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\u201cI think she\u2019s the real deal. There are certain things that are like a lightning bolt. She\u2019s got it. I just know having worked with lots of special voices that she has got her own special voice.\u201d<\/p>\n
EP: You’ve got a lot of drive and ambition for someone so young! To what do you attribute that?<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: My mum is a very strong woman with a lot more balls than any man. I’ve definitely inherited her drive and ambition.<\/p>\n EP:\u00a0Tell us about Dave Stewart! How did all that come about? What’s he like?<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: Dave is a really lovely guy, down to earth morally, but far too creative to be down to earth 100% – he\u2019s such an inspiration with his mind working one million miles an hour, he gets a years worth of ideas in a day. He\u2019s amazing to work with and has really nurtured me. Amongst the cluster of ideas, he came across me on Twitter.’<\/p>\n EP: Talk us through Pointless Rebellion. What’s it all about?<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: I wrote the song Pointless Rebellion about my friend who, when I met her, I looked to emulate. But she had her own personal troubles that she was too proud to talk about and look for help with, she gravitated to drugs and alcohol and used that as her escape. It was really sad to watch, it was pointless; her rebellion wasn’t the answer to her problems.<\/p>\n EP: What advice do you have for anyone just starting out in the music industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: My advice would be to pick up an instrument that you want to learn and try and write your own stuff – be in control.<\/p>\n EP: What’s been the best thing you’ve done so far, music wise? Life wise?<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: I had the opportunity to go to Jamaica last year in April for a documentary which is all about reggae and recovering the tracks from Studio 17 that were devastated in the hurricane that toured through Kingston. I was 16 at the time, and they had a track from Dennis Brown when he was 16 that he hadn\u2019t finished and the director of the documentary invited me over to complete it. Anyone who knows me knows I\u2019m obsessed with Jamaica and absolutely love reggae, so this has made my life really – everything else is now a bonus!<\/p>\n EP: Top three tracks you’re listening to right now.<\/strong><\/p>\n HS:\u00a0I love the song Someone New by Hozier, I had that on repeat for 3 days straight – that\u2019s no exaggeration.<\/p>\n Ella Fitzgerald\u2019s beautiful Someone to Watch Over Me<\/p>\n The Pioneers version of Papa Was a Rolling Stone<\/p>\n EP: Who’d be your dream collaboration, if any, and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: Paolo Nutini hands down. I love his music and voice – and he\u2019s alive!!!<\/p>\n EP: Where will you be in 5 years?<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: I have no idea where I\u2019m going to be next week let alone in five years time. Hopefully on a stage singing somewhere in the world. If not that then in Jamaica. Maybe I\u2019ll go and hide in the Blue Mountains.<\/p>\n EP: Give\u00a0us something surprising about you that not many people know!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: When I was younger I was fascinated by the heart and was set on becoming a cardiologist.<\/p>\n EP: What question do you wish people would ask you, but nobody ever does?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n HS: Would you like a house in Primrose Hill?<\/p>\n Hollie’s self titled album is out on 28 August. Pointless Rebellion is out now.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We introduced you to Hollie Stephenson back in April. Although only 17, Hollie has a passion for music unlike anyone else her age.<\/p>\n