Hollie Cook

For Hollie Cook, music was likely an inevitable destination to arrive at when considering her upbringing as the daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. Raised in a household in which a diverse range of music was a constant presence, the exposure was undoubtedly a major source of influence on Cook, who followed her muse and dropped out of performing arts school to join the reformed Slits at the request of family friend Ari Up, (whose stepdad was Sex Pistol John Lydon) assuming the role of second vocalist and keyboards. Following a six week tour and recording fresh material with the band, Cook struck out on her own and after collaborating with the likes of Jamie T and Ian Brown, she eventually hooked up with producer Prince Fatty (Mike Pelanconi) on his skank-worthy Reggae tinged "Milk and Honey." The single proved not only to be an underground sensation, but a fruitful collaboration with Cook and Pelanconi sharing a love of early 70's Reggae and Lovers Rock respectively, a shared love explored further on Cook's first proper full length. Expanding their palette with hints of thick Dub and the laid back groove of Rocksteady, Cook's vocals draw equal inspiration from Lovers Rock vocalists Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon as well as Girl Group greats The Shangri-La's (whose "(Remember) Walkin’ in the Sand" she also covers.) That cover best illustrates her vocal prowess; lightly seductive and captivating, playful and yearning, but devoid of any deep despair. Her rendition gives a slightly more hopeful feel and strips away enough of the gloom to let a little light slip through.(hangout altsounds)