We’ve been sitting on this stunning song and video for a few weeks and have been so looking forward to sharing it. Hard Times is the latest offering from Adam Holmes, taken from his forthcoming new album ‘Hope Park‘, due for release in August.
In 2021, Adam released Dreamweaver, which we described as a delightful and fiercely enthusiastic album with a pure and sincere heart. Our reviewer, Billy Rough, went on to say that “Holmes has long been one of the country’s most talented and impressive vocalists, with Dreamweaver he takes that step further to being one of the finest songwriters in the UK today.”
Below, Adam talks of how the musicians that played on the song, were slowed by it. Sometimes the essence of a song can stop you in your tracks, and when I first heard Hard Times, I was both excited and deeply moved by it. If this sets the standard for Adam’s new album then this may well be his best yet.
Among those joining Adam on this track are Beth Malcolm’s sublime vocals and Glasgow Blues Legend, Fraser Speirs also adds a haunting final harmonica solo that rounds it off perfectly.
The video has done the song total justice. Adam said of Tommy Slack (0405 Photography) that he has captured his finest imagery yet in our 15 years of collaboration and friendship. While I’m not familiary with Tommy’s work, everything about this video is incredible, it has a beautiful timeless quality and it has a very filmic quality and atmosphere. I’ve not seen a music video this good in a long time. Likewise, the acting is so well done, Adam and Carla Rose Mc did a great job.
There’s even a pleasant surpise with “a postface by non other than the living legend Irvine Welsh‘ which concludes the 6 minute film.”
Adam knocked the ball out of the park on this one, so it goes without really saying, Hard Times is also our Song of the Day. Watch the video and read Adam’s own words about the song and video below:
You can pre-order Adam’s new album Hope Park today here.
Adam on Hard Times:
Hard times is a song I wrote about the strange sense of distance that came from living alone half the time and with my 4-year-old daughter half the time in those lonely, cold months of lockdown. Though I appreciated the simplicity of life and told myself the story that I was enjoying it, this song knew better than me that it was tough.
The subconscious always finds a way to express what’s true regardless of the words we use in everyday life. I love that about songwriting. It’s like having a big brother that knows you better than you know yourself.
Hopefully, the essence of the piece expresses something that we have all shared. Making the video was very cathartic and felt respectful in a way. I really wanted to honour where we’ve all just been rather than being out one of the more uptempo classic singles first. There was something about the track that spoke to people. The musicians that came and recorded on the song were slowed by it.
I’m really really grateful to everyone who contributed to it from conception to birth. I feel really supported and want to say thank you to the whole team. It’s a total collaborative effort and I’m happy to have played my own part in it.
Hopefully it is a space of permission for us to acknowledge where we’ve been and process…
Adam is currently offering private concerts and bespoke songwriting commissions…
To learn more about working with Adam one on one or to keep up with new music and tour dates check out his website here where you can also pre-Order Hope Park: https://www.adamholmesmusic.co.uk/
