Hollie Cook announces new album ‘Happy Hour’, tour
Shares video for new single
UK singer Hollie Cook is pleased to announce the release of her forthcoming new album ‘Happy Hour’, released 24th June via Merge Records, which sees her mature into the queen of modern-day Lovers Rock.
On ‘Happy Hour’, Hollie dares to invite listeners into her true personality which she co-produced with her General Roots band members Ben Mckone and Luke Allwood, and executive producer Youth.
“Particularly with the songwriting, I was trying to really push myself and be open, to not be restricted in any way. I have always been a fan of theatrical pop music and wanted to experiment more with the song form.” From her feisty roots, Hollie has only grown. Her soulful directness on ‘Happy Hour’ is relatable and authentic. “I can’t get away from it,” she says. “Making this music that I love, I do turn deep inside myself. It makes me explore a lot of human truths and feelings that we should not shy away from, and it feels like a release to turn them into songs.”
To celebrate the official album announcement and accompanying tour dates (below), Hollie is pleased to share the video for ‘Full Moon Baby’, the first single to be taken from the album. “The song is inspired by new life and, of course, the moon. Two of my closest friends had recently had babies, and I was filled with so much hope and love. Moons and babies both have such a soft, gentle nature to them and fill me with wonder. Also, babies look like tiny moons.”
Touring as a teenager with punk legends The Slits, Hollie’s mentor was Ari Up, the band’s lead singer and a lifelong friend of Cook’s parents (Sex Pistols drummer Paul and her singer mother Jeni who sang with Culture Club). “My father always said I would be a singer. But I discovered lovers rock on my own. I heard it on pirate radio and at friends’, and I was bewildered, enchanted,” she recalls. “The Slits are the reason I have pursued this career. I was surrounded by powerful women at a young age, and when my time came, I was never fazed by male dominance. They were my wall of courage.”
Previous praise for Hollie Cook
“Criminally underrated.” The Guardian
“Plenty plenty soul” Mojo****
“It is perhaps ironic that an artist personally connected to both the Slits and the Sex Pistols by her teenage years would go on to make love songs as intoxicatingly beautiful as this” Pitchfork
“A girl following her heart, there’s a refreshing honesty to what Hollie Cook puts before us” i-D
Please keep in mind for the With Guitars, thanks.
Album released 24th June via Merge Records
Pre-order ton CD, LP and limited-edition orchid & tangerine Peak Vinyl in the Merge store, Hollie’s website, and participating independent record shops
Tracklisting:
- ‘Happy Hour’
- ‘Moving On’
- ‘Full Moon Baby’
- ‘Kush Kween’ (featuring Jah9)
- ‘Unkind Love’
- ‘Gold Girl’
- ‘Love in the Dark’
- ‘Move My Way’
- ‘Praying’
Tour dates 2022:
Jun 30 LONDON, UK – Rough Trade East (‘Happy Hour’ release show)
Sep 28 BROOKLYN, NY – Elsewhere Rooftop
Oct 14 GLASGOW, UK – King Tut’s
Oct 15 BLACKPOOL, UK – Bootleg Social
Oct 16 MANCHESTER, UK – Gorilla
Oct 18 LEEDS, UK – Brudenell Social Club
Oct 20 NOTTINGHAM, UK – Rescue Rooms
Oct 21 BRISTOL, UK – Thekla
Oct 22 BRIGHTON, UK – Chalk
Oct 23 SOUTHAMPTON, UK – The 1865
Oct 26 LONSON, UK – Village Underground
Oct 27 BEAUVAIS, FR – L’Ouvre-Boîte
Oct 28 PARIS, FR – Trabendo
Oct 29 BRUSSELS, BE – Botanique
Oct 30 UTRECHT, NL – Tivoli de Helling
Nov 04 SAINT PIERRE, RE – Kergueven
Nov 05 LE PORT, RE – Kabardock
Tickets: www.holliecook.com