HOL – Intoxicated Dreamin (2021)
Born in Athens but growing up between the UK and Greece, HOL (also known as Hollie Findlay) draws together diverse cultures in her unique sound. Taking her musicianship to the next level, the talented singer-songwriter chose to attend BIMM College Manchester in 2020. While she released her debut EP in 2018 with further singles in 2019, it was last year when she blasted onto the music scene with her first full-length album. Earlier this year we spoke with HOL about her album The Chapters (read the interview here), but now we’re taking a gander at her latest single ‘Intoxicated Dreamin’.
Following her single ‘bones’, ‘Intoxicated Dreamin’ adopts a far smoother and more soothing sound. Leaning toward a synth-driven, dream-pop style, HOL brings 1980s synth-pop to modern-day music scenes. What I find intriguing is that the single has a wistful nostalgia but incorporates contemporary pop-rock elements showcasing her innovativeness. Moreover, her eclecticism is greatly evident with a transition to heavier guitar outro finishing off the kaleidoscopic soundscape.
A conceptual track exploring the issue of addiction, ‘Intoxicated Dreamin’ carries the listener along with the protagonist from enjoyable highs to desperate lows. Poetic lyricism executed in a personal narrative makes the single rather intense; however, it is the “auditory depiction of the addict in his last moments” that enhance its poignant intimacy. HOL explains that attempts to “…tackle how dangerous and fatal addiction can be” using sophisticated arrangements and meaningful words.
Gaining support from Radio X, BBC Introducing Lancashire, Louder Than War and various playlists, we are not the only ones captivated by HOL. In previous tracks, I may have called her style reminiscent of Hole with some synthy overtones, but ‘Intoxicated Dreamin’ shows me that HOL is on a completely different level to anyone else.
For more from HOL check out her official website, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
