INTERVIEW: Hollow Coves — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

PHOTO CREDIT: Sean Jones

Hollow Coves

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THE rare force of…

Hollow Coves is one you do not want to be without. The Australian duo have amassed a passionate fanbase and no surprise as songs like Ran Away and The Woods have struck a chord and are fantastic pieces of work - they explain the story of the former; I ask about the video for the later.

Ryan and Matt talk about forming Hollow Coves and picking up success; when they are hitting the road; the advice they would offer new songwriters emerging – I learn when music came into their lives and what they hope to accomplish to before the end of the year.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Hey! We are very well, thanks. Our week has been good. Just finished up a tour opening for Tom Walker at ten shows throughout Europe. Now, we are in England making our way up to Leeds before the Live at Leeds festival this weekend.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

We’re an Indie-Folk duo from the East Coast of Australia. We write chilled Acoustic songs.

What can you reveal about your new song, Ran Away? What is the story behind it?

I think the story behind Ran Away is a story that is familiar to a lot of people: it was written about a lost friendship/relationship. What was once a close friendship slowly drifted apart and, over time, this person started heading in a different direction in life and started making bad decisions - and in the process became almost unrecognisable. It was something we had both experienced with different people in our lives.

You have released the video for The Woods. Can you tell me about how it came together and what it was like creating it?

Matt had a mutual friend from the Sunshine Coast who was a producer and, after showing him the song, he came back with this really cool idea for the video and we loved it. The concept told the story of six characters that are all living different lifestyles; all doing different things to try to feel fulfilled.

As the story progresses; you see that each character is not fulfilled and it builds up to them eventually running and leaving it all behind. Then, in the end, they all meet around a fire where they feel the joy of community with others.

He had an amazing team of guys that he put together for the video. He also intertwined some shots of us singing and playing and used some really cool visual effects to overlay images of the locations of each of the characters.

The E.P., Wanderlust, has proved very popular. Have you been surprised by the success it has accrued?

Yeah. We can’t believe how much support the E.P. has received. We definitely weren’t expecting it...

Will there be more material coming later this year?

We’re going to be in the studio in the next couple of months working on new material so, if all goes well, we should hopefully have some new material to put out (*fingers crossed*).

Ryan and Matt. How did you meet one another? When did Hollow Coves come to be?

We met each other in 2013 and, I guess, that’s when Hollow Coves began. Although, it wasn’t really anything then: it was just the two of us writing some songs out of the love of music. We met through a mutual friend. We had both been doing music stuff separately and then, one day, we decided to meet up and have a jam...and it just kinda worked.

Hollow Coves - Press Photo 1_credit Jordy Merry (1).jpg

PHOTO CREDIT: Jordy Merry

Did you both grow up in musical households? Can you remember the first album you each bought?

Matt: Everyone in my family played an instrument while I was growing up - actually, they all still do. The first album I bought was a punk band called MXPX.

Ryan: No one in my household played an instrument when I was growing up but there was always a piano in the house and my parents are music lovers, so there’s was always music in the house. I have a terrible memory so I can't remember the first album I bought. I think it might have been Blur or something weird like that.

Do you have any gigs lined up? Where are you heading?

We are heading down to London and we’re playing at Omeara on May 15th. Then, heading down to Brighton for The Great Escape festival on May 17th; then, we have some studio time after that. Then, playing Bushstock in London on June 23rd; then, a bit more studio time before heading back to Australia in August for a headline tour.

What do you hope to achieve in 2018?

World peace...we're going to be working on a lot of new music as well.

Have you each got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in the mind?

Ryan: The one that came to mind first was actually quite a recent memory from our show in Montreal. We were heading toward the end of our North American tour and Matt and I were both kinda tired. We were backstage before the show and we were both feeling pretty flat. Then, as soon as we went out, the crowd just gave off so much energy. Everyone was singing along and going wild for every song.

The room was absolutely jam-packed and it was just such a beautiful night. Definitely, a memory that I will cherish for a while.

Matt: Travelling through Norway and working in a studio on the coast outside of Bergen.

Hollow Coves - Press Photo 3_credit Sean Jones.jpg

PHOTO CREDIT: Sean Jones

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Maybe Mumford & Sons. I saw them live a few years ago and the energy in the crowd was amazing. For the rider; we don't need a lot. Just a good healthy meal and some water would do us just fine. Oh, and Matt wants a sausage dog to play with backstage. Haha.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Don't settle for anything you're not happy with. Have fun with it. Love music. Try to keep pushing when you think you've hit a wall. Be a nice person.

IN THIS PHOTO: Austin Basham

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Austin Basham, Riley Pearce and Alexander Biggs.

IN THIS PHOTO: Alexander Biggs/PHOTO CREDIT: Ash Koek

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Lately, it’s been pretty full-on. On the road, we have been playing a fair bit of Monopoly Deal. That’s always a good time. Back home, when we have time off, Matt is usually out surfing and I used to skateboard a lot but, these days, I just catch up with friends and go explore somewhere beautiful and take photos.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Ryan: Austin Basham - All Is Well