Last month I traveled to Austin, Texas to attend Levitation Festival with Graham, my friend and host of The Pit. Not too long before our trip, he introduced me to a band he thought I would like — presumably due to their groovy, doom vibes and heavy sound. The fact that they are a group of hot rocker babes draped in a variety of black velvet and leather probably didn’t hurt, either.
Straight out of Portland, Oregon, Blackwater Holylight is a five woman heavy-psych ensemble brought together by a dedicated passion of making music. Although their individual styles are different, their attitude as a whole is strong and defined — something that seems like it was amplified most deeply by their own personal relationship with music. Watching them perform live at Barracuda in Austin made me realize one thing for certain: these chicks have some serious things to say, and it was refreshingly easy for someone like me to let my guard down and listen.
Inspired by music at young ages, each member of Blackwater Holylight originated their obsession with music through their own life experiences. They are each drawn to different genres and styles, all of which contribute to what they are doing today.
“Everyone in the band has completely different inspirations musically, and that’s what makes our sound so fluid and genre reaching,” said Sunny Faris, bassist, vocalist and founder of the band. “Our inspiration comes from our life experiences; what we’ve been through and how we release it in the music.”
Sunny started playing music with the group’s bassist Laura Hopkins ten years ago. Their voices blend together harmoniously, what Sunny said was due to their instant connection. Since discovering drummer Eliese Dorsay, guitarist Mikayla Mayhew and synth player Sarah McKenna, the band as it is now has a great way of working together and listening to each other.
“Together, we uplift each other to break through those barriers and embrace vulnerability,” Sunny said.
Being a woman obsessed with rock and roll music myself, falling for Blackwater Holylight wasn’t very hard for me to do. Not just because they are all female, but because I relate to each member’s need and desire to embrace their individuality. There is also a strong support system present among them, which makes me feel good about looking up to them as people.
“Working with women is working through all the limitations that society has put onto us and the ideas of what we can and can’t do. Our favorite thing about performing live is connecting with each other on-stage, and losing our minds to the music.”
My favorite Blackwater Holylight song is The Protector. I love its transition from soft and sexy, to hard and heavy, and its witchy vibes make it a fun one to sing along and groove too. It’s obvious the band has fun performing their songs, but Sunny told me that some of their songs are more intense and more emotional to play than others.
“Moonlit and Seeping Secrets speak from a place of grief, and playing them live relives those experiences every time. Our music has helped all of us heal from wounds and get through trauma.”
The ladies have had a busy past year, including a full European tour, and leg of US shows, and the recording and release of their record, Veils of Winter. They plan to keep touring and writing, in hopes of releasing another album by the end of next year. When this girl gang of rockers isn’t ripping it up on tour with their friends Thou or Monolord, you can probably find them riding motorcycles or petting dogs.
Blackwater Holylight is leading the pack in regards to their own niche of heavy mood rock, and the fact that they are all strong, independent women, gives them a little something extra as far as connecting with those who have the same feelings hidden within their love for music. I am excited to see all that unfolds for this band, and I certainly cannot wait to see them perform live again, hopefully next time in Minnesota.