{"id":3429,"date":"2021-07-30T03:37:28","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T03:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/?p=3429"},"modified":"2021-07-30T03:37:31","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T03:37:31","slug":"blog-interview-paul-holden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/2021\/07\/30\/blog-interview-paul-holden\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog interview: Paul Holden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/resized-image-Promo-3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3431\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Spotify Embed: Help Me Anytime You Want\" width=\"100%\" height=\"380\" allowtransparency=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"encrypted-media\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/2BoScJRzI2kwuor0Aukyi2?si=t8KzeEWpRu6RN-HUDDp4sQ&#038;dl_branch=1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">Hello Paul, how are you?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">I\u2019m very well thank you. Very hot too but I\u2019m not complaining!<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">Congratulations on the release of \u201cHelp Me Anytime You Want\u201d. How does it feel?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">Thank you, it\u2019s been a long time coming. It feels fantastic, I started work on this project in June 2020 and I had an October 2020 release date in mind. However, several lockdowns put that idea to bed. I\u2019m glad it ended up being a nice summer release for it now.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Paul Holden - Help Me Anytime You Want (Official Video)\" width=\"1020\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/guo0CMNDvq8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">It\u2019s a great track, what\u2019s the story behind it?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">As soon as the first lockdown came in back in March 2020, I was thinking \u201cthere\u2019s only one thing for it, let\u2019s get in the studio\u201d. I\u2019ve never been so grateful to have my own studio at home. This was the very first track I started work on. It was my first time experimenting with electronic sounds and textures. Even the early demo had such a good groove and vibe about it. I knew it was going to be a keeper. When we started work on the E.P., we\u2019ve added live drums, bass, backing vocals, guitar and a beautiful string section. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">The song is essentially about how selfish society and can be and I guess how a little act of kindness can go a long way to make someone feel better.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">What were the challenges you faced writing it?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">It was an absolute delight to write to be honest. It just all fell into place beautifully. I wish they were all like that!<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">You are a singer songwriter from the musical holy city of Liverpool, how did it all begin for you?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">I started writing songs when I was 16, it wasn\u2019t until three years later I wrote one which caught everybody\u2019s attention called Butterflies (which is on my first EP). I was lucky to have become friends with some amazing Liverpool musicians like The Real People, Digsy and Ian McNabb so to have people like that around was a proper learning curve (in more ways than one!!). I started recording properly in 2002, I then formed a band called The Talkabouts in 2004. That lasted the best part of 12 years. We never released anything but we were really good live\u2026.and very loud. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">What did you listen to growing up?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">I was really lucky! My dad had me listening to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Lennon\u2019s solo, The Dubliners etc and my older sister was into Nirvana, The Stone Roses and R.E.M. and when I was in the car with my mum, it would always be The Beatles\u2019 Red album. So I was on to a winner really. I\u2019ve always been surrounded by great music.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">You probably get asked this a lot, being from Liverpool but what\u2019s your favourite Beatle song?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">Ahh the impossible question! You can never have a definitive favourite but at this very moment, I\u2019m in love with \u201cBaby You\u2019re A Rich Man\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">Your EP \u201cSay It To The Sun\u201d is out&nbsp;on 19th August&nbsp;what was it like putting that together?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">Because of Covid, it wasn\u2019t easy I have to say. We weren\u2019t actually able to get into a studio to do it all together, so a lot of it was done remotely and transferred over where possible. I think the string section was cancelled on three different occasions because of lockdowns so it was very stop\/start but we got there in the end I\u2019m delighted with it. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">What\u2019s your favourite track from it?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">There\u2019s a track called \u201cInto Battle\u201d on there. It\u2019s about anxiety or just one of them moments where you\u2019re having a bit of a wobble. I guess when you\u2019re conscious mind and sub-conscious mind are in battle with each other. It was very difficult writing the lyrics to that. Trying to put yourself back in that place. I was exhausted after finishing it. It\u2019s also one of my best vocals I\u2019ve ever delivered.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">What was the easiest and most challenging part of recording it?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">I have amazing musicians playing on this E.P. so they were just a dream to work with. I never really like telling people what to play, I like them putting their own slant on things. Everything they done was just so good and on the money. That was the easy bit, working with them. Again, the only challenges we faced was with the Covid situation.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">You are a piano player, who are your top 3?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">Nina Simone<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">Ray Charles<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">Elton John<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">COVID has affected the creative industry in a big way, what kept you motivated?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">Well I couldn\u2019t have chosen a better time to start work on my E.P., it really was something I could get stuck into and shut all the bad stuff out. I\u2019m not sure how I would have coped if I wasn\u2019t able to make music. Having my own studio was a true blessing<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">2020 was a time to reflect did you learn anything new about yourself?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve learned anything new about myself, more like I\u2019ve realised that we need to cherish and make the most of our time here. Nothing can be taken for granted so be happy and love one another! <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">What are you listening to at the moment?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">I\u2019m really into Bicep right now! I can\u2019t get enough of them. Hoping to see them in September. Also a lot of Bon Iver.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><b class=\"\">What are you looking forward to next?&nbsp;<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">Really looking forward to putting my live band together and getting out there to do some shows! Everyone who played on the E.P. is up for it so it\u2019s game on. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span class=\"\" style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span class=\"\"><i class=\"\">I can\u2019t wait to back in the studio too and start making some new magic!<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello Paul, how are you? I\u2019m very well thank you. Very hot too but I\u2019m not complaining! Congratulations on the release of \u201cHelp Me Anytime You Want\u201d. How does it feel? Thank you, it\u2019s been a long time coming. It feels fantastic, I started work on this project in June 2020 and I had an &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[191,42,201,73,150,162],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alternative","category-band","category-liverpool","category-singer-songwriter","category-songwriter","category-uk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3429"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3444,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429\/revisions\/3444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}