Music – London
Holly Holden is a singer and songwriter from London. Early influences such as Amy Winehouse and Regina Spektor inspired her to start writing and performing during stints living in Bristol, Berlin and Ecuador. In 2012, she self-released an acoustic album, ‘Feet on the Ceiling‘.
Aside from her solo work, Holly is also one half of Anglo-Cuban collaborative project X Planet with rapper Alain Garcia Artola. Their album ‘Xistence’ was produced by reggaeton producer Kiki Pro in Santiago de Cuba in 2012, and well received in Cuba and London.
Holly sang with South London dubstep producer Mala on tours throughout Europe during the summer of 2013 to promote his album Mala in Cuba, with performances at festivals including WOMAD, Worldwide Festival, North Sea Jazz and Fiesta des Suds.
In 2014 she began touring with folk singer Johnny Flynn, singing and playing percussion in his band The Sussex Wit on headline tours of the UK and Europe and at festivals including Glastonbury, Hurricane and Boomtown Fair.
Long-term musical links with Cuba and the wider Caribbean have left their mark on Holly’s sound. She is currently gigging around London as ‘Holly Holden y Su Banda‘ – an electric trio with guitar, bass and drums. Their bilingual pop combines catchy, soulful melodies and tropical beats.
In 2014 they were invited by the British Embassy to perform at the Santo Domingo Jazz Festival in the Dominican Republic and in 2015 they were the first UK act to participate in the Port au Prince Jazz festival in Haiti