Dear listeners and readers of Soundville,

If you haven’t heard about the amazing singer and songwriter Holly Havens before, now is the perfect time to get to know her better, and there is a chance that her music will become your favorite. Why? Holly Havens creates a very gentle acoustic folk sound with a pinch of dark harmonies, misty guitars, and soft melancholy with supernatural notes. Her new EP ‘Uncanny’ confirms this. This cocktail of four tracks is unique, mysterious, and misty, and each sip delivers feelings. Inspired by supernatural themes for her release, Holly Havens brings a new dimension of sound to the light acoustic genre, which undoubtedly surprises and inspires. When musicians bring new elements and new sounds to an established genre, it changes the course of history one way or another, and this turn is worth examining more closely.

In each of the release’s tracks, its own story is captured, related to the otherworldly, but the roots of the themes are always in reality. The central plot is love and life, with their rapid flow and the inevitable ticking of clocks, whose hands always move only forward. It is here that the duality of the EP ‘Uncanny’ sound is revealed for the first time. The theme of love is dramatic but still carries hope, as do the themes of time and life. Thinking about this, one cannot help but smile at all the beautiful things these themes present to us, but there is also always an elusive sadness due to the inevitability of the life cycle, the changing of reality through the eyes of a grown-up person, as well as the cycle of love. I think this is why Holly Havens’ music always has two dimensions. A dimension of tenderness, hope, and freedom, tinted with the soft and warm sound of instruments. A dimension of time, the supernatural, and the inevitable in more melancholic, minor tones, in a mysterious haze in the style of Twin Peaks. And the most important sound here is Holly Havens’ vocals. They are unstable. They will change within the tracks from light and sensual to dark and mysterious notes. This is impeccable and so perfectly emphasizes the mood of the release. And I think now is the perfect time to start listening with the first track ‘Just a Ghost.’

Tender and light, ‘Just a Ghost’ opens with misty pads and light guitars. The lullaby-like sound is gentle and airy, and Holly Havens’ vocals are strong and, I would even say, tangy, like bitter coffee, telling a story and bringing strength and energy to the sound. As the chorus approaches, the roles change. The melody takes on a heavy alt-rock sound, and Holly Havens’ voice, on the contrary, becomes airy. Such swings affect the mind, allowing for reflection and dreaming; undoubtedly, this is a very strong emotional move. Impeccable. This is a track about searching for oneself and faith. Ghosts become a metaphor for all the anxieties in the mind, and this acts as grounding. Through the subtle mechanism of connecting ephemeral ghosts, which time cannot harm, with thoughts, Holly Havens removes all the weight from anxious reflections, healing the troubled mind. Brilliant and very, very conceptual. I love it!

The next track, ‘Uncanny,’ with its amazing harmonies and minor tones, creates a sense of something new and indescribable. I adore this track because of how anxiously and restlessly Holly Havens’ vocals sound, while the minimalist and light arrangement brings a sense of tranquility. However, the lyrics and concept of the track evoke a sense of the inevitability of time. The flow of time is inevitable. It changes us, but not the surrounding world with its buildings, which are associated with important stages of growing up. And confronting them, given time, can be quite anxiety-inducing. I think many have faced this feeling one way or another, and Holly Havens has created a flawless track, emphasizing the inevitability of accepting time.

‘Time Traveler,’ with light orchestral strings and elements of soul pop hooks in Holly Havens’ voice, the theme of time continues. Through personal lyrics, Holly tells the story of a time traveler who fell in love across time. Holly Havens has managed to find an excellent balance here between the fictional and the real, between romance and anxiety, between centuries and beats. Undoubtedly, a very beautiful and gentle track that can complement your collection of romantic songs in your playlist. Just allow yourself to let the melodies flow through you with soothing guitars and gentle vocals.

The final track, ‘Fickle Heart,’ offers a more grounded sound with soft keys, bright guitars, and vocals in a vibrant alt rock style. Conceptually, it is a track about doubts and the misunderstanding of who is beside you. It is a track about the anxiety of not knowing where the heart of the person next to you is. A very subtle metaphor not only for relationships but for life in general, and this is reflected in the track’s lyrics. Don’t worry about wanting to listen again. Do it! The rocking sound adds energy to the EP, making you just want to stop and sway to the beat of ‘Fickle Heart.’ A stylish and bright track, ending the EP on a memorable note. You hear it too, right? Don’t forget to add your favorite tracks to your playlists so that Holly Havens’ songs are always in your headphones, because this is the kind of music you need to listen to and re-listen to. I recommend everyone to listen to and enjoy the excellent EP ‘Uncanny,’ to find new meanings and unravel excellent metaphors in the lyrics. Perhaps, you will be able to find a new dimension of the release for yourself!

Hey Holly Havens! Thank you for releasing such conceptual and beautiful music. I absolutely loved your theme and new sound. It’s exactly this kind of listening that inspires, leaves a feeling of tranquility, and allows for reflection. Your subtle metaphors and at times art-house sound with unusual harmonies added a supernatural tint to the music, which immediately affected the perception of the sound. I love it! There is so much energy, strength, and inspiration here that it deserves love and recognition. I will showcase your release and tell everyone about the concept!! It was a great experience. I love it and want more! Yeah!

IG @hollyhavensmusic

With much love,
Soundville