Holly Macve is an Ireland-born musician who performs as a solo artist. She has released two albums, 2017’s Golden Eagle and 2021’s Not the Girl, and collaborated with Lana Del Rey on ‘Suburban House’. Her music blends alternative country, folk, and dream pop influences, creating a distinctive and captivating sound.
Macve grew up in a musical family, with her grandfather being a classical composer and her mother introducing her to blues, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen. She started playing guitar and writing songs at a young age, inspired by artists like Gillian Welch, Joni Mitchell, and Nick Drake. At 18, she moved to Brighton, where she was discovered by Bella Union boss Simon Raymonde, who signed her to his label.
Macve’s debut album, Golden Eagle, was praised for its sparse, dark, and haunting beauty, showcasing her soaring voice and poetic lyrics. She recorded the album with producer Paul Gregory of Lanterns on the Lake, and toured with John Grant, Villagers, Benjamin Clementine, and Mercury Rev, among others. She also performed at several music festivals, including Glastonbury, Latitude, and South by Southwest, where she was named one of the “top 12 notable acts” by The New York Times.
Macve’s second album, Not the Girl, was a more ambitious and expansive work, co-produced by Macve and her bandmate Max Kinghorn-Mills. The album featured cinematic arrangements, lush harmonies, and diverse influences, from Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence to Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti western scores. Macve also explored more personal and mature themes, such as love, loss, identity, and self-discovery.
Holly Macve is a singer-songwriter with a widescreen vision, a stunning voice, and a unique style. She is one of the most exciting and original talents in the contemporary music scene.