Hollie Cook delivers her take on lover’s rock with cool, sultry, well-crafted memorable songs. Tropical Pop probably captures the essence of her approach with her sunny disposition and possible newfound title of “The Queen of Modern-Day Lovers' Rock.”
Happy Hour is amongst us now. Drink Up. The time to rejoice and celebrate is now with Hollie Cook! Last call for alcohol! Cheers!
Pull out a stool to the well-worn, handcrafted bar as Hollie and I chat over a few drinks as good music and good friends surround.
Scene Point Blank: With your father Paul being the drummer for the Sex Pistols/Professionals and your mother Jeni being a backup singer for Culture Club, was it inevitable that you were destined for a career in music? Did other interests ever prevail or was music your chosen path from early on in your life?
Hollie Cook: Music has always been the main interest from an early age, yes. Other areas of performance were a part of my childhood interests, but I found a happy and comfortable place singing and making music in my early teens. At one point I pursued a career as a hair and make-up artist, but that didn’t last long as I didn’t find the same joy in it.
Scene Point Blank: Do your parents give you guidance in the murky waters of the music business?
Hollie Cook: From an early age when it became clear that I would pursue a career in music, my dad made me wise to the fickle and sometimes bullshit nature of the industry, and to take it all with a pinch of salt and be patient and prepared for the knock backs.
Scene Point Blank: Was your godparent Boy George involved at all in your musical path?
Hollie Cook: No. He invited me to perform with him and the BBC Symphony Orchestra some years ago which was an amazing opportunity.
I learned how to be in a band, how to go on tour, and how to be on stage and perform. All whilst being surrounded, supported, and protected by an incredible tribe of powerful women. It shaped my mindset going forward with my future musical endeavors.
Scene Point Blank: Was it through your father that you came to join the Slits and appear on their 2006 release of Revenge of the Killer Slits? What can you tell us about your experience being involved with them?
Hollie Cook: It was through my parents that I knew Ari. I grew up with her making various appearances throughout my life. The most significant of which was when she was recording a new Slits EP and called on all her friends’ daughters to come and sing a chorus on a song called “Slits Tradition”. It was amazing to reconnect with her on an emotional and musical level during that session, and from there she invited me to come and sing live for some shows, and I ended up joining the band shortly after that. I think it will remain one of the most important and special music experiences of my life. I learned how to be in a band, how to go on tour, and how to be on stage and perform. All whilst being surrounded, supported, and protected by an incredible tribe of powerful women. It shaped my mindset going forward with my future musical endeavors.
Scene Point Blank: Was Ari Up seen as an early mentor in forming your direction to pursue reggae as the desired medium?
Hollie Cook: I was already a reggae fan, but being in a punk/reggae band guided me deeper into the music. Ari was a music and life mentor to me.
Scene Point Blank: How did you become involved in collaborating with Prince Fatty?
Hollie Cook: A friend of mine had met him at a studio session at which Prince Fatty was engineering. He passed on a demo of his reggae riddims, and my friend knew I’d love it. So after I heard it, we arranged to meet and booked a recording session to see how we worked together. I recorded a song his friend had written and that song was “Milk and Honey!”
Scene Point Blank In a few words can you describe your impressions, professionally and artistically, with the following you have worked with: Ian Brown, George Dekker, Dennis Bovell, Alex Patterson, Youth, Jah Wobble?
Hollie Cook: Ian Brown is the nicest, coolest of gentlemen I’ve ever met. George Dekker is a calm and professional presence to work with. I swear he can sing higher than me! Dennis Bovell is the most fun, and vivacious songwriter/musician I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Alex Patterson has the most individual and unique creative mind of anyone I’ve worked with. Youth has the most casual approach to brilliant ideas. Jah Wobble is dreamy.
Scene Point Blank: Is there anyone currently that you would love to collaborate with?
Hollie Cook: I never know the answer to that. I’ll remember an idea I had a few weeks from now, probably. These sorts of thoughts and ideas tend to happen pretty organically.
Scene Point Blank: Can you explain why you call your music “Tropical Pop”?
Hollie Cook: Back in the MySpace days before I’d released anything but had some very early demos on there, I just put “Tropical Pop” in the genre section to describe the sound I was going for. I kept it from there and it seems to be a phrase that people have really latched onto. So I suppose the genre name interests people, which will maybe in turn provoke an interest in hearing what my Tropical Pop sounds like.
Scene Point Blank: What reggae artists are your biggest musical heroes?
Hollie Cook: Dennis Brown, Phylis Dillon, Carrol Thompson, Dennis Bovell
Scene Point Blank: Were punks doing reggae ever on your radar, i.e. The Clash, The Ruts, Bad Brains, etc?
Hollie Cook: Yes, growing up I was aware and into the punky reggae scene. Not an avid follower, but much appreciation for it.
Scene Point Blank: Have you had many interactions with Don Letts?
Hollie Cook: Many. I’ve known him since I was very young, and now our paths cross more creatively, meeting at shows and festivals.
