“In lead vocalist/guitarist Audrey Keelin’s words, “Holy Roller was a lesson for me, a song that happened with no planning, no” trying to write,” but a pure, detached channeling.” Written collaboratively, as per tradition for Hiding Places, the band discovered that a holy roller is “someone moved to dance by god” by definition, which brought a clarity of mind for Audrey when she realized.
This quote was taken from the band’s Bandcamp page, and it will be explained further below. The band is originally from Asheville, NC, and Athens, GA, two cities I visited on my road trip in 2013, so this made it very personal. Hiding Places is now based in Brooklyn, NY, and this band’s story feels relevant to me. I was travelling along the East Coast from Florida to New York, so I know all the cities that shaped this band.
The band shared even more about the song’s origins in the press release. “One morning, I started playing the guitar and a chorus came out: ‘I’m a holy roller, I move so much, if the floor is burning, I climb up.’ I liked that. So I recorded it on my phone and also excitedly shared it with two of my best friends,” Keelin says.
Although she was initially uncertain about the specific meaning of the lyrics, as she continued working on the writing, Keelin chose to research the definition of “Holy Roller.” “I looked it up afterwards and learned that it referred to someone who is moved to dance by god. I felt a rush of cold air in my chest, and some real clarity entered my mind. That metaphor made perfect sense to me after the fact: there is a voice in my heart that I have a complex relationship with that tells me to move around, be somewhat nomadic, not really settle down in one specific place. That can wear on your relationships. During that writing session, that bittersweet feeling of moving from my home state kept returning,” Keelin says.
I usually don’t share as much from the press release. Still, the whole story behind the song, tied to the band moving from one place to another, is fascinating. The band has been using personal experiences to incorporate into their creative process, and working together not only to support each other but also to creatively join forces to create something special.
The song is slow, slacker indie rock that will captivate you with its lyrics (see below) and great guitar riffs, enveloping you in fuzzy warmth. I really enjoyed the flow of the melody and how the guitar parts shifted into sections dominated by vocals. Audrey’s voice sounded so familiar, like I had been listening to the band for ages. They have been making music since 2019, but I do not remember checking their music before. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this track and I am interested to hear what’s next they will make.
There’s a sign
A little light
A little smile that
Brings me light and burns my eyes
I’m a holy roller
I move so much
If the floor is burning
I climb up
If the heart is burning
I’ll stay off
Be a savior won’t you
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
Alright, I guess I’ll
Be flying towards it
Or towards you
Don’t let me come through
I’m a holy roller
I move too much
If the floor is burning
I climb up
Climb up
I’m a holy roller
I move so much
Ignoring all my ceilings
I climb up
Written by Filip Zemcik
