Just months after Holis released their self-titled debut album, they were named Best Pop/Rock Band of the Year 2006 in Central Pennsylvania.
From the band’s first inception, in 2004, Holis secured a permanent position in the local music scene by writing beautiful, simple songs that gently pulled at the heartstrings of every listener.
Somewhere in between the unconventional, vulnerable guitar playing of Frank Mistretta, the confident, melodic keyboard of Christian McGinty, and singer Ray Zeiters’ stark, ethereal vocals are answers for the soul. Whether the song is about politics, religion, or love; it’s the rhythm section of Jeremy White and Ken Reiner, combined with the sweeping sonic landscapes on electric by Fred Pellegrini, which provides the group with a forceful, powerful edge that was designed for arena rock.
Holis’ signature mix of anthem rock, dynamic arrangements and spiritually aware lyrics continues to grow. The group has a remarkable ability to present its music in a way that lends itself to all walks of life, young and old. “We just want our songs to reflect raw emotion,†says Ray. In doing so, Holis may be the most profound act to emerge out of Harrisburg in years.
It all began when future members Ray Zeiters and Frank Mistretta met in 2002. The two were introduced through a mutual friend who was looking to form an acoustic trio. Two and a half years later, with a few personnel changes, they had put together a team of professional, dedicated and talented musicians from the local music scene. Holis was born. The named, derived from the word holistic, says a lot about the focus of the band. “We’re totally aware of the necessity to be a marketable band, but more so, we think about the overall picture; and that means the music will always be first priority,†explains Jeremy.
When the band went into the studio early last year with co-producer Fred Pellegrini, they agreed that nothing would go on the album that they all didn't agree on. This led to a fierce and gut wrenching recording session that the guys thought might be their last. Songs ended up veering from fragile to forceful, from understated to epic. On a bittersweet morning in May, the album was finished.
Ray admits that track five on the album, "Forsaken," is the message of Holis’ entire work up until now. The song says that sometimes we don’t realize what we have until it’s gone, you take things for granted, you live, you learn, maybe you fail, but if you do, at least you know you tried. When things happen to you in life, your first inclination is to think everything's terrible, what's the point? You’re overwhelmed, then you realize the point is simply that - that it's not that bad and you have to keep going. Finally, you come to realize that life is good, and you overcome.
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Holis LIVE-"Foraken" into "Stars"
Holis LIVE-"Crooked Inc"
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