Denver-based singer-songwriter Holly Lovell captures the desolation, desperation and isolation of addiction in Lion’s Den, the new single from her forthcoming album, Hello Chelsea.

Release Date:  18^th October 2024

Label: Self Release

Formats: Digital

NEW ALBUM ON THE WAY

She might be a new name in the pages of At The Barrier, but Holly Lovell has been around for quite a while.  Raised in Australia before relocating to Denver, Colorado, she’s been playing guitar and writing songs since the tender age of 13, often with younger brother Caleb – who plays drums on this track – in tow.  Amongst her influences, she names Patty Griffin, Brandi Carlile and Bruce Springsteen.

Holly’s previous album, Still Frames (2016) brought her music to popular attention and now she has a new album in the pipeline; Hello Chelsea, on which she contemplates the related subjects of “addiction, grief, family history, healing and New York City.”

Hello Chelsea will be with us in February 2025 and, to set our expectations alight, Holly is starting to drip-feed a few tasters for our delectation.  Lead single, Louis & Me hit the racks a couple of weeks ago and now, hot off the press, comes second single, Lion’s Den.  It’s an engaging song; an empathetic folk ballad that considers the desolation, the desperation and the isolation of addiction from the addict’s own perspective.  It’s a subject that resonates strongly with Holly – she lost her deeply-loved uncle to addiction and, in Holly’s own words, “This song built my empathy and helped me move forward in my grief.”

A BEAUTIFULLY INTIMATE SONG

Lion’s Den is a beautifully intimate song that draws the listener right in, even as Holly’s lyrics deliver their stark messages.  Holly’s voice oozes vulnerability and the song’s intimacy is rounded off by a respectful accompaniment of soft acoustic guitar, sprinkles of electric guitar, brother Caleb’s contemplative drumbeat and – the cherry on the cake – shafts of pedal steel.

But, maybe, it’s in the lyrics that Lion’s Den hits the bullseye and, with lines like “I had a relapse, I had a comeback, I had a letdown feeling stuck on repeat,” “I never understand who has the upper hand – I’m one in the same, both the slave and the chain” and – the crunch line – “The lion don’t bite if you feed it,” you can sense that Holly really is reliving the agonies endured by her uncle.

With a foretaste like this one, I’m not expecting that Hello Chelsea will be an easy listen but I’m absolutely confident that it will be a rewarding and informative one and will certainly bring Holly Lovell the respect and admiration that her songwriting so clearly deserves.

Watch the official video to Louis & Me – the first single from, Holly’s forthcoming album, Hello Chelsea, here:

Holly Lovell online: Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube / Spotify

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