Track of the Day: Holly Bealin - 'Nothing Left'

Wicklow singer-songwriter Holly Bealin has released her debut single in the form of stirring indie-pop ballad 'Nothing Left'.

The 16-year-old emerging musician has influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix and Paolo Nutini to Led Zeppelin and Elton John.

Produced by Ben Phelan, 'Nothing Left' follows the experience of trying to cope when a loved one is struggling with drug addiction. The person you once knew is often unrecognisable, and moulds themselves into another form altogether just to survive.

Bealin's lyrics and captivating vocals transcend the track into something extremely poignant, where Holly must try to keep up with their loved one before they completely lose themselves:

Got to stay high just to keep up with you/ To get inside your mind / You're too scared to let it all fall out / Open your eyes, take your hit and move on / Life may be a game but that's not what you're playing.

Phelan and Bealin ended up creating a lot of the percussion for 'Nothing Left' from the sounds of a lighter, and a beat drop was created from the noise of a Facetime call tone. Inspired by the producer and main collaborator of Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell, Holly wanted to make use of the everyday noises around her for her first single.

"This song means a lot to me, as I based it around dealing with a friend or loved one who struggles with drug use; how they change before your eyes and how getting through to them becomes so much harder," Holly tells Hot Press.

"Even when you're trying to help them you become the enemy in their eyes, and it hurts your relationship. It was loosely based on a personal experience, but is one that many people are dealing with in their lives," the singer-songwriter adds.

"I really didn’t want it to be too sad. If anyone was to relate to the song, instead of crying, they could take a three-minute break to enjoy the music and take their mind off their situation. I’m someone who gets quite nervous before doing something new, but recording the song was an amazing experience - I wasn’t nervous at all! My producer, Ben, was bouncing off my ideas and vice versa, and the song became exactly what I had originally imagined. The process took quite a long time as we had to work around lockdowns but this month it finally came out on all streaming platforms and I couldn't love it more."

Holly has been writing songs for a number of years now, but quarantine offered her the chance to bring her music to the next level. Approached by a local producer after performing at a small gig run by her school ahead of Lockdown 1, Holly was asked to send some material over and 'Nothing Left' was eventually chosen. While COVID may have slowed down Holly's chances to record new music, another single is well on the way, alongside an EP by the end of 2021 (hopefully!).

Listen to the dreamy 'Nothing Left' below: