Lily Holbrook
Holly’s 6-track sophomore EP The Walls Are Way Too Thin tells a gentle but heartfelt story of troubling times. Centred around the concept of leaving home, the 21 year old singer’s voice and style is instantly recognisable. Characterised by a certain edge (not least the heavy black boots and distinctive plaits), Holly is a girl who means business.
Despite lyrics and melodies spiked with an underlying sadness, on the first listen you wouldn’t be blamed for missing the depth of what’s hidden between the lines. But on a closer listen, Humberstone’s soft vocals reveal a vulnerability telling of a troubled time. Mixing themes of loneliness, neglect and unreciprocated emotions, Humberstone toys throughout the record with the challenges of leaving home for the first time. Swept up in her own head as she pursues the promise of London, Humberstone is the first to realise that there’s no escape from inner emotional turmoil.
Seeing her play live for a short but sweet set at Newcastle’s This Is Tomorrow Festival back in September, her composure onstage is immediately captivating. Needing nothing more than a stage, a keyboard, and a guitar slung over one shoulder, Holly knows she doesn’t need big production to draw in her audience. With a soft but self-assured voice, her black platform boots and effortless cool may easily be seen as intimidating – but she’s just a normal girl. Titling one of the tracks after her real life best friend (‘Scarlett’), Holly isn’t afraid to be unapologetically real; and that authenticity is a strong part of what makes her art so beautiful.
While framed by songs that are unfamiliar, the EP’s newer tracks effortlessly intertwine with her existing releases to create a cohesive story of life, love and letting go. Weaving together feelings of disorientation and apathy as she bears the brunt of teenage trauma on ‘Thursday’, no depth of her mind feels off-limits.
It’s no secret now that Holly’s creative involvement with experimental The 1975 frontman (Matty Healy) has reaped strong rewards. Evident on this record, the EP’s third track, ‘Please Don’t Leave Just Yet’ glimmers with flecks of Healy influence, while all the time allowing space for her own personal style to flourish.
Did I worry the record might be a bit boring and samey? Possibly. But upon first listen, I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the record’s sonic consistency, the journey still feels like an emotional one: perfect for whiling away the evening hours to her soothing bedroom pop. While no part of Holly’s record intends to outrage or shock, her lyrics are very telling of deeply personal difficulties. Quietly contemplating the adolescent struggles that connect us all, Holly’s thoughtful lyrics reflect the work of an artist who has long relied on words as a creative outlet. Focused now on the future as she moves past difficult times gone by, those stories will only continue to evolve as she does.
Named after the track from which Holly began to cultivate a following, The Walls Are Way Too Thin is a record soaked with potential. A strong follow-up from an artist destined for the deep end of music, Holly’s showing no sign of leaving just yet.
Stream The Walls Are Way Too Thin on Spotify here.
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Lily Holbrook
Lily is passionate about combining her environmental values with her love of music, the natural world and culture.