Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Herbie Holland.
Hi Chris Herbie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Chris Herbie Holland and I go by East-O. As a child I played trumpet in middle school and learned the drums in high school but I didn’t start making beats seriously until I met Miriam Hyman aka Robyn Hood. I remember fondly being her hype man as we performed her debut EP For Higher for audiences all around NYC. From that point on I think I was determined to show her that I could add more to the operation than just backing her up vocally. I really wanted to help create the musical landscape as well. From there is where my foray into the music game began.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There’s definitely been many ups and downs. I think finances are always gonna be the main concern in whether or not something can be truly successful. I think for myself I have so much inspiration and so many things that I want to accomplish with my music but I need the proper time, resources and tools in order to make the best art possible. At the moment I’m focused on trying to create a model of sustainability that allows me to fund my art where I don’t have to compromise on my vision or feel. I want to create quality sound not just quantity without substance.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Most people know me and my work as an accomplished actor. I recently acted in the Pulitzer Prize winning hit play Fat Ham by James Ijames which ran for 116 performances on Broadway and was nominated for 5 Tony’s. I’m definitely most proud of that experience and the relationships I cultivated from that amazing run. I would say that play is the pinnacle of what I strive for when creating art. And for better or for worse I seek to do and create work that is in alignment that beautiful artistic precedent.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
You can’t do anything alone. I think before finding a mentor or a network you have to find the people who think and create like you. My close friends constantly remind me that it’s not about who do you want to win with, it’s about who do you want to fail with? Who speaks your crazy? Who wants to be build the sandcastle with you regardless of the conditions? Finding and honing those relationships is the ultimate key. I truly believe everything else naturally falls into place once the art and its conduits are truly aligned.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisherbieholland/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.h.holland
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-herbie-holland-51b52220/
Image Credits
EliePhoto
