A Chat with Sorry Holly (30.01.25)
Life can often get in the way of, well, almost every plan, but the key is to keep reaching for that ultimate goal; Sorry Holly is the embodiment of connection, resilience and passion. Ten years in the making, the US-based group found its feet in 2023 when Jake, Jeff and Ryan begin composing original material with a heavy rock edge. We speak with Sorry Holly about their debut album Use Your Heart, live performances, inspiration and much more.
OSR: Can you tell us about the formation of Sorry Holly? How did you all meet, and what inspired you to start the band?
Sorry Holly: Sorry Holly has taken many names and forms. We have all previously known each other for years from our bands playing shows together. Jeff joined the band in 2018 and helped write Use Your Heart with me. After the recording of the album, we found ourselves needing a drummer and Ryan was kind enough to lend us his hands. The unit we are now is exactly where we’ve always needed to be.
OSR: The journey to this debut album spanned ten years. What were some of the key moments or challenges that shaped the band over that time?
Sorry Holly: When I finished college, I moved back to San Diego for a few years. Hands down, the worst decision ever made. I was away from the band and my whole essence of life. I moved back to Portland in 2018 and wrote some new tunes with our bassist Jeff. Also, learning click tracks for the record. Def took some adjusting and opening of the ears.
OSR: You mentioned that life kept the band apart for years. How did those personal experiences influence the themes and sounds of Use Your Heart?
Sorry Holly: A big theme of this band is finding yourself through the connections you make with people close to you. Learning from your mistakes and moving forward with the intention of becoming a better person. The time apart brought a lot of those connections and I was so ready to let it out musically.
OSR: What was it like recording in Chicago with Simon Small at Type One Studios? How did his production style contribute to the final sound of the album?
Sorry Holly: Simon is a blessing. He helped us truly navigate our sound and tones. He is huge into pedal demoing, so we had so many fun tools at our beckoning. He knew exactly what all our songs needed, down to the last bleeps and bloops. It was such a rewarding experience and we have him to thank for guiding us noobs through a wonderful recording experience.
OSR: Use Your Heart is described as a dedication to lost loves and forgotten friends. Can you share a specific story or track from the album that holds deep personal significance?
Sorry Holly: ‘Cacuhy-Euler’ is a song that is really special to me. It is about a night of connection with someone on so many different levels and letting your mind have no bounds when it comes to dreaming big in life. Those kinds of conversations really open your mind to the bigger picture in life, and how you display yourself to the people around you. Keep your ears open and hear the stories and dreams of the people around you.
OSR: Your sound is described as a “sonic wave of emo noise.” How do you balance the raw emotion of emo with the energy of post-punk in your music?
Sorry Holly: Our sound is definitely loud and booming, with very heartfelt lyrics. I like to think the music is also a representation of that emotion with the energy and volume put into it. The messages we want to come across in our lyrics need that powerful backing.
OSR: What does your songwriting process look like? Are there any unique methods or rituals the band follows to develop songs?
Sorry Holly: Nothing too crazy or unique. I do like to write my lyrics first, and kinda use that tone and emotion to write the music to compliment it. Definitely a lot of playing and freestyling words as well. The days bring many moods and make the songwriting an all over the place experience.
OSR: Your live performances are said to be energetic and dynamic. How do you translate the emotional depth of your music into a high-energy live experience?
Sorry Holly: The live show is where it becomes totally unhinged and fun. Blasting the music and screaming the words in ways you don’t get on the record. It is more raw and passionate. We love the sound of our album, but it truly translates at the live show.
OSR: Which artists or bands have had the biggest influence on Sorry Holly’s sound and ethos, and how do you see those influences reflected in Use Your Heart?
Sorry Holly: Our influences span all over the place. We love bands like Japandroids, Into It. Over It., Deftones, even Korn haha. We love to be loud and proud, with a hint of beauty thrown in there. The poeticism of Into It. Over It. has always been a huge influence for my lyric writing. You don’t have to write about anything huge or big in your life. Just simple dedications to the small stuff.
OSR: Now that your debut album is out, what’s next for Sorry Holly? Any upcoming tours, music videos, or future projects fans should be excited about?
Sorry Holly: Definitely working on a couple short stint tours for the summer, and hopefully a couple fests thrown in there as well. A few music videos on the horizon as well.
Many thanks to Sorry Holly for speaking with us. Find out more about Sorry Holly on their Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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