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Holy Basil Delivers Masterful Tune ‘The Outside’

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Holy Basil, a visionary artist from the sun-soaked Gold Coast of Australia, makes a triumphant return with her latest single, “The Outside.” Following the success of her debut track “Over The Edge” in March 2024, which saw her embarking on a whirlwind of performances across America, Holy Basil continues to push musical boundaries with her distinctive genre, “Theatronic.” This term, coined by the artist herself, perfectly encapsulates the unique fusion of electronica, ethereal soundscapes, and the dramatic flair of musical theatre that characterizes her work.

Produced by Alex Kewley of Altitude Music Studio, “The Outside” is a sonic masterpiece that effortlessly blends creative soundscapes with cinematic flair. The track is anchored by a driving bass guitar, while the synths and keyboards dance with innovation, providing a lush bed for Holy Basil’s mesmerizing vocals. The result is a deeply engaging aural tapestry that envelops the listener in a world of emotion and sound.

Drawing inspiration from avant-garde icons like Björk, Kate Bush, Grimes, and David Bowie, Holy Basil crafts music that lingers long after the final note fades. Her ability to transport listeners into a sensory realm is a testament to her artistry and vision. “The Outside” is more than just a song; it’s an experience that resonates on multiple levels.

Holy Basil’s journey as an artist began in 2020 when she self-produced her debut EP from the confines of her bedroom. This passion and raw talent quickly propelled her into the spotlight, culminating in a performance of her sophomore EP at the Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast in 2022. Her music is deeply personal, often serving as a form of therapy, especially during moments of emotional turbulence. “The Outside” is a reflection of this introspective process, with lyrics that echo a longing for a simpler, more innocent time—a desire to escape the chaos of the modern world and retreat to the comfort of childhood memories.

The songwriting for “The Outside” was an organic process, with the melody and lyrics evolving hand in hand. Holy Basil’s ability to tackle life’s biggest questions with relatable vulnerability is one of her greatest strengths as a songwriter. Her music offers solace and a sense of connection, making “The Outside” not just a listening experience, but a journey into the heart of human emotion.

In “The Outside,” Holy Basil has crafted a track that is both innovative and deeply personal, solidifying her place as a rising star in the world of music. This latest release not only showcases her growth as an artist but also cements her status as a true visionary, capable of blending genres and emotions into a cohesive and compelling whole. As Holy Basil continues to evolve, her music remains a beacon of creativity and emotional depth, inviting listeners to join her on a journey through the landscapes of sound and soul.

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Acclaimed US singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd to tour the UK for the first time this summer.

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Shortly after releasing her sophomore album in 2007, US-based singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd walked away from music completely for more than 10 years, feeling burned out and unhappy with her career progression like so many other independent artists. After going through a divorce in 2019 and in the midst of a global pandemic, she found herself pulled back toward the siren call of songwriting and again making the leap to pursue it full time. Her latest album ‘Carnival’, released in 2024, is in many ways the culmination of those decisions, and the reintroduction of an artist who now has the wisdom of experience.

There’s an unmistakable urgency you can feel when a song is written and performed from a place of complete honesty. That feeling permeates ‘Carnival’. “I’ve always been envious of writers who say they write songs because they have to, because they had these things they just had to get out of themselves,” Juliet says. “I had never really felt that way until this album. I’ve become someone who writes because they have to.”

Stylistically, ‘Carnival’ draws on a range of influences from Laurel Canyon-era singer/songwriters, to Lilith Fair rockers, to confessional country/folk balladeers, to indie pop. The central theme of the record and that of its title track is not being too precious about any one experience or decision. Take them for what they are, live in the moment, and move on when they’re done. It acknowledges also that memory can be subjective, and ambiguous—was an experience ultimately a good thing or a bad thing? And whose memory can you rely on to determine the answer to that question?

‘Carnival’ doesn’t just deal with the complexities of ending relationships, it also deals with all the feelings that come with moving on. The album’snine songs feature evocative storytelling that reveals a simple truth: when the carnival inevitably leaves town, you’re left with an empty parking lot. And how you remember, it is a choice. As Juliet sings in the title track, “If only there was a way you could bottle up that feeling / and you’d drink it in / when the days are short and you long.”

Across her 20+ year career, Juliet has been admittedly stylistically non-monogamous. Her first full-length album, ‘All Dressed Up’, was released in 2005 and was heavily jazz-influenced- a label that she rejected at the time. “I am a piano player and a woman, so I was immediately compared to Norah Jones—and I bristled at that,” Juliet says. “Listening back now, I can totally see that it was true, and it of course wasn’t a bad thing.” Her follow-up release ‘Leave the Light On,’ came out two years later and featured a slick piano-pop production that led to five of its songs being placed on reality TV shows on MTV and VH1. Coming back after her 10-year break from writing and recording, Juliet released ‘High Road’, a collection of five Americana/soul-tinged songs produced by Jim Ebert (Meredith Brooks, Shai) that earned her widespread recognition and songwriting awards both in her home region of DC as well as nationally.

Now with her first ever UK tour scheduled for July 2025, Juliet has also dropped a completely brand-new single ‘Wild Again’, which like ‘Carnival’, was written with and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman). ‘Wild Again’, however, charts yet another new step in Juliet’s journey.

Carnival’, is full of deeply personal songs that are drawn from my real-life experiences and relationships. Coming out of that album cycle, I was feeling a little exhausted by my own navel-gazing and I was craving inspiration elsewhere. So, a lot of the songs I’m writing now are an evolution of sorts – focused more on external stimuli and finding the personal stories and humanity in that. Wild Again is a perfect example of this,” she explains.

The idea for ‘Wild Again’ was born out of a NY Times podcast Juliet listened to about the real-life efforts to return the whale that played Willy in the iconic movie ‘Free Willy’ back into the wild.

“It’s an insane, heartbreaking story that asks all kinds of thorny questions about human responsibility and humility and what’s the “right” thing to do and is that the same as the “kind” thing to do. There was a line that one of the trainers said in the podcast, explaining that they were trying to “train him to be wild again.” The complete absurdity of that statement hit me in the moment, and I immediately started jotting down lyrical ideas”, Juliet says.

Catch Juliet Lloyd on her UK tour this July:

1st July: The Folklore Rooms / Brighton
2nd July: The Hyde Tavern / Winchester
3rd July: Hen and Chicken / Bristol (CRH Music promotions)
4th July: Artisan Tap Hartshill / Stoke-on-Trent

5th July: Waggon & Horses, Nottingham

6th July: Cafe#9 / Sheffield
7th July: Hyde Park Book Club / Leeds
10th July: FortyFive Vinyl Café / York
11th July: The Muddy Puddle / London
13th July: The Wrotham Arms / Broadstairs

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