INTERVIEW: Holysseus Fly

Very occasionally being awake very early has its rewards. Sometimes it’s seeing a sunrise break through the fog and feeling like nature’s display is just for you. And sometimes its much more banal – you get to hear a bit of Chris Hawkins on 6music. But, possibly even more occasionally an unheard song from an unknown artist hits your ears with a real ‘wow, what was that?’ moment. And on one of those fortunate mornings with the radio this very thing happened – Holysseus Fly was unknown to me no more. 

You may have come across her as vocalist and pianist in Ishmael Ensemble. After surviving cancer, she found a new creative identity and is now making moves as a solo artist. With a new single out last week and a tour and EP on the way, I was lucky enough to catch up with her. We began with a chat about her life in Bristol and my wow moment first hearing her song on the radio.

James Spearing: So Holly let’s get into it. Your new single is out. What can you tell us about it? 

Holysseus Fly: My new song is called ‘Teach Me’ and is my fourth single as solo artist. I’m excited about it because it’s fun. I’ve done the ballads and now this is something more upbeat – it’s a bit of relief from the other songs on my EP which is out in November. The song was originally a little bit of a joke, but people whose opinions I respect loved it and said ‘no this one! This one!’. It’s poking fun at mansplaining. The theme of the EP is all about empowerment and ‘Teach Me’ continues this through a feminist lens.

JS: So for my generation it was Robbie leaving Take That and Geri leaving the Spice Girls. Obviously there’s nothing that dramatic going on here, but I’m interested to know about the dynamic with being in a band and being a solo artist.

HF: Haha, great question. It’s like Geri staying in the Spice Girls…but both Geri and the Spice Girls can support one another…but Geri also knowing she can use her own voice and has her own ideas.

JS: Do you identify with Geri?

HF: I hadn’t until now but maybe I do. Which Spice Girl do you identify with?

JS: I’m not sure I identify with any of them but I think Mel C was always secretly the best. She’s got a great voice. Getting back your music, I wanted to ask next about your writing process? Did you set out to be a solo artist or was it the normal writing you’d do for Ishmael but it felt like something different?  

HF: I have always written for myself but never had the confidence. I didn’t push it that far and I didn’t see the value of it for a long time. Being with Ishmael lifted my confidence. Then in lockdown spring 2021 I realised I had to do it; I was going to sit down and write for me and how I wanted to. I was not going to let critical self-doubt drag me down. And I’m so glad I finally did because it turned out to be the best music I’ve ever written.

JS: Was it a product of lockdown or did something else motivate you?

HF: Well I received a grant for young people with cancer from an amazing charity called Young Lives vs Cancer so I needed to do it to use that. At the time I was feeling low so having the direction to do it helped massively. And as it was lockdown there was nothing happening and I set myself the task to write five songs in a month…and I did it.

JS: Have you kept up that rate of writing?

HF: No!

JS: Fair enough, it’s hard work! Ok, so you’ve written the songs, the next stage is the playing and recording them. One of the standouts of your sound in your music so far, and one of the things that really caught my attention the first time I heard it on the radio is the lush production with the layers of strings and backing vocals. How did you go about building this sound? 

HF: So the song you would have heard was ‘Within the Water’. The strings aren’t real, they’re synth strings – I love synth sounds – there’s a boy choir sound in there too. But thinking about production for the whole EP – I wrote on piano first. Then I worked in layers, building one at a time. For me the piano and vocal are the most important. The sound I wanted to make is inspired by James Blake’s ‘Retrograde’. It’s both minimal and bold, that’s what I’m trying to achieve and you’ll see when EP comes out. All the layers are all considered to bring out what’s there. I’m obsessed with one sound on my Nord keyboard, not a synth but a keyboard. It’s called farfisa and it’s on nearly every song, so there’s lots of that in there. I didn’t know what my production identity would be before we started work on this EP. I worked with Rob Pemberton in Stroud and James Vine who also plays drums in my live band. So yeah as I said a bold minimal sound and hope we’ve achieved it. Also there loads of backing vocals because they’re my absolute favourite.

JS: I read somewhere that you’ve got “main character energy” now. What does being the main character in your music and as a solo artist mean for you? 

HF: Yes! Main character energy! A publicist I’m working with wrote that for me and loved it. For me it means stepping into my creativity. It’s kind of Tik Tok language which I find funny. I’m doing my own thing in my own way, being bold and not being afraid to say how I feel. And dancing! I’ve got a dance routine in my new video and I never thought i would be doing that. I guess I am a spice girl now. The dancing is inspired by Self Esteem, love her.

JS: Ah you said ‘her’ because I was going to ask is that Self Esteem with a capital S and E, the artist, not self esteem the concept.

HF: Oh it’s absolutely both, Self Esteem and self esteem.

JS: There’s a tour on the way and I’m excited to see you at the Carlton Club in Manchester. What can we expect from a Hollyseus Fly gig? 

HF: James [Vine] is playing bass synth with his left hand and drumming with his right hand. He has a lot of jobs. I’ll be playing keys and piano and sometimes getting up from the piano. I’ve got two amazing backing singers/dancers. Basically I’m making my Wembley show now. I’m being ambitious and I don’t want to wait any longer. But I also want to create intimate moments…and dance routines…and wear an outrageous 20ft cape. There’s going to be some genuine drama.

JS: That sounds great, I’m looking forward to it even more now. 

HF: And the support act looks really cool too, Chia Kali, check her out. 

JS: Among the editors on the site we’ve collectively thought that 2023 hasn’t been a great year for music. Who would you recommend I listen to to change my mind?

HF: yeah of course, I’ve got a few that come to mind. A Bristol producer T L K, she has a song called ‘Lioness’ that will break your heart. China Bowls is one my my backing vocalists and dancers and she is amazing, check out her song ‘Night Owl’. Today – so today I’ve been Obsessed all day with Divorce – ‘Scratch Your Metal’ is a 6music dad song for you. Also Tiberius B who is a non-binary artist from Wales and they have an song ‘Jet Ski’.

JS: Thank you, I’ll be sure to listen. Last question from me – what’s next? Are there plans for an album?

HF: Yes there is an album coming. 

JS: Yesssssss

HF: I’m working on the album now. All we be revealed. I’m deep in that right now. It’s not going to be this year, but hopefully next year. I need a month where nothing else is happening again.

JS: January?

HF: Yes we’ll see if I can do another five songs then!

JS: Excellent, I can’t wait to hear them. All there is left to say is thanks Holly!

Words by James Spearing

Hollyseus Fly’s debut EP ‘Birthpool’ is out on 3 November and you can catch her on tour in London and Manchester too.