Award-winning singer/songwriter Holly Humberstone has released her work in progress EP today via Polydor/Darkroom/Interscope. Having previously shared the project with fans in her Discord community, the EP is a collection of four tracks from uncut demos that represent older versions of herself. As Humberstone continuously bares her soul with her open and instinctive songwriting and storytelling, the work in progress EP is a stream of consciousness for fans, with new song “Down Swinging” serving as a constant reminder to push through the bad days. The new music follows the release of her critically acclaimed debut album Paint My Bedroom Black, which was released in October 2023.
Speaking about the project, Humberstone said, “Every song starts as a work in progress. Some stay as demos and ideas, others find new life with more production. But these songs were demos I couldn’t leave behind. I went back through the archives and discovered these lost older versions of myself mixed up with the present version of me. I wanted to release them this year – as I start touring again and since the release of my debut album – as a work in progress for my fans. I’m very much a work in progress, and I think this body of work feels impulsive and more like a stream of consciousness to me.”
About “Down Swinging”, she added, “I wrote ‘Down Swinging’ around a time when I was feeling pretty low. I swing between moods pretty heavily from day to day and I guess I started off writing a song about being depressed, which at the chorus turns into something a little more uplifting. I felt like wallowing in self pity and then we wrote the chorus which says ‘I can take it, give me hellfire’. I constantly need to give myself little reminders like that to push myself through the bad days – not to let my brain win and to not go down without a fight.”
Written in 2022 with long-time collaborator Rob Milton and songwriter Ben Leftwich, work in progress includes a new collaboration with Flyte’s Will Taylor and producer Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief, Dijon, Bon Iver). Having also collaborated with MUNA for a reimagined version of “Into You Room,” dv4d on “Superbloodmoon” and Del Water Gap on “Cigarettes & Wine,” this year spells a time of collaboration for Humberstone, with much more to come.
The EP arrives shortly before Humberstone embarks on her first-ever North American headline tour, which kicks off on May 5. The nearly sold-out run of shows include performances at Los Angeles’ The Bellwether, Chicago’s The Vic Theatre, Nashville’s The Basement East, DC’s 9:30 Club, Philadelphia’s Theatre Of Living Arts as well as multiple dates at New York’s Brooklyn Steel. Tickets can be found HERE.
Headline Tour Dates:
Sunday, May 5, 2024 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre Of Living Arts
Thursday, May 9, 2024 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
Saturday, May 11, 2024 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
Sunday, May 12, 2024 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
Thursday, May 16, 2024 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
Friday, May 17, 2024 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre
Saturday, May 18, 2024 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Café
Monday, May 20, 2024 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 – Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell
Thursday, May 23, 2024 – Los Angeles, CA – The Bellwether
Saturday, May 25, 2024 – Napa, CA – BottleRock
Monday, May 27, 2024 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 – Vancouver, BC – The Commodore Ballroom
BOLD – Sold out