Meet Holly Fallon, a singer songwriter from Nottingham. At 19, she is rapidly developing a reputation in the Notts music scene, and has been doing since her first radio play at 13. Inspired by artists from Taylor Swift to SZA, to the classics her parents brought her up on, her inspirations are varied to say the least. Writing lyrics whenever she can and singing every chance she gets, Holly is determined to make a name for herself, in Nottingham and as far as she can get.
Unheard Gems: Just for our readers to get a little bit of background on you, when did you first know you wanted to pursue music and what was your journey like?
Holly Fallon: I first decided I wanted to be a singer when I was 6 and I first sang on stage. I don’t remember wanting to do anything else. I wrote poetry and stories from a really young age and so when I started writing songs when I was around 8 it was really natural to me
Unheard Gems: What is the music scene like in Nottingham, and how did your upbringing and environment influence your music?
Holly Fallon: Nottingham is a really great place for new music! There are so many talented artists there, and so many networks that are so supportive of new music. It’s been a massive confidence boost for me the whole way through my music and it has definitely made me more confident and determined in myself!
Unheard Gems: What or who inspired you to write "Attention." I find the song very relevant to people in the late teens/the early 20s.
Holly Fallon: Attention was actually inspired by my experience with school! I’m really glad you found it relevant to teens rather than thinking it was about a boy haha! I wrote attention when I was looking back at my school life after I’d taken a step back, I think it’s definitely just as much about myself as it is about other people honestly!
Unheard Gems: When did you decide, "I want to be a musician." and what is the hardest part about chasing your dreams? Did you face a backlash from your parents? I noticed "Back Up Plan" is about this.
Holly Fallon: I knew that I wanted to sing when I was so young, it really is the only dream I’ve ever had. When I started gigging when I was 12, it solidified that for me. For me the hardest part is the struggle to get your music heard or for people to take you seriously, it gets frustrating to put everything into something and get nothing back, but I think that’s where you have to persevere and hopefully it pays off. My parents are actually the 2 most supportive people in my life! They’re more supportive of my singing than anyone I know and they just want me to do what I love and I’m so lucky to have that. I wrote back up plan when I dropped out of college to pursue music full time, and everyone was telling me it was a mistake. I know what’s right for me and it’s hard hearing so many people telling you differently all the time!
Unheard Gems: I listened to your project, "Holly Fallon" Back Up Plan is stripped down compared to the other songs which are EDM inspired, when composing music why is it important to diversify your sound. Is it?
Holly Fallon: I think music taste is so varied and I listen to so many genres of music, I love pop but I also love R&B, country and dance music and so I wanted to incorporate all of this, and sometimes I just like to hear a stripped back song with mainly vocals, for me it’s important to try and cover all different genres so that more people would like my music! But for me Back Up Plan is a really emotional song, and I didn’t want to take away from that in the production.
Unheard Gems: You got your first radio play at 13, describe that moment and describe a moment since that was equal to that feeling.
Holly Fallon: I remember my first radio play was on the Saturday night show and me, my mum and dad all sat round listening to it, and my sister and friends called me after to tell me they’d heard it. The song that was played still makes me cringe (I did write it when I was 12 haha) but hearing myself on the radio really was a massive push for me to do what I love.
Unheard Gems: If you could collaborate with one artist who would it be?
Holly Fallon: If I could collaborate with one artist!! That’s hard. I would love to work with Jax Jones or Calvin Harris, I think they produce such great songs, and they always get in the charts for the right reasons!
Unheard Gems: Are you working on new music? Is so, what can we expect to hear?
Holly Fallon: Yes! I’m actually working on a second EP type project, but I think it will be more of a slow release this time. I’m still experimenting with the sound but it will definitely still be the electronic/pop sound! I’m really excited for it, I’m just trying to push myself and my writing more and more.
Unheard Gems: Who are you guys listening to right now? Who are some musicians you think deserve more attention in the music industry and why?
Holly Fallon:I’m listening to Ariana Grande’s album at the minute (who hasn’t) but I’m obsessed with Nina Nesbitt’s new album, and Nao’s too. I think they’re so great lyrically and production wise, I love clever lyrics in songs.
Unheard Gems: Lastly, for all of our readers, where can they find you and your music and is there anything else you want to leave us with that we didn’t talk about in our questions?
Holly Fallon: I’m on Spotify, Apple Music and practically anything you can think of all under my name Holly Fallon, and I have a link to all my socials on Hollyfallon.com !
Interview by Hannah Schneider and Gregory Gagliardi