Q&A: Rhett Nicholl’s “Hold On” Music Video

Q&ASpotlightMusic

May 11

☆ BY SAHAR GHADIRIAN ☆

INTROSPECTION DETAILED WITH ETHERIAL GOLDEN IMAGERY - Rhett Nicholl’s latest single, and its accompanying music video, reflects the distress and hope that comes with love and loss. “Hold On” is full of soulful, airy vocals and soft instrumentation that showcases the effortlessness that rising artist Nihcoll exudes on the track. The singer indulges in difficult memories in his honest lyricism.

The 27 year-old North Londoner has an impressive catalogue of music behind him already, from tracks like “Waves” and “Border Line” from his debut EP Omertà (2020), the singer has already proved his immense talent, both in terms of the poignant production and evocative lyricism.

“Hold On”, released via Since 93 Records, takes the listener on an emotional journey, heightened by raw and raspy vocals. A turbulent relationship is hinted at, yet there seems to be a closure that follows the end of the song which is emphasised by the title - to hold on in spite of the instability and heartache. The instrumentation is gentle but glimmered with percussive elements that keep the listener mesmerised and engaged. Sonically, it’s both emotive and immersive, and mimics the feelings one may feel in such a tumultuous partnership.

The complimentary music video, sees director Melody Maker portraying hopefulness within the wistful sentiments of the song. The landscape of the video is layered with epic visuals, from animated scenes, close-ups and seamless transitions to the sun, the singer stands out clearly despite often being surrounded by shadows.

Singing out of struggle often breeds the most impactful and inspiring songs and Rhett Nicholl is one prime example of this. Music is a lifeline for many, from singer/ songwriters to listeners, and Rhett’s musical career so far is testament to how important music is to him. The warmth and light that the music video for “Hold On” illustrates promises for even more great music to follow, in the forms of a new EP.

Read on to hear about the backstory of Nicholl’s latest release, from important discussions on authenticity and mental health, to inspirations and the visuals behind “Hold On”.

LUNA: Your music has such a heartfelt and soulful feel to it that it always brings the listener in. How have you seen your sound evolve overtime?

NICHOLL: It is definitely from the bottom of my heart so I’m glad that comes across. I think I’ve just refined my skills over time, I don’t really feel like my sound has evolved as much as matured - I'm not doing anything different to what I was doing 5 years ago. I think I’m just getting better at it and more confident.

LUNA: Sonically, what are some of your favorite elements about your music?

NICHOLL: I like my voice most with a good low end, I feel like my tone counterpoints bass and sub frequencies In a way that I like.

LUNA: What’s been inspiring you lately? Any artists or projects on repeat these days?

NICHOLL: Not especially, I’m deep in my process right now so I’m not really watching anyone else.

LUNA: The video for “Hold On” is really well done and just a beautiful piece of work itself. Can you share a bit about the making of the video?

NICHOLL: The video was directed by my good friend Melody Maker, she’s one of the best out right now and has such strong vision and a relentlessness in making things at as high a standard as she can, which is something I value so much. We’ve been friends for a good few years now- she knows my story as it truly is and felt like the best person to represent that visually. We also worked with Thomas English and Common People films who all went above and beyond. We did 3 videos in 2 days. It was a lot but it felt great to be in the hands of such a strong team of people. There’s more to come.

LUNA: What role do you tend to play in the visual side of your work?

NICHOLL: I’m very fussy about music videos and to be honest it’s not something that really adds much to music at this point in time. It’s hard to achieve something that feels like art and not a marketing tool so I’ve tended to allow the people who know what they’re doing to take the lead on that. Since working on the next few videos and learning how the elements fit together I think I’ll be taking a much more prominent role in that area.

LUNA: You’ve been pretty open about your struggles with mental health and I really value that honesty. Why is it important for you to talk about these?

NICHOLL: I’m talking about mental illness in a lot of its different facets because people just don’t, they would rather parrot buzzwords and post infographics than really explore the ugly truths of life and try to make it beautiful. I’m not saying I’m the truth and I definitely ain't a spokesperson for anyone, but I put a pound of flesh into everything I create, because that’s what I value in art.

LUNA: A fun one - if you could only watch one TV show for the rest of your life, what are you watching?

NICHOLL: King of the Hill, definitely.

LUNA: What do you hope the upcoming months bring you?

NICHOLL: More inspiration, more music, hopefully some shows and an en suite bathroom.

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