Portugal-born, Los Angeles-based producer HOLLY has been taking over the electronic sphere with a wide-ranging sound that flows seamlessly from hip-hop to breakbeat, trap, house, electronica, and any other genre that captures his heart. Making his return to HARD Recs comes the soul-touching offering “Pain Away.” The track follows his ‘Dark Skies & Holy Grail’ album, which arrived on the label in 2020.
Stream here : https://hardrecs.ffm.to/painaway
“Pain Away” is a captivating cut offering a sense of solace intertwined with a dancefloor-ready groove. Built around engrossing vocal samples, the lyrics tug at the heartstrings, shining a soft light on one’s insecurities and internal turmoil while offering a sense of refuge. Uplifting synth leads, ethereal pads, and dark arpeggiations score the lush soundscapes. Reverberating low-end and a buff bassline propel the undercurrent, offering a heavy-hitting edge that acts as a powerful counterpoint to the emotive sonics that are embedded into the track’s DNA. Beauty and darkness dance within the moonlight, forming a masterful bond. “Pain Away” is a euphoric escape from adversity, stripping away the pain with an addictive yet dancey air.
HOLLY shares the backstory behind the release, saying, “A couple months ago, I reconnected with my good friend Sebastian Reynoso who I’ve been working with throughout the years. I asked him to send me some acapellas for me to sample. One of them was the ‘Pain Away’ vocal and, as soon as I heard it, I felt something click and I knew I had to explore more. I sampled a couple parts of the vocal and then built the whole beat and production around it. I know that Sebastian wrote this record as a wish and a manifesto to ease the pain from a lot of people that he sees suffering; this resonated with me, as well, regarding how I hope this record can be to the world. I hope this song can make more people happy and hopefully ease any pain they’re going through and bring more light to our world. LOVE.”
L.A.-based producer by way of Portugal, HOLLY is a chameleon-like artist who can’t be pinned down. With an expansive catalog that sees quality match quantity, the prolific producer has made his mark within hip-hop, breakbeat, trap, house, electronica, and beyond. His sound has amassed support from the biggest names in music extending to Triple J, Zeds Dead, Alison Wonderland, Anna Lunoe, Jantsen, NGHTMRE & SLANDER, and more. He just wrapped up a European tour alongside the iconic DJ Shadow and is currently on a run of dates that includes Sudoeste Festival, Mission Ballroom, and a recent show at Lux in Lisbon. HOLLY was deemed ‘One of the Top Producers of 2017’ by both DJ Mag and Run The Trap, and won A-Trak’s inaugural Goldie Awards Beat Battle that same year.
Blending deep feels and infectiousness, “Pain Away” is a healing anthem that will stir something deep within the soul via its engrossing, experimental sound.
HOLLY’s new single “Pain Away” is available on all platforms via HARD Recs.
More About Holly
Miguel Oliveira PKA as HOLLY is a magnetic force on the music scene, gracing stages at prestigious events such as Coachella, Shambala, NOS Alive, and Insomniac festivals. Renowned for his award-winning production and genre-bending DJ sets, HOLLY’s captivating style garners attention from fans and peers alike. HOLLY was deemed ‘one of the top producers of 2017’ by both DJ Mag and Run The Trap, and won the very first A-Trak Goldie Awards Beat Battle that same year. In 2019, Billboard Dance featured him as an emerging artist, highlighting his sound as ‘tough, but sophisticated and often experimental bass that still often properly pummels’, and in 2021 he received a medal of honor in Portugal for representing Portuguese culture around the world. HOLLY was also one of the producers of the Grammy Nominated album “Planet’s Mad” by Baauer and has also received notable features from important international outlets such as BBC, Complex, DJ Mag, Mixmag and many more. Blending hip-hop and electronic music with remarkable finesse, HOLLY defies genre expectations and leaves an indelible mark on his extensive discography. Collaborating with esteemed artists like Gucci and Alex Trouchet, HOLLY created unique soundscapes for two custom NFTs, showcasing his innovative approach. Miguel has put together several creative projects for Cirque Du Soleil/Blue Man Group and was quoted by the most important NFT marketplace – Foundation – as a trend setter in the NFT space. His vast discography is a testament to his versatility, as he has produced projects for esteemed hip-hop luminaries such as CL, Danny Brown, A$AP TyY, Dok2, 24hrs, and Uno the Activist. Additionally, HOLLY has collaborated with some of dance music’s most influential tastemakers, including Baauer, Machinedrum, Zeds Dead, and The Bloody Beetroots. His track “Hot 44” with Baauer was included in the new Batman movie. HOLLY’s sonic journey spans labels such as Insomniac Records, Vision Recordings, Fool’s Gold, Sable Valley, and Monstercat. In 2023, HOLLY unveiled the first two installments of his EP trilogy, collectively known as “Minha Vida: Love, Hope, and Sadness” and also released a collaborative EP with Machinedrum on Vision Recordings titled “天の川 (River of Heaven)”. He signed his first publishing deal with 88Rising and has forthcoming collaborations with Sable Valley, and Monta Records. Named Artist To Watch 2024 by Dancing Astronaut, HOLLY’s artistic evolution remains steadfast as he continues to push the envelope of musical expression and captivate audiences worldwide.
More About HARD Recs
Renowned for curating the most cutting-edge lineups, HARD has solidified itself as a cultural institution within the live events space by continuously staying at the forefront of the ever-evolving dance scene. In 2018, they extended this forward-thinking ethos into their first compilation album, ‘HARD Summer 2018,’ an 18-track package aimed at showcasing the most sought-after sounds in house, techno, bass, trap and hip-hop music. With the launch of their very own HARD Recs imprint, they are providing a platform for the artists sprawled across their many stages at HARD Summer, Holy Ship!, and Day of the Dead. As its first full-fledged artist signing, they recruited UK powerhouse JOYRYDE, who has since released a string of high-octane singles, which eventually led up to his massive debut studio album, ‘BRAVE.’ Good Times Ahead (fka GTA) has graced the catalog with 2019’s ‘Good Times Bad Times at Hard Summer’ mixtape, featuring a star-studded roster that brought together high-profile acts such as Flosstradamus, What So Not, and more. Grammy-nominated sensation Wuki has also been enlisted to the roster, with respective singles featuring Diplo, Snappy Jit, Stoppa, and Juvenile leading up to the forthcoming release of his debut studio album. The catalog boasts releases from forward-thinking producers including Panteros666, Wax Motif, Ninajirachi, BRUX, Pocket, Rohaan, AK Sports, Holly, Nitepunk, and more . With many more new signings coming down the pipeline, HARD Recs will remain dedicated to its mission of shining a light on established legends and on-fire newcomers alike from all across the spectrum of contemporary music.