Track of the Day: Ian Holmes – Seen For Who You Are
Born and bred in Durban, South Africa, Ian Holmes is quirky, witty, easy to be around, and a little creepy – typical traits of South Africans. After a short stint in EDM, Holmes found his voice in pop music. Using upbeat electro-pop sounds, this talented kid shares his experiences of the world with his listeners. Relocating to England one year ago (give or take), he is taking his unique music to venues across London – or at least he was until COVID-19 hit. Already receiving critical acclaim for his previous tracks ‘Goodbye Kiss’ and ‘Around You’, he recently released another banger in ‘Seen For Who You Are’.
His third single in 2020, and the follow-up to ‘Goodbye Kiss’, ‘Seen For Who You Are’ shows Holmes’ eclectic genre-bending style. Combining upbeat electric pop with a steadier pop-rock sound, as seen in ‘Goodbye Kiss’ and ‘Around You’ respectively, ‘Seen For Who You Are’ is more mature and intimate. The progression from a soft, simple, acoustic guitar-driven serenade to a throatier, faster and lively rock effort makes this track more sophisticated.
What I enjoy about Holmes’ music is the introspective concepts portrayed by almost whispered vocals. Lyrically, ‘Seen For Who You Are’ approaches the issue of self-reflection; however, you don’t need to listen to the lyrics to know the song is meaningful. Well-placed vocals over careful instrumentation demonstrates a desperation and vulnerability quite difficult to comprehend and create. Powerful, compelling and captivating, ‘Seen For Who You Are’ is a glimpse into the mind of an astute artist.
“I wrote this song during quarantine. It’s about the feeling of going through life without ever being truly seen by anyone or never reaching your potential.” – Ian Holmes on ‘Seen For What You Are’ (article on About The Noise)
In addition to the track, Holmes released an accompanying lyrics video which can be seen HERE.
For more from Ian Holmes, check out his Facebook, YouTube, Spotify and Twitter.
If you have a moment, check out our chat with Ian Holmes and his feature on our Live Sessions.
