What is your name?
Holly Clausius
What is your genre of music?
Singer-songwriter pop-rock with hints of soul. Not tied to one genre though.
Give us a little bio about you:
I am a queer artist hailing from Toronto, Canada (originally from small town Exeter). I’ve been singing since I was 5 years old but starting releasing my own music in 2018. From there I have gone on to play venues like the El Mocambo in Toronto and The Viper Room in Los Angeles. My songwriting is inspired by many artists including Alanis Morisette, Amy Winehouse, and Feist. My voice tends to quiet even the loudest of rooms, listeners usually hear many different genres but let me know of my original sound and storytelling abilities.
What made you go into music?
Disney movies were the start of my love for music. Not one specific person but all these worlds of singing princesses, mermaids and animals inspired me to start performing.
Who are your influences?
I love Amy Winehouse, Orla Gartland, Alanis Morisette, Billie Holiday, Lady Gaga and so many other songwriters and styles.
Are you signed?
Not at the moment.
You released your new single ‘Modern Nostalgia’, tell us more about the single.
Modern Nostalgia is the first co-write I did in LA with my friend, Lazaro. We ended up writing it and then recording remotely when I went back to Canada. I am so excited to embody the 1950’s crooner era in this song and we have similar storytelling to Taylor Swift.
What is the meaning behind the single?
This song is about longing for what you had in the past, or at least glamourising it compared to what you have now.
What was the writing and recording process like?
We rented a little studio in LA, and shared our experiences with nostalgia and how it can be a positive thing but also how it can hold you back from living in the moment. I had a prompt written in my notebook that said “Nostalgia all dressed up in her suit and tie” and we used that to inspire the symbolism of Nostalgia being a person we admired. Recording was really fun, Laz tracked all the instruments and I got to record vocals from my home studio afterwards.
Describe the track in two words.
Dreamy and Nostalgic.
Who did you work with on the single?
The whole single was just Lazaro and I. Really happy with this collaboration.
Will we see a Music video for ‘‘Modern Nostalgia’, what can we expect from the creative process?
You will see a music video on the release date, April 21st. Paper Padlock Productions and I put together an amazing video which reflects the 1950’s era that the song is styled in. We filmed at Sandbox Studios in Toronto and I directed alongside my cinematographer, Dylan Young and a great team of band members. The video really showcases my performance abilities and my love for this era and shows like Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Will we see an EP or Album and if so, can you give us a teaser of what to expect?
I recently have put out my debut LP Rose Garden which is available on all platforms as well as on red vinyl on my Bandcamp. The album is more folk-rock but still stories from the heart.
Do you have any live shows or a tour coming up and if so let us know where we can catch you at?
I will be debuting Modern Nostalgia at Sneaky Dee’s on April 29th alongside some other amazing bands. You can find tickets on Eventbrite or at the door. 7pm-10pm
What else can we expect in 2022?
You can expect lots of shows this summer alongside some travel potentially to Nashville/South. More info on that soon!
Will we see any collaborations and if so, can you tell us more about them?
I’m always collaborating and working on new projects with others, so keep following for more updates.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
In 5 years I would love to be living in Los Angeles (Hollywood) playing big stages and touring with artists I love like Feist, Orla Gartland and Florence and The Machine. I plan to release more albums and also be a household name.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
It gets better.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
My water, my capo, setlist, tea with honey and instrument/mic.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes, you can follow me on Instagram Holly Clausius and every other place under Holly Clausius except Facebook it’s Holly Clausius Music.