BMN SPOTLIGHT: UK Shoegaze Trio Holy Springs By Olivia King
London based indie trio, Holy Springs is the holy grail of Shoegaze. Featuring members Neil Atkinson (lead singer), Maria Bellucci and Suzanne Sims. The band released their latest album “HOLY SPRINGS” in 2022, as well as their newest single which was released this year entitled “Just Sleep.” Holy Springs takes a psychedelic twist on indie and has a sound that can be compared to My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, but with slightly more raspy tones and grungy guitar.
The mystifying array of ambient drones in “Just Sleep,” fits the title perfectly- it makes you want to just sleep and bask away in musical fervor. The song opens with a minute of transient reverb into Atkinson’s lulling vocals that you can just barely hear, which adds to the atmospheric quality of this band’s sound and makes it feel more abstract. Underneath the lofi guitar you can hear ethereal synth, which feels hypnotic and reminiscent of Morepheus and the Lotus Eaters. “What I’m Supposed To Do,” a popular track off their 2022 EP begins with eerie and shrilling high pitched guitar, which later cascades into the lead singer’s spell-binding voice.
If you can imagine what a UFO landing on earth sounds like, that is exactly the type of sound captured by Holy Spring’s music. Tracks like “Fold” do not include Atkinson’s voice, they are simply just harmonics and mesmerizing vibrational noises that allow you to focus on the nuances of their sound. The dreamy guitar strums often linger for a few seconds that create an echo effect, drawing the listener closer to a trance-like state. It is easy to become encapsulated by the sound of Holy Springs; the celestial elements incorporated in their songs is what makes them slightly more unconventional than other artists. The reverb and astral quality of synth will make you feel surrounded by the sound, and you will not want to escape it.