𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 - this week: Old Fashioned - June Holland

Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly - an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝙊𝙡𝙙 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 - 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙

Charles is a dedicated follower of old fashioned…

The future. To some of you this might be exciting. However, I suspect to most of you it is bleak and depressing, or at least a big fat question mark. But it’s coming whether you like it or not. I’m one of those excited types walking around in my bouncy trainers/sneakers. Out with the old, in with the new. I’m always obsessed with the latest trends. You’ll always find me in the frontline of whatever protest is currently in session in Central London. My clothes are not too dissimilar to those of Jacob Collier. When it comes to interior design, I like minimal. I like clean-cut. I like white walls. I’m not too keen on colour in the home, and I don’t like clutter. When it comes to exteriors, the sleeker the better. All glass, if possible. Throughout the day I drink herbal tea made only from organic produce. The packaging must be eco-friendly, or I simply won’t buy it. I only really go for electronic music as real instruments bore me and frankly make me shudder at the way things used to be. My daily schedules and routines are managed by A.I., and I am truly looking forward to an A.I. future. I don’t touch meat, alcohol, caffeine or any other drug, as I want to be healthy for my future offspring, and set a good example for them and others around me. In my free time, I like to play video games, when I’m not scrolling through Snapchat and TikTok. And finally, I make a point of shaving at least once a day, because you never can be too careful.

Okay, okay. You got me. This wasn’t all entirely true. In fact, it was wholly fabricated (fabric being something of which I am rather fond). It was a complete and utter lie from beginning to end. While I don’t quite despise all of these ways of being, it is simply not me. I was not born in the noughties. I was born in the 80s. But sometimes I feel I was born in the 30s or 40s. Or 50s or 60s, depending on my mood. You see, I am most comfortable with the way it used to be. It made and makes sense to me. There is nothing wrong with this, at all. I don’t hurt or offend anyone in being the way I be. I’m just me. I am the opposite of everything in the first paragraph. I don’t even like wearing t-shirts, for God’s sake! I never understood why people say that t-shirts are more comfortable than shirts. How can something you pull over your head (simultaneously flicking your ears), be more comfortable than a shirt? A slim T will cling and tug, and a loose one will look like you’ve just stepped out of 1993 with a bad hangover. If I had the money, I would be living in a lovely old house, full of lovely old things, while chatting, in person, to lovely old people. Okay, the last bit doesn’t need money. I am a man, and comfortable in being so. For that is how I have always been, and all I know. Life is confusing and complicated enough without having to complicate it further. But if others wish to have differing opinions, views and thoughts, that is perfectly fine with me. You see, how YOU choose to be, is entirely up to YOU. As long as it isn’t hurting anyone else. And I, frankly, choose to continue my life the way I know best - the old way - if the new way will let me. This is the problem with these days - we rarely have the choice. I do online banking, because that is the only way I am allowed these days. I mess around with social media, because I apparently have to, in order for people to know of my musical existence (shameless plug: Hell is Other People - the fittingly titled Track 3 of my album - is released on Friday - ahem). Screens are a way of life these days. While I am oh-so used to it, I still don’t like it. Years ago I switched from cigarettes to vaping. While I am oh-so used to it, I still don’t like it. In short (long), I was not made for these days. I was made for a time possibly long before my birth.

There is however ONE thing that I LOVE about the modern way - technology. Not A.I., and not tech for the sake of tech. I do not have a studio worth £1 million. Which is even more in dollars. I don’t need to spend £10,000 on a compressor. I don’t have to rely on 10 people in order to produce one song. If I want gorgeous strings recorded in Abbey Road, I can have that. And I don’t have to hire a strings section and Abbey Road Studios itself. Of course, nothing is quite like the real thing - about which I am most pleased. But the technology I have is good enough considering the difference in price and time. Not to mention the joy of not having to rely on others who will inevitably let me down (the optimist in me).

It was my 40th birthday two weeks ago (God help me), as Brad AKA Mercury Teardrop let you all know in his thoughtful review of my song on that very day - it was one of my best presents! My father gave me something he had found in the attic a few months back. Was it priceless antique jewels worth a fortune? No. It was not. But it meant far more to me than that. He used to smoke a pipe, and I have been known to dabble in the occasional puff, myself. This gift, was an unopened tin of his own mixture of Dunhill pipe tobacco (one could choose exactly what ratio of various tobaccos one would like, in a proper tobacconist). What was my reaction when I unwrapped said gift? Was it “What on Earth am I going to do with THIS? Maybe it’s worth something…”? Or maybe “Oh lovely, my dad has given me a tin of cancer”? No, of course I didn’t. I was very touched and moved. This was bought and owned by my father when he was younger than I am now. It was chosen and made specifically for him. And sealed tobacco lasts for 100 years or more - despite what they might say. What was more special was that it had been dated. It was from the year of my birth. This is the junk that means a lot to me. This is who I am.

