Archive

Holly Miranda is an Overnight Success 11 Years in the Making

I first heard of Holly Miranda on Twitter, when I noticed she had been tweeting with Tegan and Sara and Raimy Rosenduft, Liz Feldman‘s right-hand-music-fan on This Just Out.

I’d like to think I have a pretty good sense of internet-gaydar, so when I confirmed the Brooklyn-based musician was out, I gave myself a pat on the back for my virtual find – and promptly set out to interview her.

You might have heard about Holly Miranda from a different source, like fan Kanye West. The hip-hop star pimped one of her tracks on his website, and it wasn’t long before hipster music blogs and even Vanity Fair picked up on the former frontwoman for The Jealous Girlfriends.

Miranda recently released her first solo EP, Sleep on Fire, and is touring the U.S. with songs from her repertoire, including tracks from The Jealous Girlfriends’ albums, Sleep on Fire and her upcoming full-length album, which is being produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek.

She’s an 11-year-overnight sensation.

“I remember when I was 16 or 17, my uncle said it takes 10 years to be an overnight success,” Miranda told me after pulling off to the side of the road while traveling between tour towns. “I’ve learned a lot of patience.”

I believe her – she moved to New York from the outskirts of Detroit when she was 16, dropping out of high school and finishing her degree through correspondence.

“I came out to visit my sister who lived in New York and played an open mic at a sidewalk cafe and they asked if I wanted to show,” Miranda said. “That was what I wanted to do. I was sick of living in the suburbs. I grew up in like a super religious family. I just wanted to get out.”

She scored a record deal by the time she was 17, recording with major label BMG, but the end result was less than thrilling.

“I ended up walking away from [it],” Miranda said. “It’s, like, in a safe somewhere and no one’s ever heard it.”

Miranda grew up singing in church, learning piano at age 6 and picking up the guitar at 14, around the time she began writing songs. After moving New York, she met the people she’d eventually refer to as bandmates for The Jealous Girlfriends, a reputable indie band that is currently on a break, Miranda said, but all continuing on their own musical pursuits.

The music Miranda makes is influenced by what she refers to as a combination of the things she grew up listening to.

“I love Jeff Buckley and Edith Piaf and Nina Simone. I grew up on Motown,” Miranda said. But what most people compare her to are modern day chanteuses like Cat Power and Feist which she says she “hears all the time.”

“Somebody the other day told me I sounded like Joni Mitchell,” Miranda said. “What? What are you smoking? Can I have some?”

It’s true – Holly Miranda doesn’t sound like Joni Mitchell at all. She does share some elements of the aforementioned artists, especially the ones she listed as having directly influenced her songwriting, as she creates soulful dream pop that most modern day musicians likely aspire to with the help of songwriting and production teams. But Miranda records her music in a home studio and the back of the van while on tour – at least for the EP she did.

“The EP was something to have to sell this summer at shows and in New York and on the website,” Miranda said. “It’s pretty homemade. [My best friend of eight years] Raimy took the photo on the cover of me jumping in the pool.”

Only one song from the EP will make it to the final cut of the full-length CD, which will be released sometime next year. It’s been a long process, Miranda said, as she’s not sure what label she’ll go with yet, and word of mouth keeps getting more and more fans excited about her solo work.

“I think the Kanye West thing was a fluke that made a lot of people take a listen,” Miranda said. “I think [it helps] that Dave [Sitek] and Katrina Ford (of Celebration) co-produced the record and that a few of the guys from TV on the Radio are on it.”

“It’s funny,” she continued. “Whenever I hang out with Dave, he’ll say different people have been asking about my record, like Trent Reznor. It’s really bizarre!

The album is finished in its entirety, and now comes the hard part – waiting for it to be released. Until then, Miranda is touring with two accompanying musicians, while also trying to fit in seeing her girlfriend.

“I think I’ll probably always stay in New York but right now I’m dating someone that lives on the other coast,” Miranda said. “I’ve been spending a lot of time in Los Angeles.”

Miranda is completely out, but she doesn’t like to label herself when it comes to being talked about as a musician.

“I have no problem being out, but I don’t think it has anything to do with my music,” Miranda said. “I like who I like. I don’t want people to not listen to my music because of that and I don’t want people to listen to my music because of that. I haven’t had to deal with it in a professional way very much yet.”

And while the album will not have any love songs about her new relationship because it’s been 11 years in the making, it’s sure to have some lesbian-esque subtext.

“Usually if I’m writing a love song it’s probably about a girl,” Miranda said. “That’s just me.”

As long as it’s in the same vein as the songs I’ve heard so far, Ms. Miranda, that is totally fine with me.

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button