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1. 11/02/16 - MARY MAY HOLDEN – INDIE INTERVIEW ARTICLE
Draft 1
I’ve been waiting inside a hipster pizzeria for 45 minutes before Mary Holden sways in, flicking a
cigarette behind her shoulder carelessly. She saunters over towards me, her black boots
disproportionately loud and large. Somehow I am almost intimidated by this gangly teenager. She
flashes me a warm smile, and apologises for her tardiness, takes a seat and leans in close to me.
‘When I woke up, I wasn’t entirely sure where I was. Took a while to navigate.’ Her mesmerizing
nature and stark, monotone honesty are just some of the reasons she managed to sell out a 19 date
headline tour, despite spending nights in strange places instead of rehearsing religiously
When asked if new found recognition has impacted her, Mary laughs. She sees I was being serious,
& is genuinely surprised. Has she not seen the legions of fans on social media?
“I haven’t, I don’t do social media really. We have a Twitter page I believe, but I don’t run that. I’m not
into that. Social media would distract me. I know it’s how you promote yourself these days, but right
now I just want to be doing music. How many followers do I have? Oh God, that’s not too bad is it?”
she says of the 25,000.”By ‘we’ I mean myself and the touring band,” she explains, “Milo does rhythm
guitar and vocals, Kelli’s on bass. Kelli is actually the reason I’m not homeless. When I’m not in the
tour van I’m in her apartment.”
Her current work would be near – revolutionary if heard on mainstream peak hour radio, Her lyrics are
too honest, too chaotic and too unusual, yet Mary’s first single ‘Real Men’ was played relentlessly on
alternative radio stations. It is a confident statement song, with uncomfortably heavy themes for a
debut. She doesn’t play it safe, but she plays it well. She has only one 4 track EP out by this point,
which boasted 4 and 5 star reviews.
She seems a lot older than her 17 years, her priorities and game plan sorted. But is she missing out
on a regular teenage life? “I dropped out of college after one year, which really impressed my parents.
Honestly, college made me miserable. I know I’m very lucky to be on a good track after dropping out;
a lot of people aren’t so fortunate. Selling out a whole tour was incredible.”
Walking down the grimey road, Mary points out all the places she’s gigged, and seen performances.
The artists who influence her often make their way into her music, but artists such as Paul Weller,
Nina Simone and Bjork are also in her list of favourites. She reminisces about seeing Courtney Love
at a small venue down the road. “For me, that was more than a gig. It was a kick up the arse, a
screaming reminder that I need to do something.” she realises at this point she has been talking
almost nonstop, and shifts her attention to me.
We discuss favourites and least favourites, mutual interests and whether or not comparisons are good
or bad. “I get compared to people I should be proud to be compared to, but I’m not really. I pride
myself on originality.” She’s quick to say she’s not offended by these; merely not interested. “I know
I’m not the only one who prides herself on originality, and some comparisons spring from there. I
know comparisons can introduce more people to your music. But I’d like to be in a league of my own,
kinda. You know?” she groans and laughs at herself for sounding ‘pretentious and too serious’.
On Mary’s debutfull lengthalbumwe canexpect‘darkandtwistyetherealnonsense;withsome
bangingshriekingchoruses’.Ilistento3of the tracks, “Playground”,”DoAnything”and“x”and
honestly?Iamblownaway.At a pointinher careerwhere mostartistssearchexcitedlyfortheir
sound,Mary has foundhers.Anditis good.