Hollie Cook's most recent album Shy Girl was one of my favorite new releases of 2025. It was followed by Shy Girl In Dub, which is equally wonderful. She is back on the Mr. Bongo record label (where she started her solo career with her self-titled 2011 album.)
Hollie is in demand as a vocalist, and not just in the world of reggae and dub. It doesn't hurt that her parents are both professionals in the music world, but her success is entirely the result of her own talent and hard work. Among the artists from her parents' generation, she has sung with The Slits, Vic Godard, Glen Matlock and Jah Wobble. She recently appeared on Don Letts' first solo album and Mark Stewart's final album.
I was also really pleased to see her name among the guest vocalists featured on the 2025 album by West Coast soul and reggae band The Night Owls. Here's hoping that Hollie's career continues to grow, so that we can feature her music here again in the near future!
ELSEWHERE ON THE BLOG: The first volume of Hollie's Cookbook.
Hollie's Cook Book vol. 2: https://pixeldrain.com/u/AeqGv2xQ
ReplyDeleteWhat were some of your favorite releases of 2025? I really enjoyed Valerie June's album "Owls, Omens, and Oracles" (produced by M. Ward) and "The Life You Save", the third album from Flock Of Dimes (side project of Jenn Wasner from the group Wye Oak). Didn't see Jenn, Valerie or Hollie on any of the "Best of 2025" year end lists, but they are all terrific records from immensely talented performers.