Holly Arrowsmith
Gig Seeker Pro

Holly Arrowsmith

Queenstown, New Zealand | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF | AFTRA

Queenstown, New Zealand | SELF | AFTRA
Established on Jan, 2012
Solo Folk Country

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Debut well received"

Queenstown singer-songwriter Holly Arrowsmith launched her debut record The River with a free concert in St Peter's Church Hall, Queenstown, on Friday night.
The 19-year-old folk blues and country artist covered on acoustic guitar The Wild Hunt by the Tallest Man on Earth and Keep Your Head Up by Ben Howard, then her original song Rise and an untitled composition, before playing her four-track record with her three-piece band to great audience applause.

Her EP (extended play) includes the title song, Diamonds, the crowd-pleasing banjo-accompanied stomper Spring and her award-winning signature song Wolves & Moons.

''My thanks to everyone who came. It was amazing seeing such a big crowd and the energy was amazing as well,'' Miss Arrowsmith said on Saturday.

''I don't feel it could have gone any better. It was everything I wished for.''

The artist said she was pursuing her career in music full-time.

She next plays live on the main stage before Dave Dobbyn at the opening party of the Queenstown Winter Festival on Friday, then during the festival's Community Carnival on June 30.

- The Otago Daily Times


"'Gig Of The Week' Holly's album launch"

A debut single by a Queenstown folk singer has been heard by thousands of people within days of going online.

Holly Arrowsmith is putting the finishing touches to her four-track first EP at a local studio this week.
The 19-year-old offered a free download of Wolves & Moons on her website and Facebook page last Friday.
By Sunday, more than 2300 people had snapped it up.

“It’s ridiculous – I didn’t expect it at all,” Arrowsmith says.

“Hopefully they’ll like it and they’ll want to hear more once the rest is out.

“The EP is coming together. We’re actually still in the process of recording it?...?it’ll be done in the next couple of days. It’s going really well, all coming together and I’m super-excited to put it out there.”

Along with Wolves & Moons – the song she performed to win Queens­town original music contest Songstars – there are three other original tracks on the EP.

The musician, who describes her music as bluesy folk, is to perform a launch gig tomorrow evening, with other musicians.

“It has generated quite a lot of interest so we’re hoping for a full house. Anyone is welcome, it’s free, there’ll be mulled wine and good music.”

Catch Holly Arrowsmith at St Peter’s Church Hall, Camp Street, tomorrow from 6.30pm. Free Admission.


- Thw Mountain Scene


"Talented young musician aims for the Moon"

She has her own distinctive, powerful sound and this week rising young Queenstown singer-songwriter Holly Arrowsmith launches her first album.

It's been six months in the making and an ongoing process since the talented 19-year-old folk-blues singer stole the hearts of the sell-out audience at last year's Songstars contest in Arrowtown with her moving original number, Wolves and Moons.

Part of her prize, in addition to $1000 cash, was to cut Wolves and Moons in a professional recording studio. Arrowsmith has been working hard perfecting her winning song and three more of the "dozens and dozens" of original songs she's written for her first EP (extended play album), produced by Steve Robertson and Tom Lynch, of Queenstown's TomTom Productions.

Lynch was so impressed with Arrowsmith's "exceptional talent" he offered to help her produce an album or EP of four songs free. The album will be released at a free entry, public launch at the St Peter's Church Hall in Camp St from 6.30pm this Friday, where Arrowsmith will perform her original songs. She and Lynch put the finishing touches to the album in the studio on Monday evening and she hoped to have it named by Friday.

In the meantime, Wolves and Moons was available free to download until Friday's launch from either her Holly Arrowsmith Facebook page or from hollyarrowsmith.bandcamp.com, where the album can be bought.

Three days after posting Wolves and Moons online on June 7 it had received 3000 plays, which had "blown her away".

She has already been approached to play at a music festival as a result.

Lynch, himself a seasoned performer, said Arrowsmith was set to go far in the music industry.

Arrowsmith admitted she demanded the highest standards of herself. But it has paid off. Her songs were already being aired on Classic Hits and the whole community had been hugely suppportive, she said.

She was hoping to take her music on the road, but was quite relaxed about the future.

"I have a peace that this is what I should be doing. I just want to play for people - that takes away the stress," she said. "If success is an outflow from that, then that's good, and if it isn't, I'll just keep doing it anyway."
Arrowsmith left her job as a Ziptrek guide several months ago to focus on her music career and since her win she's starred as a solo act at one of New Zealand's largest music festivals, Parachute, and wowed the 10,000-strong crowd at Queenstown Winter Festival opening night last year.

