Western Massachusetts band Holder has quickly become the most talked-about name in the current wave of screamo-leaning hardcore. Formed in 2024, the group drew early attention with their self-titled debut EP and soon found themselves sharing stages with bands like Static Dress, Balmora, February, and Skycamefalling. Now, with the release of the two-song EP, Ruin the Best of Me, Holder are pushing their sound further while introducing vocalist Brie Percy as a key creative voice in the band’s evolution.
In the conversation below, Percy reflects on stepping into a band that was already gaining momentum, the pressure of making her recording debut, and how the new songs draw from deeply personal themes. She also talks about Holder’s early-2000s screamo and metalcore influences, the physical intensity of their live shows, and the band’s eagerness to play with artists across a wide range of styles.
From where I am sitting, it feels like the 2024 EP has been discovered by many people over the last few months. How does it feel for you and the rest of the band? What do you think contributed to that awareness?
It really feels amazing. There's so much love from our peers, and we're all beyond grateful for all of the opportunities that come from that appreciation. I wasn't at all part of the writing or recording process for the EP, but when it came out, I was instantly a huge fan.
I think Holder's sound has always tapped into something that people are really looking for right now in heavy music, and I've felt that way even before I joined the band. It's exciting and new, yet sonically and aesthetically engaging, with a long lineage in heavy music that people love.
Since Ruin the Best of Me is your recording debut with Holder, did you feel a lot of pressure during the writing process? Did you think about it a lot, or did you trust your instincts and let the writing guide you?
At first, I felt a lot of pressure, and I've thought about this question a lot. I knew that being the new vocalist and being a woman meant my performance would be compared to the old recordings. I joined Holder almost exactly a year ago, and in that time, we did a ton of touring and writing. I've felt an immense welcome from our musical community and from my bandmates, and in the best way possible, I've always felt like a core part of the band.
I knew I was bringing something new and something only I could give, so the second I stopped worrying about emulating the EP, I started writing more freely. It was absolutely something I thought about a lot, and both songs took me a long time to write. I actually finished writing 'Ruin The Best of Me' on the drive to the studio to record vocals.
The overall writing process spanned my entire time in Holder – we started performing these songs live almost a year ago, and in that time, they've undergone countless changes (mostly in my lyrics). Playing live is a great way for me to try new things and new phrases and see what works, so that's also a core part of my writing process.
What are the lyrical themes you tackle on these two new tracks? Are they mostly metaphorical, or did you draw on personal moments?
Both songs deal with the idea of family and not letting where you come from or past experiences define you. ‘Inconsolable’ is about actively taking control despite your upbringing. A lot of our ugliest behaviors come from what we see as children, and the song takes the perspective of someone confronting that. I wrote it drawing on my own personal experience, but I think that a universal part of becoming an adult is learning to unwork some of the patterns we see growing up. "Ruin the Best of Me" is an extension of that idea.
On the musical side, what are some of the influences you all share in the band? What about your musical upbringing? What were some of the bands you first gravitated toward when you got into underground music?
We all share the same love for early aughts metalcore, bands like Underoath and This Day Forward, and bands like Bulletsbetweentongues and Since My Beloved. I actually got into hardcore by accident – I moved to Western Massachusetts when I was 18, and the screamo bands were the only ones looking for members [laughs]. The first bands I fell in love with were Orchid, Wristmeetrazor, and Underoath.
I have yet to see Holder live, but the footage I've seen online and in the music video for "Inconsolable" looks like a lot of chaotic fun! From a physical standpoint, how does it feel after a set? When I used to play shows, I remember having a hard time winding down and falling asleep, especially on tour. Not to mention, you're screaming at the top of your lungs!
It’s a lot of fun! Physically, I definitely get very tired and always need to step outside after we play to get some fresh air. So for me, sleeping on tour is very easy because I’m usually super tired. I love jumping and headbanging, so those parts of my body usually hurt the most. I've learned to take good care of my voice on tour (warm-ups and tea), so vocal strain isn't much of an issue for me now, thankfully!
Holder has a sound that spans several musical styles, and your live shows so far have reflected that. How much do you want to explore the idea of branching out even further by sharing bills with bands that might not be rooted in hardcore and screamo?
I’ve always envisioned Holder as a band for everyone, ideally one thatis seen as accessible even to people who aren’t super into heavy music. We recently opened for Glare from Texas, and I wasn’t sure what to expect from a shoegaze crowd, but the whole room got excited when we played.
I think there’s a lot more overlap in tastes happening in music right now, and that really opens the door for a lot of bands like us to play on cross-genre bills. We all love and listen to all kinds of music, so we're very open to playing with bands of all kinds!
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Ruin the Best of Me is out now via DAZE (available on cassette).
Holder on social media: Instagram
Upcoming shows:
3/5 Florence, MA @ Florence VFW w/ Dream Fatigue
3/6 Milford, CT @ Rockhopper Church w/ Dream Fatigue, In 2 Again
3/7 Concord, NH @ Riverhill Grange w/ Dream Fatigue
3/8 Portland, ME @ Blue w/ Dream Fatigue
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