Royal Holland Performing at The Comet in Cincinnati, OH w/ Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery on March 11
Co-Hosting Folk Songwriters Showcase at Southgate House Revival in Newport, KY w/ Margaret Darling on March 31
Cincinnati, OH – February 29, 2016 – Midwest songwriter Matt Mooney aka Royal Holland just completed a two week run of the Northwest and Southwest this winter in support of his new EP “Program.” He heads out for a solo run of the Midwest in April. New shows will be announced via www.royalhollandsongs.com and all social platforms as they are confirmed. In between he’s co-hosting a monthly folk songwriters showcase with fellow local musician Margaret Darling and playing a show in Cincinnati at the Comet this March.
“Margaret performs live and in the studio with me often. She’s featured on “Twin Rivers” on Vol. 1 The Maze and tours with me.” says Royal.
Royal Holland continues to reconstruct a Neo-Folk stage persona recalling Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan making records from Mars in an existentialist Appalachian trailer. Beck, Father John Misty and Kurt Vile comparisons in music press give more reference.
He self-released the final installment; Vol. 3 Program, on an EP series titled Unfolded on January 15, 2016. The trilogy features Vol. 3 along with Vol. 1 The Maze and Vol. 2 Flamingo.
“I’ve been in many bands over the years like local favorite Koala Fires, but this is the first time I’ve ever branched out as a solo act. It began by simply busking with my guitar and writing a lot of songs. I developed some backing tracks that had some dance beat elements to them and started to flesh out the tunes in my head,” Matt shares.
He then took his demos to Grammy-award winning producer Brian Olive (The Greenhornes, Dr. John) to collaborate on the production of those five songs that became The Maze.
“We utilized a lot of the beats and sounds which give the first EP that electronica sound. This was also the first time I had gone into the studio and recorded all the parts myself. I was used to doing that for demos, but had never accomplished it for a recording,” he continues.
Chronologically the EPs fit together. The Maze asks questions of existence and meaning. Flamingoattempts to answer them. Program suggests that we we’re stuck in our bodies and these conditions because our selves are stuck in them, but that restriction can be very freeing if we realize it and capitalize on that truth.
Proof that break-ups lead to greater personal enlightenment and superb songwriting? Look for Royal Holland on the road throughout 2016 and online at all streaming and social destinations.
