My new album, ‘DIEM’, is out now!
Please have a listen wherever you get your music 🎧
YOU have the power to change what my imposter syndrome says 👌
Acoustic guitar? ☑️
Soaring vocals? ☑️
Cool beats? ☑️
Harmonies for days? ☑️
“It’s a Holly Taymar album Jim, but not as we know it.”
I’d love to hear what you think of it 🙏
Enormous thanks to Chris and to Phil for their support with various rhythm, tech and promo bits. Emotional support was a bonus 😄
🎉 It’s release day! 🎉 My brand new single “The Moth” is out now and available on all streaming platforms! 🦋✨ Make sure to check out the official music video & find me wherever you get your sounds 🎶
https://linktr.ee/hollytaymar
This time last year, I was still on maternity leave, and music felt like the furthest it had been from me in a long time. Up to my eyes in new-parent-identity-crisis, still shellshocked from the overwhelm of becoming a Mum, plus of course not wanting to leave my baby to go out and gig – I wondered if I would ever feel that very specific spark of creativity again.
Now here we are. 12 months down the line, and a blooming new album in my hands. I genuinely cannot believe it!
Built song by song in the minutes carved out between teatime and toddler bedtime, ‘The Making Of Me’ is a collection of 8 honest, relatable songs, neatly packaged into almost exactly 30 minutes of playing time. It represents a return to myself. Well, a new and improved version of myself – someone who can write, perform and now record my own music. The very definition of DIY, each song has been written and recorded in the top room of my house, each CD has been packaged individually by my fair hands (and very nearly my daughter’s).
I have a few people to thank:
Chris Bilton – for 100% believing in me, and giving me the confidence and tools I needed to do it (plus your atmospheric electric guitar skills, and your Christmas tree nostalgia)
My Mum – for unending support, encouragement and love
Emi & the HMC – for our unique friendship, and helping me heal my relationship with songwriting
John Illingworth – for the inspiration behind track 3, ‘Song To The Ninety-One’
Anna S & family – for the inspiration behind track 5, ‘Corellia’
Sophie Howard – for the beautiful CD layout design + graphics
Daniel Gonzalez – for the cello on track 2, ‘January’
Dan Webster – for help with the final mastering and DDP files
My daughter, Ripley Rose Bilton – for being the very making of me
I could not be prouder of this CD and I hope it soothes whatever ails you. Thank you so much for sticking with me and for patiently waiting for the stars to align so I could make it happen.
Gonna write another one next year – the songwriting lid has been well and truly lifted!
Listen to The Making Of Me:
Spotify – The Making Of Me – Album by Holly Taymar | Spotify
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/hollytaymar
Buy a CD – The Making Of Me – 8 track audio CD (2022) – Holly Taymar
Thanks everyone. You’re the best xxx
At the beginning of this year, with an 8 month old baby, I made a resolution to let more music into my life. Now, I’ve never really been mad-keen on resolutions – setting yourself up for disappointment and all that – but by crikey, I’ve kept this one and guess what?
In December 2022, I’m releasing my first collection of new music since 2014 🎶
8 original songs. Solo stuff. Everything written, recorded and produced at home by me. Will be available to buy on my web shop, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube (heck the songs will even be on TikTok if you’re into that). Release date tbc, but it’ll be out in December – please keep checking my pages for updates 💜
I won’t be doing any shows to promote the release. For the first time ever, I purely just want to share these songs with you all with no expectations. Some radio play would be cool, but do you know what? I’ve made these songs for me, and for anyone else who digs them. I’m not trying to convince anyone to give me a record deal, I’m not trying to make a ton of money. I am so excited for you to hear what I’ve been working on these last few months – thank you so much for sticking with me.
Big love,
Holly x
Welcome back everyone!
The VERY eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed a subtle change to my website. There have been lots of things happening behind the scenes in life recently and I felt it was time to update my website to reflect this!
Firstly – Chris (my husband) and I are still happy together, enjoying life and music – but we’re pursuing our own projects at the moment, so our duo ‘The Bronze’ is on hiatus for now.
There was a chuffing GLOBAL PANDEMIC and gigs were off the menu for a year… Then, I had a baby! Ripley Rose Bilton is now 15 months old and has put a pause on evening gigs for a bit. They will return, but just when she’s a little older.
During the pandemic-and-postpartum-induced gig pause, I did a lot of personal work in healing my long time problematic relationship with songwriting. I joined a songwriter’s group online (which was incredible) and wrote lots of new tunes, which I’m really happy with. Consequently, I’ve been keeping creative during early parenthood by writing songs regularly for myself and other people. It works flexibly around running after a toddler, and I LOVE it!
I’m definitely still me, just an upgraded, less-BS version of me. I think having a kid really helps refine what your priorities are in life, and I can safely say that music is up there alongside family and chocolate digestives.
If you’d like to support this new family of mine and make my heart happy, do check out the various parts of my website. I can perform a gig for you, or even write you your very own personalised song! I love doing both so get in touch if you have any questions 🙂
Much love and thank you for joining me in this new Internet space,
H xx
What does a musician and charity fundraiser do whilst in the middle of a pandemic-induced social lockdown? Bust out the tunes for donations, that’s what.
Normally, the Holly Jukebox Challenge takes place in December every year (see info about how it works here) . However, as most of us now find our worlds flipped turned upside down, with minimal social contact and live music events being postponed or cancelled during the Spring and Summer of 2020, I want to do my best to bring some comfort, tiny moments of joy and cracking tunes back into your lives.
Here’s how it works:
The rules:
So, you ready? Make a request for your favourite song here
Hi everyone,
Just a quick message to say that my musical advent calendar, the ‘Holly Jukebox’, to raise funds for York Mind is now up and running!
You can find each video as it goes up here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1dwXqVGclI&list=PLhbEhAqBIe2psYUT3QwLYglUs8TLpU_d_
I’ll be uploading them mostly in the evenings (girl’s gotta work, y’know)
I’m so pleased to have raised a fab amount for York Mind – if you’re enjoying the videos, and you’d like to support my fundraising, you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hollyjukebox2018
Thank you everyone!
Good news folks! Holly’s found a new home for her regular solo gig (whilst Chris is happy to play sound engineer for this one)….
Announcing….. Holly Taymar at The Rise (within The Grand Hotel in York) on selected Friday nights.
The Rise is a beautiful restaurant and bar within The Grand Hotel, right in the heart of York. Grab yourself a spot in one of the comfy sofas, catch some amazing cocktails and hear Holly playing between 8pm – 10pm on selected Friday nights in 2018/19. Check out the Gig List for full dates. (You don’t need to book a table for food if you’d like to come and watch – you can just have drinks if you like).
Oh yeah, and it’s free entry. Cheers!
Hi everyone,
Just a quick message to say that my month of request videos to raise funds for York Mind is now up and running!
You can find each video as it goes up here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrDc9VmyXK6x8WfM4sqCbwg
I’ll be uploading them mostly in the evenings (girl’s gotta work, y’know)
I’m so pleased to have raised a fab amount for York Mind – if you’re enjoying the videos, and you’d like to support my fundraising, you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hollyjukebox17
It is always inclined towards fullness. But due to the termination of breastfeeding, by the summer I recovered up to 120kg !!! At 9 weeks of pregnancy, I weighed 102 kg for comparison (my height is 171). I agree that quite a lot. 2.5 months trying to sit on diets, the result – 3 kg minus.
Thank you everyone!