She is keen to break into the New Zealand music industry and her next goal is the prestigious Silver Scrolls Award songwriting contest.

- © Fairfax NZ News

- The Southland Times


"Parachute opens for Songstar winner"

Queenstown's rising singing songwriting star Holly Arrowsmith will take to the national stage at one of New Zealand's largest music festivals, Parachute, near Hamilton next week.

The talented 19-year-old, who is recording her first EP, will play her original songs on the acoustic village stage at the three-day Christian music festival, the largest in the southern hemisphere.

Twenty-five top international, Australian and Kiwi bands will star at the festival, including headline acts like Switchfoot, Hillsong United, Evermore, Ruby Frost, Newsboys and The Parachute Band.

Parachute Music spokesman Luke Oram said Arrowsmith was one of 60 additional acts selected from 200 bands and singers keen to perform.

Almost 20,000 people attend the festival, now in its 23rd year, and Mr Oram said the acoustic village stage is where the organisers spot a lot of new talent.

"It's played host to Kimbra and Brooke Fraser in the past. She will be playing to hundreds, if not thousands. It's right outside our major Village Cafe and shops. It can end up getting pretty big around there."

For Arrowsmith, who wooed the audience winning Queenstown's highly sought-after Songstars contest in June last year with her own song, Wolves and Moons, the opportunity to perform at Parachute is huge.

"I won't be on the same scale as the main artists playing on the big stages but it's a really good opportunity because it's a doorway into other festivals."

The Ziptrek guide's dream is to play festivals and she hopes to take her music to the United States later this year.

"My goal for the second half of this year is to become a fulltime musician. I'd love to do some little tours around New Zealand, Australia and an American tour.

"I don't really care if my album gets lost among the thousands. I just want to play to people."

She's proved she can do that.

Arrowsmith was the opening act at Invercargill's Shout Festival and played the New Year's Eve outdoor stage, both in 2011, and last year thrilled a crowd of almost 10,000 people as a main stage performer on Queenstown Winter Festival opening night.

At 17, she won the resort's ‘Battle of the Musos', impressing high-profile judges including Split Enz bass player Mike Chunn.

Lately she's become a popular attraction at Queenstown bar Surreal's 'Open Mic' nights.

"I just love singing to people. It's my favourite thing to do.
Ad Feedback

"I reckon everyone has a song that's even maybe changed their life.

"I try to write songs that are meaningful and hopefully speak to people. If that song can even only impact one person and change their circumstances, it was worth it.

"People might think you're giving them something when you sing, but they're giving you something as well, when they're listening and stoked," she said. - Mountain Scene


"Accolades, opportunities for young musician"

A rising young Queenstown talent has scooped top honours at the resort's Battle of the Musos, scoring a recording deal and a slot as opening act to a leading artist.

Holly Arrowsmith, 17, won the Ultimate Muso award for 2011, as well as best acoustic artist.

She performed two of her own songs, River Song and Wolves and Moons, as well as Sigh No More by London-based indie folk quartet Mumford & Sons.

Among the high-profile judges was Split Enz base player Mike Chunn, who was blown away by the depth of talent among the 14 bands and eight performers at the Youth Booth-organised event.

Chunn will feature one of Holly's original tracks on a sampler CD of rising young Kiwi stars, which will be available as a free download on the internet.

"It's a window into the great music of this year. It's great exposure and they can give them away," said Chunn.

The performers will also be given their own copies to distribute.

Holly will get to record one of her songs at Dave Allison's Studio 183 and perform the opening act for a leading artist at Queenstown's Revolver nightclub. She also scooped a $200 voucher for It Might Get Loud.

"I was so shocked! I didn't see it coming ... it's just so cool, pretty sweet, " she said.

She hopes to travel the world and have an impact on people, helping them through her songs.

An award for best band went to The Fletcherz, with Sam Maxwell deemed to have an impressive "rock `n' roll swagger" by the judges.

Certificates also went to Emily Burns for best vocal performance on the night and Max Gunn for best original song, for Tick Tock. - Southland Times


"Hitting the right notes"

At high school, Holly Arrowsmith reluctantly got up and sang in front of her music class. At church, she was persuaded to fill in on lead vocals. Now, she wants to mould a career in music.
The Songstars winner was "surprised" last weekend when she was voted No 1 in the original music talent contest, ahead of 10 others.

"It could have flown any way for any one of us . . . you never know what way it's going to go." The 18-year-old will now record her single, Wolves and Moon, this August, for radio release.