Scene Point Blank: It appears you have a bunch of shows in the UK lined up. When you hit North American soil are there plans to play beyond the one show in Los Angeles?
Hollie Cook: My agent is currently working on more shows but we shall see. I also have a show in Ventura that has now been confirmed.
Scene Point Blank: Did COVID play a part in your musical output? How did you cope in isolation? Did it help inspire your lyrical content?
Hollie Cook: COVID and isolation was an interesting time. I didn’t expect to benefit so greatly from the time away from music. Through the uncertainty and panic of a global pandemic, which was so hard at times, I had a full emotional reset. I was able to focus on making music without any interruption and time constraints. I already had most of the ideas for the album before we went into lockdown, so I was able to take my time with writing and developing those ideas with my bandmates. I ended up making songs that were very reflective and not so much about what I was going through at the time. This is generally how I think I end up approaching my lyrics and emotions.
I usually get quite reflective when I write. I like looking into how I felt during certain life events and drawing from there.
Scene Point Blank: What advice would you have in planting a successful herb garden?
Hollie Cook: Water, sun, love, music, and fun. I really am no botanist at all! And I tend to go with the flow and respond to the plants and what they need. Which is basically sun and water.
Scene Point Blank: Finally, I have shut to up and ask you about your new LP: Happy Hour! Who played on this with you? How long did it take to come to fruition? What was the experience like overall recording it? Do you feel with each release it is like a child and you watch it grow and develop (possibly change) through the passages of time?
Hollie Cook: The whole Happy Hour album process ended up being a long and indulgent time scale. As I said, it was already in the works pre-pandemic. So I took pretty much a whole year on this thing. Why not?
I worked on this with Ben Mckone and Luke Allwood who I play with live as part of the General Roots Band. I worked and recorded with all the band members on these songs, and Luke and Ben produced them.
It’s probably the closest I have felt to an album I’m putting out. But, also, maybe I feel like that about them all when they are so new. They are definitely my children. I nurture them, I’m proud of them, and I hear them change over time. It’s always fun/maddening analyzing what I’d do differently after a couple of years’ reflection.
Scene Point Blank: You have stated that you didn’t want to restrict yourself with this release. Did you achieve that and do you feel that it is a truly authentic representation of you, yourself, and your innermost feelings?
Hollie Cook: I think I did achieve that. When my mind got in the way of myself I was able to cast it aside and follow my gut. I feel I have been very honest and also stepped out of my comfort zone sonically. [I’m] trying my best to grow and progress.
I feel I am constantly finding my path and place in life. That’s probably the point of it all.
Scene Point Blank: How do you feel about the title The Queen of Modern Day Lovers Rock?
Hollie Cook: Is that a title I’ve been given?! I feel very humbled by it if that’s the case. I’m not sure if I’m ready for a title.
Scene Point Blank: Are you already thinking of your next release or will you give time for this release to germinate and take root?
Hollie Cook: I have been thinking about and have plans for my next project.
I think for a long time before I get to creating. I suppose that’s part of my process.
Scene Point Blank: Being surrounded by powerful women at an early age, I am sure it shaped you into becoming a strong individual yourself. Can you comment on whom and how these women helped you find your path and place in life?
Hollie Cook: I feel I am constantly finding my path and place in life. That’s probably the point of it all.
Ari Up was the most powerful woman I know. And she was in my life when I definitely wasn’t powerful or strong. But she helped pave the way and I’m slowly getting there. There are many of these women in my life: my friends, musical mentors. I’m grateful for all of them.
Scene Point Blank: Does the true Happy Hour still exist? I am sure it does in Coronation Street but I am not sure anyone gives you half-price drinks any more!
Hollie Cook: Happy Hours are never just an hour it seems. Which is absolutely fine by me. And it’s more like paying full price and getting a second drink for free. Which is also fine by me. But Happy Hour is best preferred with mates.
Scene Point Blank: Parting thoughts?
Hollie Cook: Just have a nice day and listen to my album.
Cook will be playing several live dates this fall.
Tour dates 2022:
Sep 28 BROOKLYN, NY – Elsewhere Rooftop
Oct 14 GLASGOW, UK – King Tut’s
Oct 15 BLACKPOOL, UK – Bootleg Social
Oct 16 MANCHESTER, UK – Gorilla
Oct 18 LEEDS, UK – Brudenell Social Club
Oct 20 NOTTINGHAM, UK – Rescue Rooms
Oct 21 BRISTOL, UK – Thekla
Oct 22 BRIGHTON, UK – Chalk
Oct 23 SOUTHAMPTON, UK – The 1865
Oct 26 LONSON, UK – Village Underground
Oct 27 BEAUVAIS, FR – L’Ouvre-Boîte
Oct 28 PARIS, FR – Trabendo
Oct 29 BRUSSELS, BE – Botanique
Oct 30 UTRECHT, NL – Tivoli de Helling
Nov 04 SAINT PIERRE, RE – Kergueven
Nov 05 LE PORT, RE – Kabardock
Tickets: www.holliecook.com
