John Hollier has been experiencing a handful of full-circle moments lately. Originally from Louisiana, the rising singer-songwriter has been relentlessly chasing down not only his unique sound — this searing fusion of rock, soul and alt-country — but also himself in the process. The result is his latest album, Rainmaker (due out March 20 via Thirty Tigers – PRE-ORDER), a record showcasing Hollier’s live wire talent and artistic purpose.
“The live show is where I feel we’ve been able to really latch on to an identity. I don’t feel like the previous record captured that identity,” Hollier says candidly. “In terms of standing out, I think the show quickly outpaced that album. This new record is a true representation of the past two years.”
When it comes to great stage acts, one of the most difficult things to do is take that you-had-to-be-there energy of one’s live performance and translate that into the studio setting. And yet, this is where the essence of Rainmaker lies — this launching point for what Hollier and his band, The Rêverie, envision.
Instead of hiring session musicians, Hollier took his touring band into the studio and let the tapes roll — the radiating emotion and sonic tones cultivated by a true comfort and connection with one another.
With an array of sonic textures, the fiery ensemble weaves effortlessly between the rock, soul, and indie-folk realms, where the vibrancy and soaring nature of the group conjures comparisons to the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Nathaniel Rateliff, or Needtobreathe.
With the release of Rainmaker now on the horizon, Hollier is chomping at the bit to not only share his music with the world, but to also once again take it straight to the ultimate proving ground that is the live stage — this space John Hollier & The Rêverie inhabit with grace, grit, and gratitude.
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout track “Crashing” along with its accompanying music video. Right out of the gate, Hollier’s vocals hit you with a powerful dose of soul and vulnerability before a burst of horns and rich harmonies chime in. The slow-burning ballad finds the band dipping into Memphis soul and swamp pop and sweeping folk-rock to make for a sound that washes over you like a warm breeze off the Gulf of Mexico. With its expansive sound and catchy, almost spiritual chorus, the song feels primed to grab the attention of larger audiences.
Hollier describes the inspiration and process behind the tune:
“We recorded Crashing in Seattle with Ryan Hadlock, but the song itself was written in Nashville with Bart Butler. Bart came into the write with this concept — “crashing like a drunk.” He was very clear that he wanted something sexy, not sad. At the time, I was really living in a classic Swamp Pop / Stax headspace, which is where the band’s sound was sitting too. We were traveling constantly then, so the hotel room imagery and those late-night, melancholy thoughts came very easily. It landed somewhere between self-sabotage, emotional stagnation, and desperation. So… despite our intentions, we definitely wrote a sad song. (laughs)
I think the band did a great job staying restrained during the recording process — not overplaying anything. It created a healthy bed of sound that really let the vocals carry the story. At the same time, it still feels modern, even with that classic New Orleans soulful blues influence running through it.”
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