"It will help me out massively; releasing an EP is not a cheap thing to do.

"I have a goal to record an EP by the end of the year . . .what I want to do is music."

Miss Arrowsmith left Wakatipu High School last year and has based herself in Arrowtown, working in the retail sector and as a tour guide.

She said she was never scholarly, but she is clearly musically talented.

She has Songstars producer Margaret O'Hanlon to thank for her "last-minute" decision - 10 minutes before entries closed.

"Marg came into [the store] and asked what I had been up to. I told her I wanted to be a musician and she said 'you must enter Songstars then'." Miss Arrowsmith has been encouraged in many aspects of her fledgling career.

It began one afternoon in music class at high school when a friend convinced her she had talent.

After that, she was more convinced music was something she should pursue.

She can be found frequently leading the singing at Freedom Church in Queenstown, but this also came about after lucky break when she was asked to fill in for another singer.

The rest is history and now the indie folk singer wants to release at least five songs on her first EP.

She said she drew her inspiration from the outdoors.

"I have a weird way of writing. I get a picture in my head and then I write and develop that.

"I use a lot of metaphors and try to paint a picture for the listener of what I am picturing. It's a kind of visual imagery, I guess."

The young singer is working on "five to six" songs and plans to move to Wellington or Auckland at the time of the recording.
- Otago Daily TImes


"Hitting the right notes"

At high school, Holly Arrowsmith reluctantly got up and sang in front of her music class. At church, she was persuaded to fill in on lead vocals. Now, she wants to mould a career in music.
The Songstars winner was "surprised" last weekend when she was voted No 1 in the original music talent contest, ahead of 10 others.

"It could have flown any way for any one of us . . . you never know what way it's going to go." The 18-year-old will now record her single, Wolves and Moon, this August, for radio release.

"It will help me out massively; releasing an EP is not a cheap thing to do.

"I have a goal to record an EP by the end of the year . . .what I want to do is music."

Miss Arrowsmith left Wakatipu High School last year and has based herself in Arrowtown, working in the retail sector and as a tour guide.

She said she was never scholarly, but she is clearly musically talented.

She has Songstars producer Margaret O'Hanlon to thank for her "last-minute" decision - 10 minutes before entries closed.

"Marg came into [the store] and asked what I had been up to. I told her I wanted to be a musician and she said 'you must enter Songstars then'." Miss Arrowsmith has been encouraged in many aspects of her fledgling career.

It began one afternoon in music class at high school when a friend convinced her she had talent.

After that, she was more convinced music was something she should pursue.

She can be found frequently leading the singing at Freedom Church in Queenstown, but this also came about after lucky break when she was asked to fill in for another singer.

The rest is history and now the indie folk singer wants to release at least five songs on her first EP.

She said she drew her inspiration from the outdoors.

"I have a weird way of writing. I get a picture in my head and then I write and develop that.

"I use a lot of metaphors and try to paint a picture for the listener of what I am picturing. It's a kind of visual imagery, I guess."

The young singer is working on "five to six" songs and plans to move to Wellington or Auckland at the time of the recording.
- Otago Daily TImes


"Winter Festivals opening party line up"

Ryan Keen21 Jun 2012

LA Social Club
Winter Festival has an all-local line-up for tomorrow night’s opening night party. Ryan Keen gives a brief rundown on the performers

Shaun Vining
The multi-talented MC of Songstars and Starry Eyed’s 2002 winner – he sang David Bowie’s Space Odyessy – will be pulling out a couple of his guitar-driven songs which will no doubt include at least one of his humorous spoof originals.
Calico
Popular duo Gemma Carroll and John Healy – he’s from Ireland, she’s from Wales – are a regular fixture on the local live music scene. They plan to dish up some contemporary Celtic tunes.

Sam Hillman
The Mr Cool multi-tasker of Queenstown music will be letting loose with his own original composition – not to be missed.

Freefall
Queens­town’s Got Talent 2011 winners Pol Nicholson (right)and Eamonn McNicholas – who was third-equal in this year’s Songstars songwriting contest – will be pumping out a Queen song and a Creedence Clearwater Revival classic.

Holly Arrowsmith
The 19-year-old winner of this year’s Songstars songwriting contest will perform her winning entry Wolves and Moons.

Queenstown Pole Studio
Dancers from the studio like Harriet Kelsall will be joined by Raha Sangsari and others to perform a spellbinding routine to operatic classic Intorno All’Idol Mio by Italian Antonio Cesti.

