On her debut full-length album Bird Song (due out May 13, Hudson-Valley-based artist Holland Belle emanates effervescent folk that is celestial and fervent. The artist who spent time in both the opera and classical worlds has finely turned her gifted vocals into that of a fine-tuned songsmith in the vein of Aldous Harding and Cate Le Bon. There’s something musically zealous that forms when the name “Holland Belle” rolls off the tongue, but let’s not forget that Belle has indeed earned her indie creds in well-worn ways.
For four years, she co-founded and fronted dream-pop band Nightjacket, who’s swirling, hypnotic songs saw them tour with The Besnard Lakes, and feature on numerous television shows and movies. After parting ways, Belle began to focus on her solo work, eventually traveling to the Catskills to begin the recording process of Bird Song at analog studio Basement Floods. Surrounded by the nourishing presence of her collaborators— engineer Alex Wernquest and producer Dante Bardo— Belle uncovered the sound of her next musical phase, and ultimately kick-started a radical life change. She returned to LA, sold her belongings, gave up her apartment, and made the move to New York. This spontaneity and the optimism of trusting your gut permeates throughout Bird Song, as Belle offers a guiding hand through a corridor of renewal.
Along with the album announcement, Glide is thrilled to premiere the mystical lead track “Arrow” (below) that summons with a quiet strength that dips into progressive folk and movie score avenues. Belle offers a newfound gift of song that should see her filling up performing arts centers soon.
