Interview with Sorry Holly

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

The movie That Thing You Do. I think I first saw it around age 10-11? All I wanted to do is learn the guitar and get into trouble with band mates. It captures the passion of playing music and doing whatever it takes to make a name for yourself. RIP Adam Schlesinger.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Outside of music, I really like to travel, see new places, and meet new people. The experience of life and the randomness of people watching is always a thrill for me. It is amazing how many random things you can overhear in a day and get a little peek into the lives of the people around you.

How long has your band been around? Also, please tell me about the dynamic of the band of what brought you all together.

Sorry Holly has gone through many transformations, but took final shape in early 2024 with a new band name and our new drummer Ryan. We have all known each other for years from playing shows together in previous bands. Somehow the universe decided we all have time available for each other (on a good week) and wanted us to start jamming together. It is the best it's ever sounded.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

The band is based in Portland, Oregon. It is a very moody, cloudy city, and it definitely gets your mind racing on the darkest days. It is very easy to fall into a slump of asking the “could have, would have” constantly. Letting all that out musically is so therapeutic.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

How much time do you have? Truly begging for an apology from a lost love. That's life.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

In October of 2024, we were able to fly to Chicago, the city where we recorded the album, and play for our friends and close homies. A major bucket list to play in a city that means so much to us. And we played with our good friends from Seattle Kids on Fire, so it was a Pacific Northwest takeover of the Windy City.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Japandroids, Alkaline Trio, Deftones. Fuck it, let’s get Korn on there too.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Take your time. This all doesn’t happen overnight. We have definitely learned this lesson throughout the album making process. Our band mentor and producer Sam Porter is always reminding us that the music will live on forever. Make music that is really an example of you and your character. Don’t hold back.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

“Cauchy-Euler” is definitely a song that came from my heart one day, and I still have no idea how I wrote the lyrics to this song because I will never write better haha. A song about learning more about yourself than you ever knew through connecting with special people in your life. Seeing the bigger picture.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

To this day, kicking off the live set with “Earth Tones and Pastels” still gives me the chills and pumps me up so much. It is a great song for that initial nervous nelly release at the beginning of a show. A crowd favorite for years has been “How Fast Are You Going?.” It has taken so many forms as a song, and the version we play live now is definitely the final form we have been waiting to get to.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

The song writing process is usually bringing a song to the band and brainstorming from there. We have definitely become a lot more collaborative in the process since making the record and learning from our peers involved. Usually some life event that really gets my brain going makes me want to pick up the guitar and start noodling around. Turn the bad energy into something meaningful.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

The music is an honest and vulnerable confession of past mistakes and lost connections. When you finally realize what really needed to be done, when it is already too late. It is so easy to beat yourself up over the mishaps in life. Sometimes stepping back and admitting the defeat in your mistakes is the forgiveness you need to make sure it never happens again.

Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?

Our debut album “Use Your Heart” releases on January 17 to all your streaming needs. And a few videos to come as well.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

With the release of our album, we definitely have some plans to make in 2025. I see a couple release shows, a few mini tours, maybe a couple East coast dates. We can’t wait to finally release this year's long project into the world and we hope you enjoy the ride that is Use Your Heart.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

You can listen to all our tunes on Spotify and various streaming platforms. Find us on Instagram at @sorryhollyband for all the latest!