2018 has been a great year for critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, Greg Holden and it only seems to keep getting better. With the release of some of his first new music in three years, tour dates overseas and shows in the U.S. coming up, Holden has certainly been keeping himself busy, and he has quite a bit to show for it. His incredibly personal single, “On The Run” and the powerful and uplifting “The Power Shift” both find him digging deep and touching on subjects that are sure to resonate with listeners, and it’s definitely not the last time we’ll hear from him this year.
Currently, Holden is gearing up for his North American tour dates alongside Butch Walker, followed by a run in South America with Joshua Radin, all while still working on his new new album, which fans can expect to hear more of within the next month. Catch up with him and listen to “On The Run” now below!
Greg Holden will be playing in Denver, CO at The Bluebird Theater on September 9th. Tickets are available now, HERE.
Interview by Dom Vigil
You’ve been keeping yourself busy this year with the release of some of your first new music since 2015 and tour dates overseas this summer – what has been the highlight of 2018 so far for you?
Well, getting new music out into the world has been pretty liberating after being held back by record label bureaucracy for so long, but so far the highlight was getting back on the road in Europe and reconnecting with my audience over there. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been on tour, and so it was great to go back to one of my favourite places and make sure people still liked me, haha. Thankfully, they do.
Back in May, you released “On The Run,” your first single since your album, Chase The Sun, which you released back in 2015. It being your first song in three years, was there anything you knew you wanted to accomplish or say with “On The Run”?
Honestly, for the first time, I wasn’t trying to “say” anything. I just wanted to put something out that felt good. Something that wasn’t as topically heavy as my previous releases, and something that sounded sonically awesome. No overthinking this time around, just a song that felt simple, and upbeat.
How do you feel you’ve grown in these past three years?
It’s a mixed bag really. In one sense I feel like I’ve matured, and my songs have become more focused, more refined even. In another sense, I feel a little jaded from my experience with a major label, and the pressure of trying to write a song for everyone else, rather than myself. It feels like I’m re-learning how to love music to be honest.
What inspired “On The Run”? I understand it’s kind of a personal track for you.
Really, it’s a simple apology, to anyone and everyone that I may have hurt in the past. Maybe I haven’t hurt anyone, but maybe I have. The quest of an artist is a pretty selfish one, and you spend so much time thinking about yourself that sometimes you forget to focus on others. I think I’ve matured enough to realise that now, but my 20s were pretty self-centered.
You also worked with Butch Walker on this song – what do you feel he was able to lend to this track to make the final product even better?
Some good old-fashioned rock & roll. My original demo was a little more Fleetwood Mac inspired, but the final version came out with more grit to it, or for lack of a better word, balls, which probably had something to do with the fact that we recorded it live.
I do indeed. I believe the third single is coming out in October, with an album (if I can get my shit together and finish it) by the end of the year.
You’ve got a short little break before you hit the road stateside with Butch Walker in September and visit South America with Joshua Radin in December! What are you looking forward to the most at these upcoming shows?
Honestly just traveling again. It was a quiet first half of the year and I didn’t really go anywhere. It was only once I was on the road in Europe this summer that I realised how much it inspires me.
Do you have any other big plans or goals for the rest of 2018? What can fans expect next?
Obviously a new single in October, followed by an album before the close of the year. After that, well, the songs that are going to be on the upcoming release are already written and 90% recorded. So, I’ll likely kick off 2019 writing more and setting up for more touring in the spring. It’s hard to plan any further in advance than that because so much is dependent on if people are into the next thing I release, haha…
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Hopefully I’ll see you guys out on the road somewhere. I appreciate the questions Prelude, thanks for having me.
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