Music
Singer-Songwriter Holly Clausius Drops Her Debut Album “Rose Garden”
After leading up with three singles and two music videos, indie-folk singer Holly Clausius dropped her debut LP “Rose Garden”. The album mixes genres of folk, country, pop, and Americana with soulful vocals and vulnerable lyrics. Highlights of the album include “Clementine”, a playful folk-pop number about a queer elementary-school infatuation, and “It Will Stay Right Here”, a heartfelt tribute to the live music scene in Toronto that was hit hard during the pandemic, and features multiple local Toronto artists. Holly’s vocals are fervent and sophisticated, blending notes of Adele and Regina Spektor.
“Rose Garden” was written entirely during isolation in early 2021. Clausius explains “ I think the main thing people should take away from this album is that they’re not alone. Whatever trauma/emotions you’re going through there are others who have walked that path and are here for you. I want my music to sort of be that safety blanket for anyone struggling. It’s actually quite ironic that it was made while isolated because I’ve never felt more connected to myself and others while making it.”
“Rose Garden” may be easy to listen to, but the subject of the lyrics span a range of issues including mental health, toxic relationships, advocacy for the LGBTQ community, and commentary on an industry that is crawling out of the ashes. The album has a beautiful flow as a whole but also keeps us entertained with different moods and musical styles, from the country-rock of “Strawberry Blonde” to the acoustic indie ballad of “Slow Motion”. Keep tabs on Holly Clausius, she is an artist you do not want to overlook!
Holly Clausius is a queer artist blazing a trail of her own. Currently based in Toronto, Holly Clausius is a full-time musician mixing the genres of folk, pop, and rock. Her soulful songwriting emulates the ballads of Feist, the honesty of Amy Winehouse, and the emotion of Billie Eilish. Holly has been chosen to perform in this year’s HoneyJam showcase- headlining the famous El Mocambo, she has placed 2nd in the Cross Canada Artists For Social Change competition- being praised and wowing Judge Tegan (from Tegan and Sara), and she’s completed the RBC Music x Launchpad Entrepreneurship all in just the first half of 2021.
She has been featured in notable publications like Toronto Guardian and Bong Mines Entertainment and radio stations like Pop Can Radio and CBC London and Toronto. Her folk-driven EP “Sunflower” was released in the summer of 2020, and she will be releasing her debut LP “Rose Garden” this October. Above everything, Holly’s mission is to be a voice for the voiceless and for her music to be a safe haven for those who feel alone.
Follow Holly Clausius On: Facebook | Instagram | Website | YouTube | Spotify
Artist Spotlight
“Hell has frozen over” finds Sarina choosing peace over being understood
Sarina’s new track, “Hell has frozen over,” explores the less dramatic, more complicated moment of reaching the end of the road, being gaslit, ignored, rejected, and painfully lonely. It translates the emotional burnout into a rock-pop context that’s easy to understand.
“Hell has frozen over” focuses on the decision to step away, instead of explaining, defending, or seeking understanding from people who refuse to listen. The rock foundation gives it the right weight, the pop influence makes it accessible, and the focus stays on the emotional message.
Sarina’s art is the struggle of loss and being strong in yourself. It’s about understanding that protecting your peace is more important than being understood. And that’s the emotional balance that gives the release its character so that the subject matter has relevance beyond a particular circumstance.
“Hell has frozen over“ is a relief from the burden of carrying on a debate that will never be resolved. Sarina turns an experience of isolation into a statement about boundaries, resilience, and the choice not to get caught in the same cycle. The result is a record that’s at its best when it’s being true to what it feels like to finally be free from whatever has been holding you down.
Photo Credit: Andrea Hunter
Artist Spotlight
Girlhood finds summer warmth and quiet freedom on “Lemon Aid”
“Lemon Aid“ is a warm indie-pop ballad from Girlhood that finds comfort in the ordinary and weaves in a sense of release. This song is about surrendering to the moment, finding space to breathe, and letting a little lightness back in. This reflective core is surprising, given the warm summer-night feel of the track, hinting at a moment of emotional rebalancing.
Singer-songwriter Natalie Holmes has a tender personality and fronts the slow-burning “Lemon Aid.” The production supports that softness, keeping the song’s gentle mood and intimate direction front and center. Beneath the comfort is a thoughtful examination of pressure, transition, and the need to pause.
The song’s link to the streets of Stroud offers yet another layer of art to the work. Familiar places can mean something when life feels uncertain, and the emotional scene involves storefronts, parks, cafes, and leafy, winding streets. “Lemon Aid“ searches for beauty in everyday places and rituals, finding still moments that mean something without getting carried away.
The track is the first release of Girlhood’s forthcoming album, “This Will Make Sense In The End,” a more reflective chapter with hope at its heart. “Lemon Aid” is about softness, conjuring a space where dancing, wandering, and just existing can feel like a cure. It’s an unleashing of small observations and soft emotional movement and a clear indication of the thoughtful direction that Girlhood is heading next.
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