeminiBusiness EPSongwriter / Backing Vocals / Guitar

[4][31][32][33][34][35]

Holiday also writes and produces songs for sync (TV/Film/Ads) under Concord Music Publishing.[5]

Jet Lag Gemini (2004–2010)

Holiday started his first band in high school along with his brother, Matei Gheorghiu, and high school friends Misha Zilman and Dan DiLiberto. The band went on to receive a record deal from Doghouse Records/Warner, and toured the US for the next 5 years, including Vans Warped Tour, SXSW and a club tour with All American Rejects.[36][37] Mark Hoppus of Blink 182 was set to produce the band's second record, but Jet Lag Gemini disbanded just before they went in the studio, due to issues with their label.[37]


Notable instruments

Holiday has been a long time user of Gibson Les Paul guitars. While in Jet Lag Gemini, Holiday became endorsed by Gibson. In August 2009, when famous electric guitar pioneer and innovator Les Paul passed away at 94 years old, Holiday was invited to his funeral reception at Gibson's NYC Showroom. Holiday described the event as a religious experience, and has since gotten a "Les Paul" tattoo to commemorate the night. Other notable brands that endorse Holiday are Analog Outfitters (who make Holiday's signature amp, The Sarge, which is constructed from recycled Hammond organ parts),[38] and GHS Strings.[39]


References

  1. 1 2 "Vlad Holiday's Solo Debut Will Make You Want To Slow Dance". Nylon.com. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 "New Indie Mix, a playlist by Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 @vladoldaccount (31 July 2017). "Yoo, Quit Playing Cool is featured on..." (Tweet). Retrieved 3 December 2017 – via Twitter.
  4. 1 2 "Vlad Holiday - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Born Cages - Razor & Tie Music Publishing". razorandtiemusicpublishing.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Mazzola, Jessica. "Mahwah Musicians Featured on New NOW 45 CD; Two of the members of the band 'Born Cages' are recent Mahwah High School graduates", Mahwah Patch, February 12, 2013. Accessed April 30, 2017. "Born Cages – which features township residents and recent Mahwah High School grads Vlad Holiday on guitar and lead vocals and Amanda Carl on keyboards and vocals – has a song on the new Now 45 CD."
  7. ↑ VladHolidayVEVO (1 September 2017). "Vlad Holiday - Quit Playing Cool". YouTube. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  8. ↑ http://www.thewildhoneypie.com/buzzing-daily/vlad-holiday-children
  9. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BgJoYWljv9U/?taken-by=vladholiday
  10. ↑ https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/escapism-meets-its-match-on-vlad-holiday-s-new-single-tunnel-vision-405-premiere-152
  11. ↑ https://q1043.iheart.com/featured/jonathan-jc-clarke/content/2018-04-08-listen-david-byrne-in-studio-win-snow-patrol-tix-more/
  12. ↑ http://campusbuzzwsou.blogspot.com/2018/03/03182018-playlist.html
  13. ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/7fBQ6NySPaTvC3kFld7cFU?si=YeMYzWT2ThqLlXhwUUST7A
  14. ↑ http://lpr.com/lpr_events/vlad-holiday-cmon-everybody-june-9th-2018/
  15. ↑ https://milk.xyz/articles/premiere-fall-in-love-like-in-the-movies-with-vlad-holiday/
  16. ↑ "Lights Resolve + Night Fevers + The Canon Logic + Electric Sun". Time Out New York. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "Electric Sun Change Name to Born Cages". ARTISTdirect. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "New Hold Steady Album Due in March". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "Born Cages to release debut album I'm Glad I'm Not Me on June 2, 2015". Washingtonsquaremusic.com. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  20. ↑ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". Fmqb.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  21. ↑ "Exclusive Premiere: Born Cages Release 'Rolling Down The Hill'". Wevegotyoucovered.buzznet.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  22. ↑ "FreshNewTracks » Premiere: Born Cages – Rolling Down The Hill (Glastrophobie Remix)". Freshnewtracks.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  23. ↑ "Yahoo Music". Music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "Born Cages Win This Round Of The Freshmen". mtvu.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "What We Loved On The Last Day Of SXSW". Npr.org=. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  26. ↑ "Half Asleep - Born Cages". VEVO. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  27. ↑ "SONG PREMIERE: "HALF ASLEEP" BY BORN CAGES - Pancakes And Whiskey". Pancakesandwhiskey.com. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  28. ↑ "BORN CAGES ANNOUNCE NEW FALL TOUR DATES SUPPORTING SAID THE WHALE". Razor & Tie Direct L.L.C. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  29. ↑ "There's Axl, but no big Guns". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  30. ↑ "Guns N' Roses Concert Review – "Up Close and Personal Tour," Live at House of Blues Chicago – Sunday, 2/19/12 (With Setlist) - Chicago At Night". Chicagonow.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  31. ↑ "Vlad Gheorghiu - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  32. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/artist/3305052-Vlad-Holiday
  33. ↑ https://genius.com/Vlad-holiday-children-lyrics
  34. ↑ https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/bj5wqq/listen-to-gucci-muse-lissy-trullies-new-pop-jam
  35. ↑ "Swiss Artist Bastian Baker Readies Self-Titled American Debut Album". Sounds Like Nashville. 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  36. ↑ "SXSW 2008: Jet Lag Gemini". Sxsw2008.sched.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  37. 1 2 "5 Things You Never Knew About Jet Lag Gemini". Mtv.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  38. ↑ "Vlad Holiday". Analog Outfitters. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  39. ↑ "Born Cages". Ghsstrings.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
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