Interview with Hölt
Interview with Hölt
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
Well, growing up just outside of London England, I always struggled with “feeling normal” in a sense because all the other kids at my school and even my mates were just into the normal things that kids are into, they’d play football and want to watch football or watch “Match of the Day” (Football recap show) and then play more football but I never got it. But I mean growing up mum would listen to Queen, Bowie, Thin Lizzy, T Rex etc. and my old man would be listening to old school country records so I had all those influences and back then we also had MTV, MTV2, Q, Kerrang, Smash Hits and a couple other stations on the tele that just played music videos 24/7 (those were the glory days ya know) and that was great because it gave me an escape from the aforementioned dreaded football but it wasn’t until I was about 10 or so that I discovered Guns n Roses and let me tell ya, when I did, it was like time stood still (great Rush song too). Once I found Slash and Axl, the search was over, I found the thing that spoke to me.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Usually when I’m off the road and there are no gigs or tours, I’m either writing music (or trying to at least), in the studio, or just planning things out for the next round of gigs. In terms of how does that influences me? I mean I have a wide variety of musical interests and so I’m usually inspired by another artist or something I see in the news or something that’ll kick start another verse, or a chorus or something. Inspiration can come from anything really.
How long has your band been around?
This band Hölt is brand new. New riffs, new attitudes, new ways of working, new everything. However that said, most of the guys in this band have been together in other projects for 12 years or so.
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
We are based out of Niagara Canada – does that influence us? Not at all – most of my main influences and inspirations come from before the 1990s so it wouldn’t matter if we were based out of Niagara or Baghdad
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
Well the name was easy, it started out as a solo project so I just wanted to use my name, (Holt) but I added the dots over the Ö because it looks way cooler.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
I mean there’s been lots over the years but ill stick to a more recent one. I was on the road with The Lazys (Aussie Rock n Roll band) for the summer as a guitar tech, but I ended up playing a couple of songs every night on stage with them. One of the festivals we did in Victoriaville QC we were playing with Billy
Talent and they insisted I wear a “Beefeater Coat” and a top hat on stage while we played to 5,000 people or so, Ian (from BT) was thought it was the greatest thing ever but it was weird seeing him watch me open for them after all the years of being a fan of his band. Similar story when I was opening for Steel Panther on a tour, but that’s another story.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
Well I don’t mind where we play just as long as they go “hoo-ray” ya know? But I mean of course the goal is too one day in London England.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Hölt – Crashdïet – Guns n’ Roses @ Wembley Stadium – #bestnightever!
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
DON’T STOP! Do exactly what you want to do with your music and say what it is you want to say! Listen, everyone is going to give you their 2 cents as it were on “what you should do” and “how you should do it” and you’re always going to hear “well I wouldn’t do it like that”. Ignore all of it. Don’t stray from the path you want to walk. It’s your music, your message and your voice.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
I mean they all mean something to you, but I think the song “Letters” (soon to be released) is the most open, honest and venerable version of myself I have ever been, basically the song is about me writing a love and forgiveness letter to the parts of myself that I hate the most, the song comes from when I was in a really really dark place in life and didn’t know how to fix anything, but we got through it and we’re here now.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
Easy, the latest single ‘Eyes on 55” – That song is a tale about an old strip club that no longer around, come find me at show and I’ll gladly tell you all the stories about it.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
My inspiration comes from all manner of things, lust of life, my passion and love for Rock n Roll, stories and moments from the years on the road. Lots of places to find inspiration to write about.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Just drink a beer and have a good time. We’re not here for long, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
Yeah, sometimes, but this project is different from our precious endeavors, this is not a democracy, this a dictatorship, and I am Kim Jung Ken, I respect all inputs that may come up in discussion, and I’m happy to change methodology because another way might be better way of doing something, but that’s where it end. I have the final say on what fly’s and what flops.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
World domination really. Next single will be out reasonably soon (Octpber ish)
How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?
All the socials, Insta, FB, Spotify, iTunes etc. etc.