After a short release hiatus, duo Honddu are on the precipice of unveiling their first track of 2026: 'Winifred'. We chat with the band's singer and co-writer, Holly, about her desert island album picks, dusty origins, and soundtracking bathtime as part of the Seven Questions with Music Is To Blame Series.
Introduce yourself and where you’re from
I’m Holly, the singer and co-writer from Honddu. I’m from Brecon in the Welsh mountains. We live directly on the banks of the River Honddu, hence the band name. Brecon is a special town full of artists and nature-enthusiasts and people growing vegetables, and witches and hippies, and farmers and wide-boys. A real mix, and some amazing events and venues where the dance floor is populated by all and everyone, including, very often, an octogenarian in a Hawaiian shirt and children wearing roller-skates.
What do our readers need to know about you?
We (me and David) met in a Feminist Literature lecture. David found a tape machine in a skip, and this dusty piece of junk (a Tascam four-track) now forms the backbone of Honddu’s sound. We love the nostalgia of analog kits and 90s sounds, mixed with some digital production (we’re not purists!). I’m a novelist, so lyrics are very important to me; my songs are stories, vivid in my head, and I often get tearful when writing them. Call me a romantic, but I believe music and story can save us all.
What have you got coming up that you’re most excited for?
We released our first track in a while recently - it’s called 'Go Gentle', a song about the tension between lust for life and giving in. I'm excited to build some momentum - we’re releasing a new song called 'Winifred' soon and I’m really attached to it, so I’m excited! It’s a dark powerful one about watching a young girl grow up and I can’t wait to share it with people.
What’s the best run-in you’ve had with a fan?
Once someone told us they listened to our music whenever they had a bath. This was a deep compliment, I feel.
What’s been your biggest ‘I’ve made it’ moment so far?
I am pretty sure that’s yet to come, I tend to feel I have never arrived, but one special moment was supporting the gorgeous Peiriant at their album launch recently.
What are your three “desert island” albums?
Jenny Hval’s 'Apocalypse Girl' (so I can feel the full spectrum and connect to the divine), Daft Punk’s 'Human After All' (so I can have a good dance!), and Nirvana’s 'In Utero' (so I can have a good scream).
Sum up your sound in three words
tactile, electronic, emotional
Lana Williams
@lanatakesphotos / @_lanaajade
Image: David Neale