“I’m old fashioned. I love the moonlight. I love the old fashioned things. The sound of rain, upon my window pane. The starry song that April sings” - that was a quote from the Johnny Mercer and Jerome Kern song, I’m Old Fashioned. But let us now finally gaze upon the starry song that March sings, in the form of Old Fashioned, by England’s very own June Holland. June is living proof that old fashioned people are not to be banished any time soon. Despite her youth, she really seems to lean towards the way of old. Having said that, a song’s lyrics can be as much fiction as fact. She may not feel this way at all. But let’s find out why I picked her song this week. Old Fashioned is actually fresh to me. Because these days, things are so mandatorily modern. As soon as the song started, I didn’t feel like I was in Universal Studios during the filming of Oppenheimer. Neither did I feel pummelled by beats and sub bass. In fact, it was quite nice not to be attacked by flying notes of rage. Instead, we start with vinyl crackle (more on that in a bit). An acoustic guitar strums lightly but with determination. The drums are clear and simple, yet give you immediate nodding material. June’s background harmonies lend brightness and flow to the overall intro. And within just a few seconds, the main instrumental hook is right there for our delectation. Those lovely trumpets. Earlier, I mentioned the whole thing of it being easy these days to summon any realistic sounding instrument with just a couple of clicks. Exactly what I would have done if I wanted a trumpet line. But June Holland is not me. She is even more old fashioned…! She wants a trumpet, so she records a trumpet. Makes sense, but most people don’t have a trumpet and can’t play the trumpet. June plays a bit of everything. She does it all herself in one room. Those things she can’t play, she programs. But she does this herself.

As I have said before, I am not exactly a social media fiend. And I must admit, I don’t spend much time with it. But June Holland is one of the VERY few that I really do enjoy watching. Now SHE is a bit of a social media fiend. Constant videos, and all so well put together and thought out. She is also not exactly the most hideous girl in the world, so that helps. You see? I’m old fashioned. I like things that look good. But it is her fun and wit that has got me hooked. And of course, her music. You simply must watch at least a few of her videos. You’ll see her struggling to play the trumpet, but sped up to comical levels. Why is faster always funnier?? It really did make me chuckle. But she’s also fond and warm. June is getting more and more attention lately from nationwide radio stations, and is effortlessly a natural born star. I am evidently not the only one who thinks so. In her videos, you will see her recording these great songs, both in the “studio” and live. You’ll see her taking us through her radio interviews and the latest radio airplay. You’ll find announcements that are genuinely exciting. She even takes us through her recording setup - making us feel human again, with the knowledge that you don’t need expensive equipment to make great music. You need talent, and whether it be through your own means or someone else’s, you need good solid sound.

The lyrics of Old Fashioned are just so reassuring. Especially to the likes of someone like myself. “[My boy] Drives us to the beach and writes me love letters in the sand. Oh you might say that’s oh so cliché. Well if you had one like him then you wouldn’t rain on my parade” - a perfect example of how some women do still genuinely like the old fashioned way a man might behave towards his lady. It’s not exactly awful, is it… Remember romance…? But let’s talk voice. June may be a young woman, but my word, does she have the voice of an experienced lady. Her singing is just SO incredibly mature. I don’t mean OLD! Not like a cronky old hag! I mean older than her years, and perhaps not what you might expect from that sweet face of hers. There is a certain rounded depth to her delivery, and it has such assurance and confidence, that you would think she had been recording for decades. Aside from the obvious maturity, her singing voice is simply sublime.

Last week’s song I really praised to the sky for its originality and unpredictable nature. But simpler music is inherently more catchy. It will stick in your head more easily. This will appeal to “normal” people. A lot of us at the New Artist Spotlight are music geeks - understandably. But “normal” people just want something to hum and nod their head to. They don’t want to have to “work it out”… That’s why God invented pop music. And this song is without a doubt, a pop song. A pop song of the old way. It makes sense, and puts a smile on your face. It doesn’t try to be more than what it is. A ray of golden sunshine. Aside from its sunny nature, it has tinges of ska and reggae, which helps for that sunburnt feel. Despite being released in March, I can see this really taking off in Midsummer. You will no doubt find yourself singing “Oh-oh-oh, I’m his old fashioned lady”.

I mentioned that vinyl crackle. I am sure many of us have dabbled with the idea of having vinyl crackle in a song. I too have used that. But I did what most would do. Either use some sort of plugin that can emulate vinyl crackle, or simply Google “vinyl crackle”, and click download. June did something most of us wouldn’t even think of doing these days. She used her own logic! She went to the local charity shop and bought an old 78’ shellac record, stuck it on her turntable (oh, that poor needle), and recorded the sound with her phone. It’s the old fashioned way, and it works. In fact, it worked a lot better than most of the modern methods. Old is rarely worse, and often better.

Anyone who thinks like I do is not the enemy. Or even AN enemy. Call me old fashioned, but I like anemones.

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