A Quick Chat with Holly Hebe

"Bitterness" explores themes of self-loathing, doom-scrolling, and holding grudges. What inspired you to write this track, and was there a particular moment that sparked the idea?

When I started writing this song, the chorus came first. I was thinking about the word "bitterness" and how it had a sense of rhythm to it—it felt like it could fit really well in a chorus. The rest of the song and its messaging were built around this, and I pulled from different experiences and people in my life who are grudge holders and tend to ruminate on negative emotions. Internet escapism is definitely something I am guilty of too, and often it’s a draining energy to adopt, so I focused on making the production sparkly and energetic to contrast this.

The song takes a lighthearted approach to a pretty heavy topic. Was that contrast intentional, and how did you find the balance between the lyrics and the dreamy production?

The contrast was definitely intentional. I love playing around with the idea of juxtaposition in my production and lyric writing. Once I had written the chorus, I was obsessed with the meter of the phrase "bitter bitterness" and wanted to carry this sense of bounce and joviality throughout the rest of the instrumentation. Sometimes finding the balance can be tough, but once I establish the sound world of the song, I can see a really clear path forward.

You’ve had a huge few months with festival appearances, international writing trips, and major DSP support. How has this momentum shaped your approach to music this year?

These past few months have been so much fun, and I owe a lot of the momentum to the hard work my team and I have put in behind the scenes, as well as the amazing support I’ve had from gig-goers! It’s been so exciting to build my fan base more, and I’ve been able to connect with some really lovely people who have truly left such a mark on me. Throughout this process, I've realised the importance of connecting with people face-to-face at my shows and being invested in them as much as they are in me. I care so much about my small but mighty fan base, and they’ve reminded me that the best music I can be making is the music that I am most passionate about and feel really connected to.

You’ll be in LA in March for writing sessions and a WFNM showcase. Can you share more about what’s planned for your time there and anything you’re excited about?

I have so much nervous excitement for this trip! I have never been over to the States, and I feel so lucky that music is taking me there. As well as the WFNM showcase, we are planning sessions with some producers over there, and I’m honestly so excited to get amongst it. It’s definitely going to throw me in the deep end, but I’m so ready. I'm excited for the thrift shops too!!

Looking beyond "Bitterness," what can fans expect next? Are there any upcoming releases, tours, or special projects in the works?

We have some really exciting releases planned this year—I’m currently writing a lot and really going through a period of exploration with my sound. Off the back of my release late last year, Ultra Love, I’ve found a love for new production techniques and blending genres, which is something I'll be exploring more this year! I am super pumped for my first run of all-ages shows coming up in March in Sydney and Melbourne, and I can’t wait to give everyone a taste of what’s to come this year.

You draw inspiration from artists like Maggie Rogers and Clairo. Are there any new influences or experiences that have been shaping your sound lately?

Recently, I have been listening to a lot of Alix Page, Piri, and Coin, as well as Sabrina Carpenter and Lizzy McAlpine. I am loving the mix of soft, emotional lyricism paired with electronic production. I am back to writing a lot of songs on piano again—I took a little detour from this last year and was writing a lot on guitar. Piano is my home base, and it is really inspiring me a lot at the moment.