Charlotte Graf
This flame-haired member of the popular local trio The Sequin Sisters will be screeching out a hit by Led Zeppelin – yes, Led Zeppelin. Don’t worry, she’s got the lungs for it.

‘London Calling’ cast
Performers from the hit Queens­town musical London Calling will perform London Calling by The Clash and California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & The Papas.

Master Blasters
Rock covers band Master Blasters will open and at some stage will get just about everyone playing with them. Singer Margaret O’Hanlon says: “It’s going to be one big fat com­munity party. We’re all family now so there’ll be spill-over between acts. We’ve been working on a new one by Emeli Sande, Next to Me. And then some old favourites by the Jackson Five and Stevie Wonder.” O’Hanlon will be joined by Nigel Hirst, Mark Wilson, Tahne Brown and Diego Vanzella.

Pearly McGrath
Queenstown super singer and frontwoman for Mojo will perform a song by the late pop diva Amy Winehouse.

Sequin Sisters
The Sequin Sisters – Nikki Bodle, Tania Pimm and Charlotte Graf – will perform classic party music covers. Nikki Bodle says: “There’s one new song we might break out for the performance and we’re also going to do our goodies, When Love Takes Over, Sweet Dreams and others. You name it, we can do it. This year it’s about the local musicians – we totally support that and put our hands up straight away.”

Rebeca Barnes
Barnes will belt out Welsh singer Duffy’s chart-topping Mercy. “Winter Festival’s such a massive thing for Queens­town, but also for New Zealand, so to be performing on opening night is massive. We’re representing Queenstown and any person who lives here is passionate about the town and wants to represent it the best way possible,” she says.

LA Social Club
Group frontman Lindsay Woods says they’ll be ripping out 15 minutes of non-stop top-40 and club beat songs. “It will be pretty intense.” Woods will be joined by Ailsa Williamson, Tiffany Mitchell, Andrea Cruickshank, Marc Hamilton and Shaun Vining.

Mojo
The local powerhouse covers band of Shay Muddle, Pearly McGrath, Sam Merral, Kayne Taylor, Jodie Malthus and Anna-Maree Morris round things off with a half-hour set which Muddle says will be full of Kiwi favourites. “It’s going to be a privilege for us to finish. We’re going to play a lot of great Kiwi stuff – Ladi 6, The Dudes, Tiki Taane.” - Mountain Scene


"Tour guide turns stage star"

By day, Holly Arrowsmith is a Ziptrek Ecotours guide. But by tonight she’ll be performing her own original song live for large audience.

She’s among 11 Queenstown Songstars 2012 finalists ready to shine.

The musicians will perform to an audience of up to 300 during the next three nights in Arrowtown.

Finalist Holly Arrowsmith, 18, says: “It will be an awesome show.

“We got to hear each other yesterday and everyone is fantastic – so I don’t know which way it is going to go.

“It has been really cool to see my indie folk song come alive with a band backing me up. It’s not something you get to experience otherwise; it takes the song to a new place.”

All 11 will perform their songs on each night, with a different running order each night to ensure a fair vote.

They’ll be backed by a large professional band and singers as they battle to win the popular competition.

Arrowsmith says the competition has been beneficial to her burgeoning musical career.

“I want to have an EP and music video recorded by the end of the year, so I’m chipping away at that and this process has definitely helped,” she says.

“Whoever wins will deserve it because everyone is awesome. It’s such a good experience.”

The finalists include musicians from Ireland, England and Brazil, along with Queenstown locals, singing rock, blues, country and indie. The winner will be chosen by the audiences, who vote by ticking their favourite on the back of their tickets.

Organiser and Queenstown showbiz queen Margaret O’Hanlon says: “It shows we can foster creativity and original music. They’ve spent five weeks preparing and the standard is very high. But the pressure is on.”

Catch the Songstars finals at Arrowtown Hall tonight, tomorrow and Saturday from 7.30pm. Tickets are $40 or $20 for under 15s - Mountain scene


"Tour guide turns stage star"

By day, Holly Arrowsmith is a Ziptrek Ecotours guide. But by tonight she’ll be performing her own original song live for large audience.

She’s among 11 Queenstown Songstars 2012 finalists ready to shine.

The musicians will perform to an audience of up to 300 during the next three nights in Arrowtown.

Finalist Holly Arrowsmith, 18, says: “It will be an awesome show.

“We got to hear each other yesterday and everyone is fantastic – so I don’t know which way it is going to go.

