Step by step through Holo’s kaleidoscopic EP

Australian producer Holo is capturing the world’s attention one carefully crafted single at a time. His latest release, the In Limbo EP collects these singles into one cohesive array of downtempo and chilled sounds. While only four tracks long, each song on the EP is significant in its own way, calling for recognition. Join us as Holo takes us step by step through the EP and each of its songs.

Stream / Download: In Limbo EP

The ever-so chilled ‘In Limbo’ title track gently eases the listener into the EP with mellowed rolling tones and organic vocals. Holo tells us: “This is the first track I produced for this EP, and it set the tone in my mind for how I wanted the record to sound. It combines disco and pop samples, breakbeat drums and my own guitar and bass playing, and I remember thinking when writing it, “this shouldn’t work”.

‘Supersonic’ begins to raise the tempo as the bassline deepens and we’re met with a little more attitude. Holo explains how he struggled to perfect the song: “It took a long time to get this track sounding the way I wanted it to, particularly dialling in the bass sound I could hear in my head. It reminds me of Fatboy Slim’s ‘Right Here, Right Now’ or Robert D’s ‘Clubbed to Death’ (from that scene in The Matrix with the woman in the red dress) with its swirling bassline and relentless drums.”

Further in and we’re unexpectedly introduced to the ‘In Limbo Dark Mix’ that removes many of the chilled notes and introduces the listener to an edgier sound. Holo gives a little more insight into the song: “It’s one of my most unique tracks because it combines instruments and influences from so many disparate genres, including acid, disco, classic rock, and even renaissance music. It’s a track I’m particularly proud of as it really “shouldn’t work” if you know what I mean.”

The EP draws to a close with ‘Bleu’, the shortest track of the collection but not by much. ‘Bleu’ was the world’s first introduction to the EP as the artist released the two a month apart and yet now acts as a closer. The producer shares the concept behind the single: “I chose this track’s title as a nod to Bicep’s “Glue” – an inspiration for the track’s sound – but also because in my mind this track’s colour was a light blue. Sometimes I get that when making music – a really strong mental image, whether it be a colour, or a scene.”