Holysseus Fly
During her Snape Residency, Holysseus and her team of musicians and dancers will be developing her live show, coupling creative authenticity with the emotional intimacy of James Blake and the showmanship and visual artistry of Bjork or Lady Gaga.
Holysseus Fly is delighted to return to Snape Maltings after her first retreat in 2022, where she spent a week writing music at The Red House.
Snape Residencies provide time and space for creators at all stages of their careers; a supportive environment to create, be curious, and try out new ideas. Open Sessions offer a unique chance to go behind the scenes and experience work-in-progress created during the Residency.
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This event is supported by PRS Foundation's The Open Fund.
About Holysseus Fly
Vocalist, co-writer and pianist with critically acclaimed collective, Ishmael Ensemble, Holysseus Fly has already made a powerful impression as a solo artist. Her debut single 'Marigold’ details her struggle and triumph in finding a new creative identity after surviving cancer; it secured early tastemaker support from Annie Mac on her Chill Playlist and was Jamz Supernova's ‘Hit Reset Track of the Day’ on 6 Music.
Follow-up single ‘Within The Water’ gained support from Tom Robinson’s BBC Introducing Mixtape and an audio walk feature on BBC 6 Music with Chris Hawkins, not to mention sell-out first headline shows in Bristol and London at the end of last year. Holysseus Fly’s solo venture is blossoming at an impressive rate.
The first song written for her debut EP, ‘Bloom’ sees Holysseus Fly taking ownership of her own creativity. Feeling a pressure in lockdown to write again after recovering from treatment for breast cancer, Holysseus sings ‘I’ll bloom when I choose to’, a statement of determination to create for only herself. Powerfully brought to life with a video shot by director Jack Lilley after her double mastectomy surgery, Holysseus Fly challenges negative perceptions of herself. She takes ownership of her narrative, claiming her space and adorning her new body in paint like a living work of art. Sentiments are echoed sonically as ‘Bloom’ progresses from a skeletal beat through to a deep, harmonically-rich drop, driven by Holysseus Fly’s captivating vocal, encompassing both strength and beautiful vulnerability.
General booking opens Saturday 25 November at 10am.
Advance booking for members begins on Tuesday 7 November. Find out how becoming a member both supports our work and enables you to enjoy priority booking.