“It has been really cool to see my indie folk song come alive with a band backing me up. It’s not something you get to experience otherwise; it takes the song to a new place.”

All 11 will perform their songs on each night, with a different running order each night to ensure a fair vote.

They’ll be backed by a large professional band and singers as they battle to win the popular competition.

Arrowsmith says the competition has been beneficial to her burgeoning musical career.

“I want to have an EP and music video recorded by the end of the year, so I’m chipping away at that and this process has definitely helped,” she says.

“Whoever wins will deserve it because everyone is awesome. It’s such a good experience.”

The finalists include musicians from Ireland, England and Brazil, along with Queenstown locals, singing rock, blues, country and indie. The winner will be chosen by the audiences, who vote by ticking their favourite on the back of their tickets.

Organiser and Queenstown showbiz queen Margaret O’Hanlon says: “It shows we can foster creativity and original music. They’ve spent five weeks preparing and the standard is very high. But the pressure is on.”

Catch the Songstars finals at Arrowtown Hall tonight, tomorrow and Saturday from 7.30pm. Tickets are $40 or $20 for under 15s - Mountain scene


"Holly Wins Queenstown Songstars"

Ryan Keen10 Jun 2012

Final push: Songstars 2012 winner Holly Arrowsmith
A Ziptrek flying fox guide’s powerful performance on the final night has seen her take out Queenstown’s second Songstars contest.

Holly Arrowsmith, 19, was voted runner-up on the show’s first and second nights at Arrowtown Hall, dipping out both times to Lincoln University student Maggie Ruddenklau, 19.

However, the audience voted Arrowsmith the winner of last night’s show – and after the votes had been tallied over the three nights she leapfrogged into the lead.

Arrowsmith wins $1000 and now has the chance to record her original song Wolves and Moons which she performed over the three nights.

Ruddenklau took out second place overall whilst third was a tie between Irishman Eamonn McNicholas and the show’s youngest contestant 16-year-old Ruby Bain.

At last night’s show Ruddenklau was judged runner-up and Queenstown taxi driver Marc Hamilton came third.
- Mountain Scene


"Holly Wins Queenstown Songstars"

Ryan Keen10 Jun 2012

Final push: Songstars 2012 winner Holly Arrowsmith
A Ziptrek flying fox guide’s powerful performance on the final night has seen her take out Queenstown’s second Songstars contest.

Holly Arrowsmith, 19, was voted runner-up on the show’s first and second nights at Arrowtown Hall, dipping out both times to Lincoln University student Maggie Ruddenklau, 19.

However, the audience voted Arrowsmith the winner of last night’s show – and after the votes had been tallied over the three nights she leapfrogged into the lead.

Arrowsmith wins $1000 and now has the chance to record her original song Wolves and Moons which she performed over the three nights.

Ruddenklau took out second place overall whilst third was a tie between Irishman Eamonn McNicholas and the show’s youngest contestant 16-year-old Ruby Bain.

At last night’s show Ruddenklau was judged runner-up and Queenstown taxi driver Marc Hamilton came third.
- Mountain Scene


Discography

'For The Weary Traveller' Debut LP, released July 31st 2015

'Desert Owl' Single, released July 2015

'The River' EP, released June 16th 2013

'Wolves & Moons' Single, released June 7th 2013


Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

'Holly Arrowsmith is the new name in folk worth keeping your eye on.

This Southern songstress has been turning heads all over the world, with her acoustically driven stirring sound, poetic, thought provoking lyrics, and a distinctively haunting voice.  

According to The Source: "This is the kind of C&W meets folk that strips everything but the honesty away, and what you're left with will leave you trembling.”

Born in the desert city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Arrowsmith's nostalgic style echoes Americana- Folk legends, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. Raised in the mountain valleys of New Zealand, it's no wonder her songs capture a reverence for nature. 

At just 21 years old, Holly has showcased The New Zealand Country Music Awards, and performed at New Zealand's largest festivals Rhythm & Alps, and Rhythm & Vines.

Last year she delivered a TEDx talk on ‘Honest Music’, and opened for internationally acclaimed folk artist Rodriguez, captivating crowds with songs from her EP 'The River’.

Recorded in a grass roots studio, nestled in the Mountains of Queenstown, New Zealand- Holly Arrowsmith’s debut album ‘For The Weary Traveller ’ was released July 31st to critical acclaim. It has now been selected as a finalist for the NZ Music Awards 'Folk TUI' for the 'Best Folk Album of 2015.'  

This June, Holly joins American Songwriter Zach Winters for an extensive tour of North America.'