# U.K. indie supergroup Holodrum drop debut single ‘Free Advice’

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2022/01/u-k-indie-supergroup-holodrum-drop-debut-single/
- Published: 2022-01-14T00:39:47-05:00
- Author: Kate Stevens

Indie rock music’s latest new supergroup, the U.K.’s **Holodrum**, have dropped 
the debut single, “Free Advice” just weeks ahead of their self-titled album release(
February 25th).

The new “disco-infused synth-pop group,” as the press release states, includes members
of popular U.K. indie bands **Yard Act** and **Hookworms**, plus Cowtown, Virginia
Wing and Drahla, with the full line-up consisting of Emily Garner (vocals), Matthew
Benn (synth/bass/production), Jonathan Nash (drums), Jonathan Wilkinson (guitar),
Sam Shjipstone (guitar/vocals), Christopher Duffin (sax/synth) and Steve Nuttall(
percussion).

Speaking about the track, Garner said it “expresses the state of feeling invincible
in the face of adversity and acts quite explicitly as a piece of good advice, applicable
to anyone that’s gone out of their way just to harsh your vibe”.

Maybe Holodrum were destined to start at this point. This might be the first time
they’ve all officially worked together, but between Emily Garner (vocals), Matthew
Benn (synth/bass/production), Jonathan Nash (drums), Jonathan Wilkinson (guitar),
Sam Shjipstone (guitar/vocals), Christopher Duffin (sax/synth) and Steve Nuttall(
percussion) they’ve shared bands, mixed each other’s records, promoted live shows
and made music videos together in and around Leeds.

As Holodrum, this is the seven-piece’s debut album, but the interlocking grooves
and hot headiness of their repeato-rock-via-CBGBs dopamine hits have in one way 
or other been fermenting for years.

“When it comes to doing music most bands fall between two extremes of doing it for
some goal or as an end to itself” says Shjipstone. “I think Holodrum is about the
joy and complexity of living, and I just hope to god everyone gets to have a good
time doing it.”

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Ultimately the core of the group comes from Shjipstone and his former Hookworms 
bandmates Benn, Nash and Wilkinson. After their abrupt dissolution in late 2018,
the four of them spent six months apart; Benn still had Xam Duo, his ongoing project
with Virginia Wing and some-time James Holden & The Animal Spirits live member Duffin,
Nash remains vocalist and guitarist of long-running DIY rockers Cowtown and helms
his solo project Game_Program; and Shjipstone plays guitar with Yard Act.

However, the four of them missed the sixth sense synergy they’d built-up playing
together over a decade and soon enough demos were being swapped and new ideas were
discussed.