Berlin/Helsinki-based alternative prog quartet HOLOSOIL release new single, Spirals, and announced their debut EP. We asked them the BIG questions . . .
Speaking about the new song, the band say: "Spirals is a mystical anthem of heterogeneous essence, swirling through genres and textures, in the image of the world itself.
"The lyrics are about an existential spiralling of humanity back to where we come from. Falling from illusions of linearity - into the cosmic spiral of ancient and future merging in a never-ending circle of creation.
How our striving for progress ironically is taking us back to the ancient wisdom of nature."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Emelie: I live on an island in the Finnish archipelago in an old house my ancestors built in 1898.
I'm a mother and I gave birth without painkillers because I wanted a natural birth. I thought I was gonna die, but now I have a beautiful daughter.
Besides music, I also make visual art - paintings/drawings and I also paint my clothes. I love neon colours.
How would you describe your music?
Victor: We are still looking for our sound. For now the main lines are prog rock and metal but we like to borrow from electronic music, trip hop, Nordic folklore or even r&b. We try to keep it interesting for ourselves and pleasant to listen to.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Altaïr: From Thom Yorke all the way to Animals as Leaders. There’s a fair bunch of nerdy stuff but also more mainstream artists like Daft Punk or Bowie. As long as it’s a little weird.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Jan: Believe it or not, it was a Bob Dylan concert in my hometown, and I was about 11 or 12. I had just gotten properly into playing guitar and was actually a little bored, because for 99% of the songs grandmaster Dylan was playing piano…my mistake!
What was the first record you ever bought?
Victor: Well the first record I asked my mom to buy was either The Slim Shady LP from Eminem, or Slipknot’s debut album. Not the most family friendly material if you ask me
What’s your favourite song right now?
Altaïr: Right now I’m really enjoying DIMA RAVE from Ino Casablanca, quite a different niche from ours.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Emelie: AURORA has a song called The Seed with a really powerful chorus (inspired by an indigenous proverb): "When the last tree has fallen, And the rivers are poisoned, You cannot eat money."
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Jan: Imagine by John Lennon.
Where can people find your music/more information?
The usual streaming and online platforms, for example, right here: Instagram.
Alan Corr
