Video Premiere: Holly Carter “What You See”

Here’s the latest single from award-winning songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Holly Carter. ‘What You See’ is an excellent showcase for Carter’s talents, particularly the beautifully fluent melody of her voice alongside her distinctive fingerstyle guitar playing. The compelling percussion and rolling, flowing rhythm of the song are accentuated by a wonderfully resonant stand-up bass. Meanwhile, the tune and character of ‘What You See’ are lifted by the fuzzy, bending notes and distinctive tone of the Fender Jaguar.

Carter’s well-chosen words were inspired by photographer Tish Murtha, as she explains: “This song is a tribute to the Newcastle-born photographer Tish Murtha. After watching a documentary about her life, I was struck by her fierce dedication to her principles and her tireless work documenting the real lives of working-class people. She never received the recognition she deserved, and she’s a prime example of how difficult the arts world can be to navigate when you don’t come from a background of privilege. My hope is for this song to be a testament to Tish and to help keep her name alive. I’m a big believer in music being a powerful way to share people’s stories and to keep someone’s memory alive, and in many ways, I think that was what Tish achieved with her photography. I’m so inspired by her dedication and her advocacy for the people she photographed, and I feel like more people need to know about her; if this song inspires even just one person to go and check out her work, then I’ll feel like I’ve done my job.”

A two-time AMAUK Instrumentalist of the Year winner, Bristol-based Carter is not just known for her fingerstyle playing but is also one of the only professional female pedal steel players in the UK. Carter is a sought-after session performer who has worked with the likes of Nina Nesbitt, Lady Nade and Elles Bailey on tours of the UK and USA, playing at Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival and AmericanaFest. However, she’s also an excellent artist in her own right, whose sensitively written, meaningful songs are great live, benefiting from her explanations and introductions that make their themes accessible and thought-provoking. See for yourself when Carter plays at Glastonbury on the 27th June. Further live dates are listed below. Enjoy.

Oct 31st – The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle (duo)
Nov 1st – Cafe no. 9, Sheffield (duo)
Nov 2nd – Temperance, Leamington Spa (trio)
Nov 5th – The Folklore Rooms, Brighton (duo)
Nov 6th – Green Note, London (trio)
Nov 19th – The Hen & Chicken, Bristol (full band show)