SOUND ADVICE
Singer-Songwriter Holly Humberstone Is Looking for Her AirPods
Holly Humberstone, photographed by Charlotte Alex.
This is SOUND ADVICE, a weekly destination for playlists curated by Interview’s friends, enemies, and lovers. Over the past few weeks, we’ve gathered playlists from DJ Bloodcore, Jeremy Pope, and Addison Rae. This week’s guest is Holly Humberstone, the British singer-songwriter whose breakthrough moment came in 2019 when she submitted a self-recorded song to her local radio station. Fresh off her first-ever headlining tour in the States, Humberstone has traded her rural roots for alt-pop status, serenading sold-out venues with the soulful lullabies for which she’s become known. But we wanted to know more, so for this week’s Sound Advice we tapped Humberstone to make us a playlist of her muses. “Much of my inspiration comes from older stuff that my parents were into when I was small,” she explains. In the accompanying questionnaire, she confesses her longtime devotion to Phoebe Bridgers and tells us where to find the best chippy in Lincolnshire.
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Where do you dance? I dance whenever I get the chance but onstage at a show is my favourite place for it.
Bluetooth or wired headphones? I am not fussy but I use Bluetooth at the moment, even though I tend to go through them quite quickly as I seem to lose them.
Who do you trust most with the aux? My sisters have amazing music taste and I tend to discover a lot of the best stuff through them.
Favorite on-the-road meal? I usually like to try whatever is popular locally, so that depends on where in the world I am. But a cheese toasty is always easy to make and always slaps.
What was your first concert? My elder sisters took me to see Tame Impala at Rock City in Nottingham when I was 13. I was definitely WAY too young to be there and all I remember is being crushed by many stinky 20-year-old boys.
Dead or alive, who is your dream collaborator? I feel like this changes all the time but it would be my absolute dream to have a song with Frank Ocean.
Name your favorite artist no one knows about: It used to be Phoebe Bridgers, I’ve loved her for so long! Carol Ades is an amazing singer songwriter who opened for me on a recent tour and I think she deserves so much more recognition.
Where’s the afters? Probably at my flat in South East London. I live with my sister and my friend Scarlett and we’ve curated such a lovely cozy vibe.
What song do you have on repeat? At the moment it’s “Reaper” by Clairo. I never gave the album enough time when it came out but now I’m obsessed with it and her writing.
What do you listen to when you’re high? My sister chatting my ear off about something.
What’s your favorite movie needle-drop? “Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch in Garden State. The soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is also fucking beautiful!
Hot Girl Summer or Sad Girl Fall? Can’t I do both?!?! Sad girl fall is perfect for writing good lyrics.
Favorite song you played in the Lincolnshire Youth Symphony Orchestra? The Lord Of The Rings soundtrack.
Who’s the queen of pop? At the moment it has to be Chappel Roan. I love her music and everything she represents.
Who’s the queen of alt? It’s gotta be Phoebe!
Best chippy in Lincolnshire? I am a veggie girl at the moment and I’m sure there are some good places but I don’t recommend Lincolnshire Fish and Chips unless you’d like to make yourself unwell. In my opinion the best chippy and the chippy I am loyal to is Barnacles in Llandudno in North Wales, which is where my mum is from so I spend a lot of time there. They have amazing veggie and vegan options and it’s by the sea so it’s always fresh and delicious.
Sam Fender son or Phoebe Bridgers daughter? I love Sam’s music and he is a friend but definitely not my dad! I’ll be anything to Phoebe Bridgers.
What was the first CD you ever bought? The Backstreet Boys Greatest Hits album.
Love songs or break-up songs? I think we need both in our lives but break-up songs are more fun to write because it feels like the best way to heal.
