Holly Macve is a 20 year old singer songwriter based in Brighton, where Bella Union label boss Simon Raymonde came across her at an open mic show in 2015. He states, "I had a tip-off to go to a basement bar where she was playing. In a room full of beery boys chatting across all the music beforehand, the minute Holly opened her mouth the room fell silent. Hers is a rare gift." Artists ranging from John Grant to Benjamin Clementine have invited her on tour within moments of hearing a single bedroom demo, with Holly playing London’s Eventim Apollo and the L'Olympia Paris as a result. As for the inevitable musical influences question, Holly shares, "I was brought up listening to a lot of old blues, country and Jazz music such as Big Bill Broonzy, Elvis, Johnny Cash and Billie Holiday. Also a lot of Irish folk (my mum plays Irish fiddle music and that sound always makes me feel at home)... Bob Dylan has always been seen as a God in our household too. I discovered Leonard Cohen when I was in my teens and fell in love with the poetry and melancholic feel to his music. He is definitely a big influence. Another influence would be Gillian Welch, in particular her album Time (The Revelator).” She is putting the finishing touches to her debut album set for release on Bella Union in 2016. SXSW will be her US debut.