2Hollis Finds Out Who He Is in Genre-Defying Album 'Boy'
Photo: Noah Dillon
2hollis, a 20-year-old multi-talented artist, is revolutionizing the music industry with his unique and boundary-pushing style. His latest album, boy, is a testament to his vast musical range and depth, showcasing both moments of grandeur and profound intimacy. Spanning 13 tracks, designed to be experienced in one sitting, 2hollis skillfully fuses elements from the past decade of music with his distinctive sound and vocal presence, creating a dynamic sonic masterpiece that belies his youth.
boy opens with the emotionally charged and anthemic track, "you once said my name for the first time," inviting listeners on a journey of euphoria and self-discovery. This six-minute tour de force follows 2hollis as he delicately navigates his emotions and expresses his longing for someone. His voice resonates over the vibrant soundscape, "Far away (Far away) / But closer than ever/ You once said my name, name / For the first time (For the first time)." The instrumentation then blossoms into screams and harmonizing, which gives this song and the album a wonderful sense of progression.
"crush" is a fun, cheeky piece of work that sees 2hollis reveal his intense feelings of love and obsession for an unnamed person. Amid bouncy beats and claps, he expresses the vulnerability and awkwardness of having a crush on someone. Other stand-out tracks include the enigmatic and predatory "teenage solider," the mellow yet subversive "promise," and the celestial, high-octane "light." The latter of this trio sees 2hollis revealing his conflicted feelings about an ex-girlfriend. He expresses that it felt like he had to unfairly do everything in the relationship, explaining that he sees through this unnamed person's lies and that he's lost himself throughout all of it.
The record's closing track, "mountain," is a stunning finale that opens with booming, buzzing synths. From the sonic darkness, 2hollis' vocals break through, singing over the brooding production, "And what I get? Huh / A broken car / Twenty miles left on a tank, a change of heart... You take my heart and spine and make my words come out in places that shouldn't be, oh, no." He reminiscences about being an easy target for someone no longer in his life and being left with nothing but memories of them. As he belts the line, "I hope you know I miss you more than anything," the production bursts into a collage of cathartic screams and captivating instrumentation that sends listeners on one last out-of-body experience before leaving listeners in the afterglow of the record.
boy is a raw collection of electropop, hyperpop, and daring experimentation, featuring some of the slickest production in recement memory. Production-wise, boy is a noted improvement from 2hollis' already impressive last album 2. It also uses ultra-widened super saw synths, gritty basses, and tight drums, adding more progression and variety. Confidently unconfident, 2hollis' writing is charmingly awkward, almost shy, quirky, and mysterious. Yet, it often explodes into loud, massive, and ethereal drops that make listeners feel like 2hollis cares little for how the world around him may perceive him, standing firmly resolute in his idiosyncratic vision.
Listen to Boy below:
