INTRO BY TÉA VAN ACKEN
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG HOLDEN
Through music, genius and empathetic Greg Holden sends his messages in the form of his songs such as “The Lost Boy”, “Boys in The Street”, and “Nothing Changes”, all in the ways of expressing much needed empowerment for listeners. Nevertheless, the music Holden creates is all regarding much vulnerable topics, with the liberating process of putting all cards on the table, acknowledging the heartlines of our society. Greg Holden’s new album World War Me highlights Holden as an artist in his whole and his intentions of purpose-driven music. The genuine empathy shines through his music and is evidently demonstrated through Greg Holden’s music, and showcases especially within the new album, World War Me.
You recently released your latest album World War Me. What was the journey like creating this album?
GREG: “Long and arduous, but educational and empowering. I recorded the album myself, which is the first time I’ve done that on this sort of scale. It was a very liberating process, and I’m proud of the results.”
How would you describe the album in three words?
GREG: “Empowered, vulnerable and curious.”
The lead single off the record was “I’m Not Your Enemy.” Can you tell us a little about this song and why you chose it to be the lead single?
GREG: “I wrote this song with my good friend Garrison Starr, the morning after the night Donald Trump was elected. We were on tour in Germany together, and myself as an immigrant in America, and Garrison a lesbian, we both felt pretty shunned by the “majority” of the US. We wrote that song as sort of a peace offering. We thought about writing the fuck you song, but thought coming at it from a less angry point of view would be more powerful, and more necessary at that time of intense contention and conflict.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG HOLDEN
Where do you find most inspiration when creating music?
GREG: “Books, newspapers, things I notice in the world really. I tend to draw inspiration from things that upset or anger me, if you can’t tell already from my songs. I rarely write the typical singer-songwriter love songs, as they don’t inspire me.”
Of the songs on World War Me, which one would you say best represents you as an artist and why?
GREG: “Probably ‘Nothing Changes’. It’s the most vulnerable on the album, and because of that I think it’s the most genuine.”
You are also currently on tour! What are you most looking forward to on this run of shows?
GREG: “Seeing my fans again and hearing their voices.”
Catch Greg on tour now! Dates listed below and tickets available here.
5.1 // Ortlieb’s Lounge - Philadelphia, PA
5.2 // Jammin Java - Vienna, VA
5.5 // The Basement - Nashville, TN
5.10 // Freilichtbühne am Kalkberg - Bad Segeberg, Germany
5.12 // Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands
5.14 // Ponyhof - Frankfurt, Germany
5.15 // Zehner - München, Germany
5.16 // Hangar 49 - Berlin, Germany
5.17 // Altes Pfandhaus - Cologne, Germany
5.19 // Nochtspeicher - Hamburg, Germany
5.23 // St Pancras Old Church - London, United Kingdom
5.24 // The Eagle Inn - Manchester, United Kingdom
6.1 // Lost Lake Lounge - Denver, CO
6.3 // Sunset - Seattle, WA
6.4 // McMenamins White Eagle Saloon & Hotel - Portland, OR
6.6 // The Hotel Utah - San Francisco, CA
6.7 // Moroccan Lounge - Los Angeles, CA