There is no denying that being part of a band is putting yourself in a relationship because it requires time, dedication, and communication. The latter being something The Hollows say is part of the reason they’ve been able to make things work so long. That and “realizing that everything ends up being negotiable to some degree.”
They also noted, “We’ve renewed ourselves numerous times over, for various commitments— whether it’s touring, recording albums, or writing new material. Nothing lasts forever though, which is just the way things are. We’ve already had a longer run than The Beatles, so we’re doing okay, even though we’ve had some roster changes over the years as well.”
With that in mind, we kick this one off with a question about food, get into growth, and unravel some goals in this back and forth exchange.
Kendra: So as I was listening to “Bread Pudding” I thought to ask… if The Hollows were a dish and each of you were an ingredient what would the dish be and which ingredient would each of you be? And you don’t necessarily have to go with the delicious treat that is bread pudding.
The Hollows: We would probably be a mezze platter, celebrating our diversity— you get a little bit of everything. Plus, who doesn’t love a good dip?
Kendra: “Bread Pudding” can be found on your latest EP, ‘Lonesome Ghost,’ which is out now. It dropped a decade after your debut, ‘Belong to the Land.’ If you were to listen to them back to back, what growth would you hear personally as far as songwriting goes?
The Hollows: In terms of arrangement, we’ve gotten a lot better at listening to one another as time has gone on— when to make room; when to be out front. That allows for more subtle and detailed orchestration, ideally. As far as the songwriting itself, it’s possible we have a more mature perspective, maybe? But we’ve always done our best to speak from honest and personal places.
Kendra: Speaking of songwriting, where in Brooklyn would you say brings about the most inspiration when it comes to writing a new song?
The Hollows: We have been inspired by so many different places in NYC, and don’t often go back to the same well twice when trying to conjure up new songs. Our old rehearsal studio on South 4th Street in Williamsburg holds a lot of memories for all of us though, and was a fertile place for the band for many years. We’d also recommend Prospect Park as being high on the list of desirable and inspiring places in Brooklyn.
Kendra: Since it’s January, I’m asking everyone…not for a lengthy resolution, but for a resolution, a goal they have for this month. What’s yours?
The Hollows: We’re doing our best to keep out of harm’s way and protect our communities. New York is still fluctuating all over the place right now, as we enter the Junior Year of Covid, so we’re just trying to stay healthy and sane (locked away with our instruments, of course)!
Kendra: With the new record out now, what can fans – both new and old – expect from you as we break in the early months of 2022?
The Hollows: We’re looking down the line at the hope of eventually playing live again, safely, with some sort of regularity. And of course there are always new songs in the soup as well. Our last hometown show was our tenth anniversary in 2019, so pretty soon we’ll have to start thinking about what to do for the thirteenth anniversary— time flies when you rock and roll, baby!
