holly ramos
BiO:
"Ultimately we are all interested in hearing stories and it turns out that I am a story teller, through and through. I like to present a situation and let people respond however they want. I think certain values come through, such as the power of love. Love and heartbreak are the central characters on Racehorse, the way we need love and strive for it, and all of the ups and downs that come along the road. One of my hopes is that people participate: listen to the words and be entertained, care, or have an emotional response." ~ ~ Holly Ramos
You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl. Take for example singer-songwriter HOLLY RAMOS. A true New Yorker born and bred in Manhattan, HOLLY now lives in sunny El-Lay but maintains her Big Apple street cred and possesses a voice she describes as "pure Bronx." On Racehorse, her debut album as a solo artist, HOLLY seamlessly segues from punk princess to Americana sweetheart. "My dainty songs sit somewhere in the middle of all that, soft and almost easy, with a little attitude and edge amidst all this living."
HOLLY is no stranger to positive media reviews: The LA Weekly's Steven Leigh Morris commented on the "riveting sensuality" of her work; Variety's Julio Martinez called her work "Outstanding;" Alternative Press Magazine dubbed her "a star already;" David Noh in Film Journal International compared her to Warhol superstars Andrea Feldman and Patti D'Arbanville; and Entertainment Weekly listed her in "The 10 Best Bands You've Never Heard Of."
The melodies on Racehorse are poppy, the delivery and phrasing loose, the writing modern and reminiscent of classic '60s and '70s pop. HOLLY's voice can be sweet as a child's or sexy as a woman's, but her stories are always wise, heartbreaking and funny. The attitude remains punk with an edge that continues to earn HOLLY comparisons to some of her musical heroes, like the New York Dolls' Johnny Thunders. "My heroes Dee Dee Ramone and Iggy Pop have both come to my shows," she proudly says.
In a previous incarnation, HOLLY was front woman of downtown punk trio Fur, who released their self titled CD and a handful of singles on Blackout! Records in the 1990s. Further ingraining herself into "the scene," HOLLY was well known as a vinyl-only DJ at the notorious Greendoor parties throughout the '90s.
During her illustrious punk past, HOLLY played guitar backing up a solo Joey Ramone at one of his infamous Christmas shows at Coney Island High, performed everywhere from CBGB's and Jackie 60 to New York City's Museum of Contemporary Art, and toured the US and Europe. Her experiences are referenced in Steve Blush's "American Hardcore," the definitive book on the history of hardcore punk music. HOLLY can be seen on the silver screen in the principal role of Natalie in the indie cult feature film "Margarita Happy Hour," directed by Ilya Chaiken, and starring in the official Sundance Film Festival selection, "The 100 Lover's of Jesus Reynolds," also directed by Chaiken.
But first and foremost, HOLLY is a musician. "I am a singer songwriter, have been forever. I wasn't credited when I first wrote songs for my friends, but it didn't matter. Eventually I got the courage to do it myself. I hope you like my songs; they're tales of growing up, loving people…sometimes the wrong people. Maybe you can relate?"_
A long-standing friendship with Jesse Malin led the pair to collaborate musically. Their story harkens back to high school, where the pair dated. "By now, we're family," says HOLLY. Malin responds: "Holly sings the truth and it always feels right. She is my hero, muse and secret weapon. When I need inspiration, she's where I go." Malin produced her demo that featured Ryan Adams, Iggy Pop's drummer Paul Garisto and Robbie William's bass player Fil Izler. "Waterfall," which came out of those sessions, is featured on Racehorse.
Joining a Who's Who of Americana Rockers like Bruce Springsteen, Jakob Dylan and Ryan Adams, HOLLY lends her collaborative skills to Malin's 2007 CD Glitter in the Gutter, co-writing "Black Haired Girl" and "Tomorrow Tonight." She also co-wrote "Cigarettes and Violets" on Malin's The Fine Art of Self-Destruction and "God's Lonely People" on The Heat
Recent collaborator Antony, of 2005 Mercury Award winning group Antony and the Johnsons, recalls: "Holly is the one who first sat me down and played James Brown records for me. She is the real thing. Her songs have been an integral part of the soundtrack of my life over the last decade."
Speaking about her first foray into being a solo artist, HOLLY reveals: "The tales collected on the album are stories I can't help but let out. They are stories about addiction to negative ions, cute girls who walk around on the Lower East Side along with the 'roosters' and 'chickens,' holding my father's hand when he was dying though I wasn't sure I even liked him, and pledging love to a lover 'til we're old and gray, saying things twice 'cause we forgot we've already said it, but I'll still listen anyway."
Racehorse is the first CD release on the independent FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD Records. The label name comes from a 1975 cover headline on the New York Daily News referring to then-President Gerald Ford's refusal to give financial assistance to the city's bankrupt government. A fitting home for an outspoken artist who sings it like she sees it, don't you think?
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