Gestern ist das zweite Studioalbum „The Greatest Mistake Of My Life” der Waliser Band Holding Absence erschienen. Passend zum Release hatten unsere Redakteure Kevin und Jacky Gelegenheit sich mit Frontmann Lucas Woodland über seine Fehlerkultur zu unterhalten. Was er in Bezug auf das neue Album dazu zu sagen hatte, lest ihr im Interview. Ebenso erfahrt ihr, was der Sänger, abgesehen von den Proben der neuen Musik, in der Pandemie so treibt.
Frontstage Magazine: Hello Holding Absence, we hope that you are well?
Holding Absence: As well as one can be during a worldwide pandemic!
Frontstage Magazine: How do you currently spend your time? What is your personal impression of this pandemic?
Holding Absence: I spent my time watching lots of television, playing Fortnite and Dungeons and Dragons. And practising the new album, of course!
Frontstage Magazine: Perfect, the new record is called “The Greatest Mistake Of My Life” and was released yesterday. How does it differ from your debut album “Holding Absence”?
Holding Absence: We think it’s an absolute step up from the debut! Everything is better this time around… The sentiments, the lyrics, the performance, the production. We’re really proud of how this one came out compared to the debut.
Frontstage Magazine: We agree! The new one seems to be very personal. What themes do you want the record to focus on and in what way did you express them?
Holding Absence: Everything we do is personal! But for sure, this one was definitely meant to be more sincere. The title itself came from quite a special place, so I wanted to make sure we did right by that.
Frontstage Magazine: Relatable! What is the meaning of the album title “The Greatest Mistake Of My Life”? The descriptions of the album suggest more than just mistakes.
Holding Absence: The title is originally taken from a 90-year-old song by Dame Gracie Fields! My Nan introduced me to it and it really inspired me… I think it’s because we wanted to write something timeless with this album, and what’s more timeless than a song like that?
Frontstage Magazine: You are totally right. What was the biggest mistake of your life?
Holding Absence: I don’t really have one, in all honesty. I’m somebody who openly embraces the mistakes I make and try to learn from them.
Frontstage Magazine: And to what extent do mistakes represent self-reflection for you? Were there moments “mistakes” in your band and did they move you forward?
Holding Absence: I honestly would be nothing if I had failed so much in my life. I really do learn from things and try to be better at them next, and I think, as a band, we’re the same. This whole album is a perfect reflection of that… We made a lot of mistakes along the way, but we really believe it’s because of those mistakes that we were able to make a record like this.
Frontstage Magazine: Very wise. In autumn you are planning to go on tour with the records of the new album, provided that everything goes well. How much do you miss playing live shows? Do you think it is realistic that the tour can take place at all?
Holding Absence: I miss playing shows SO much!! I miss everything about it. I think in the UK especially, it’s looking realistic. And even if we can’t do Europe this winter, the second we can return, we will.
Frontstage Magazine: As you mentioned, GB has a higher chance of realizing shows than Germany in autumn, like the Reading Festival for example. Would such a festival in England be interesting for you? Because the last festival you played was a few days ago, right?
Holding Absence: We’d absolutely love to play anywhere that would have us right now! We were supposed to play Reading in 2020, though. So that would be special for us,100%
Frontstage Magazine: Good luck for it! Maybe you can enjoy at least some shows in this strange year again. Our last question is always a bit out of line: What is your best memory of Germany?
Holding Absence: I honestly think it was after our first ever show in Germany (Frankfurt). We went for a couple of drinks in a pub with some German people we met and I just absolutely loved how kind and interesting everybody was! It was my first time ever being in the country, so it just fascinated me. Other than that, though, I love Cologne and enjoy walking around the city whenever we play there.
Frontstage Magazine: Thank you very much for your time. We wish you all the best for your new record!
Holding Absence: Thanks, have a good one, cheers.
Fotocredit: offizielles Pressefoto
