Holly Arrowsmith - “Every Kingdom”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 5

Pairs Well With…Lucy Dacus, Joni Mitchell, Weyes Blood

Finding a balance between traditional folk and lonely bedroom songwriting, Holly Arrowsmith strikes a rich sound often with just her voice and minimal instrumental accompaniment. Her 2018 sophomore record A Dawn I Remember is also aided by subtle production flourishes, like distant electronic ghosts appropriately haunting her spacious, dimly lit songwriting. Heading to SXSW all the way from New Zealand, it’s interesting to hear the Americana and Laurel Canyon influences that play strongly both musically and in Arrowsmith’s naturally rich vocal tone. Holly Arrowsmith looks to be spreading her sound around the globe in 2020 with European and US dates now on the calendar, so hopefully a space to test out some new tracks to keep growing her consistently pretty and vulnerable catalog. (Kevin McStravick)