Holy Esque
East Kilbride, Scotland, United Kingdom | Established. Jan 01, 2011 | SELF
Music
Press
Click the URL - NME
Click the URL - NME
Click the URL - NME
click the URL - The Skinny Magazine
click the URL - The Skinny Magazine
Click the URL - Drowned in Sound
Four-piece Holy Esque are the latest in a long line of Scottish musicians to be born out of the world-famous Glasgow School of Art. Formed in 2011, the band have been building a strong fan base and reputation fit for the world-renowned local music scene, previously receiving support from industry greats Jen Long, Ally McCrae and Huw Stephens. Holy Esque have carved their name in the indie-rock circuit supporting and sharing stages with Wu Lyf, The Raveonettes and Haim on their UK tour, while also performing on international stages from CMJ to South By Southwest.
Glasgow band Kassidy pictured in Austin, Texas during their Creative Scotland showcaseHotly tipped, Holy Esque’s live performance easily lives up to the hype and praise they’ve attracted since inception. It may have something to do with the strong but unusual vocals of singer Pat Hynes, which is reminiscent of Joe Strummer; rasping and intense, lyrics are seething but equally hypnotic.
Rattling through a ten-song set with charisma and unstoppable energy, Rose is unquestionably a live highlight: an anthemic vocal layered coarsely over melodic guitar lines. 2014 release Sovereign showcases the development in Holy Esque’s song-writing style. Pulsing electronic beats accompany their notorious tuneful guitars and Hynes’ furious vocal; there’s undeniable Joy Division influences and comparisons to The XX in this number. Finishing the set with At Hope’s Ravine, Holy Esque display youthful passion embodied in an experienced and mature dynamic. They’re refreshing and captivating to watch, like a young version of The National before they exploded.
With memorable songs and live performances this strong they set the bar high, even if they are just a few years into their fledgling but burgeoning careers. This Glasgow band seem fit to take on London and the global scene and will undoubtedly steal the limelight as they progress with elegant poise. - The Upcoming
HHoly Esque have always flirted with electronic music.
It’s been there, within the songcraft and within the production itself. Yet the band have rarely given themselves entirely up to the machines, abandoned themselves to tech.
‘Sovereign’ though, finds the band doing exactly that. Opening with all manner of disturbing synth noises, it’s dark from the outset with Holy Esque using machinery to generate a unique kind of intensity.
Sloping guitar lines veer into view like shards of light, while the vocals manage to sound both world weary and positively impassioned. - The Clash
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Theres a great deal of excitement coming out of Scotland around Glasgow quartet Holy Esque. Played regularly by Radio 1s tastemaking trio Jen Long, Ally McCrae and Huw Stephens, the band have also been praised by the NME, The Sunday Times and a raft of new band blogs. Their performance at South By Southwest in 2013 definitely helped.
Their sound is immense and extraordinary at the same time with their debut 2012 EP and subsequent track releases showing a unique twist on your traditional guitar band not least due to Pat Hynes distinctive, vibrato vocal. Like the work of Manic Street Preachers and The National, it comes straight from the heart too.
Alongside festival appearances at SXSW, The Great Escape, Glastonbury, Berlin Music Week and CMJ, Holy Esque were also selected to support Haim at a couple of tour dates in 2013.
Band Members
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