Songwriter/guitarist/producer Eric Cannata (Young The Giant, Coma Culture, American Pets) has announced the January 24th release of his full-length solo debut, Holding Onto the Holy, via Industry Houseplant with a limited edition vinyl/exclusive t-shirt bundle (a collab with Paper & Wax Co) available via his web site (store.ericcannata.com).
Prefacing Holy are four singles with “The Wave” (October 11) and “There You Go Again” (November 15) already in the sonic ether while “Like You Do” (December 13) and “Fruit” (January 17) are set to bloom soon. Each song is accompanied by an official video, filmmaker Taylor Thompson helmed the 16mm visual action for the initial two singles.
“‘The Wave’ is a song about a tidal wave coming toward the coast of California, after the ‘Big One’ earthquake hits. While everyone is running for safety, I calmly make my way to the beach, to celebrate my demise. The song and album touch on themes of finding the threads of joy and hope in a time when our world is so turbulent and uncertain,” said Cannata.
“’There You Go Again’ was the song that opened up the writing for my album Holding Onto the Holy,” adds Cannata. “It kicked off a period of musical exploration in solitude, seeing what came naturally when I was in my home studio without any agenda, just enjoying the process of creativity. Sonically I gravitated toward a mix of vintage instruments like my Fender Coronado guitar, a jangly upright piano, and Solina String Ensemble synthesizer. I was inspired by the drama of the 60’s Wall of Sound production style. I danced around my studio, singing into an old microphone drenched in spring reverb, feeling completely free to express myself. The lyrics allude to the ebb and flow that comes along with profound love,” shares Cannata.
Everytime I fall
I get right back swingin’
Beating heart in my chest
Weighing heavy, but free
So here I go again
Stumbling back into place
And I’m finding myself
With a smile on my face
For the video, with Thompson directing, the goal was to create a dreamy world set in an old canyon home, with a touch of surrealism, and a missed connection. It symbolizes the push and pull, miscommunication, and desire to connect that comes with relationships.
Cannata will usher in the album’s arrival with record release shows in NYC (Union Pool, January 24), Nashville (The Basement, January 27) and Los Angeles (Moroccan Lounge, January 31). This fall, he’ll do double duty when he opens Young The Giant’s sold-out anniversary shows events at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. With a solo acoustic performance of his own material as the opener, the shows will see Young The Giant perform their RIAA Gold-certified self-titled debut in its entirety (September 4) with the first-ever complete performance of their critically-acclaimed sophomore release, Mind Over Matter the following night (September 5). These shows were originally scheduled for January 19 and 20 but postponed due to the devastating wildfires in Southern California. Young The Giant will also perform at several music festivals this spring/summer and open for The Lumineers at Citi Field in Queens.
Cannata first dipped his toes into the solo stream with 2020’s Lonely Beast, a folk and psychedelia-tinged EP inspired by solitude that highlighted “Wilco and Sparklehorse as influences filtered into his own beguiling sound” [Post To Wire]. With Holding Onto the Holy, a vibrant indie rock/power pop collection about togetherness and how to love life while the world falls apart, sparked by his relationship with fellow artist, Hannah Connolly (the pair wed this fall), the album had its genesis during ten days of Covid quarantine, impelling Cannata to use a scratchy throat and an old microphone to find a new voice.
Taking inspiration from such classic pop and rock icons as Roy Orbison, Harry Nilsson, and Lou Reed/The Velvet Underground, the multi-talented instrumentalist and songwriter emphasized fun and exploration to chase other muses such as childhood cartoons, folklore, and daydreams. Cannata fleshed out his evolving sound with a range of varied instruments with additional accompaniment from Kosta Galanopoulos (drums) and father Ernie Cannata (piano), as well as a few trusted voices in Connolly and longtime friend and collaborator Jon O’Brien, who handled mixing and additional engineering.
Eric Cannata may have started Holding Onto the Holy searching for joy in a chaotic world, but he found it dancing by himself and recording with loved ones.
Eric Cannata Tour Dates
Sept 4 - W. Hollywood, CA - Troubadour* [SOLD OUT]
Sept 5 - W. Hollywood, CA - Troubadour* [SOLD OUT]
* supporting YOUNG THE GIANT
Young The Giant Tour Dates
May 16 - Richardson, TX - Wildflower! Arts & Music Fest
June 6 - Crownsville, MD - Let's Go Music Festival
June 28 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest
July 11 - Queens, NY - Citi Field (support for The Lumineers)
Sept 4 - W. Hollywood, CA - Troubadour [SOLD OUT]
Sept 5 - W. Hollywood, CA - Troubadour [SOLD OUT]
“The Wave” https://youtu.be/o0kDicO-Vqk
“There You Go Again” https://youtu.be/U_LO8WAAgR8
"Like You Do” https://youtu.be/X6kKMcKErIU
"Fruit" https://youtu.be/wMrxfOg8fOU
