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Reviewed by Ania Glowacz

Holly Christina: Sweet 16

Reviewed by Ania Glowacz

Holly Christina: Sweet 16

Don’t be put off by the rather twee title, this really is a lovely CD – 16 songs released and recorded in 2016. Holly Christina has been busy in the time since her 2008 debut ‘One Road’ – this her sixth release. Holly is a sweet-voiced, prolific, acoustic pop-based artist with a very clear vision. She may not yet be famous, but her songwriting talent is real. The words and music just pour out of her. Every track is suitably embellished with the right amount of instrumentation – mainly just voice and acoustic guitar, but where needed synths, piano, bass guitar, drums… mostly Holly but also Michael Anderson, Paul Ewing and Christian Tjandrawinata. There’s a smattering of popular culture references but otherwise standard subject matter with an intelligent twist, and no repeats. The sassy songwriter has come a long way from the girl who recorded Miss Naive in November 2012 and nearly signed a record deal in the US – deciding the requirements that came with that were not really how she wanted to present her music. We can definitely consider Holly Christina to be one of our developing hidden homegrown gems. Fans of Fiona Apple, Carole King and other legends will be more than pleasantly surprised.