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🎵 IT021: To: You, Love: Me
✏️ Holly St Clair
🗓 10.12.18
Holly is an illustrator based in London and one half of Hi Bye Studio.


Hi Holly! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

This is a tape of songs that feel weirdly Christmassy (that was the working title of the playlist actually!). I don’t really love actual Christmas songs - except for the singular example in this mix. These are all tracks I listen to getting ready for Christmas parties, they get me in the mood without beating me over the head with Michael Bublé. They jingle, there’s an occasional sleigh bell, and if you have Winter blues some of them are actually about Summer.

How did you go about the artwork?

I wanted the cover to feel kind of simple and tender. A lot of the music I enjoy - and therefore the songs in the playlist - have really direct lyrics. It definitely translates with my work, visual metaphors and complex symbolism are… not my thing at all. I’d rather just be straightforward!

What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?


Solange - True (EP)
2012, Terrible


True is just a big red cover and I love that energy. It also happens to be one of my favourite all time EPs.


Sister Nancy - One, Two
1982, Techniques


On a totally different note, this Sister Nancy cover is like the opposite equal to True. Everything from her eyebrows to the typefaces, it’s all so great

What did you listen to growing up?

My parents aren’t big into music, we only had two tapes in our car growing up - an Elton John Best Of and the Lion King soundtrack. I had an inevitable pop-punk/emo phase and the questionable musical choices that came with that - but I also became completely obsessed with The Beatles at the same time. It’s a big mixed bag of goods, and my taste is still very scattered.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

A lot! I’m slowly winding down from a very busy couple of months. I’ve just finished a window for DIY Art Shop London, it came out so nice and I’m really proud of this project.

Slow Down Studio also recently launched our collaboration, it’s a baby blanket! I’m so stoked to have been able to work with them. There’s a few more things launching soon (I hope!), but apart from that I’m mostly focusing on Christmas markets - I’ve just wrapped up from DIY Art Market on Saturday!

Where to find Holly:

︎ hollystclair.com
︎ hollidaystclair
︎ @hollidaystclair

TRACKLIST
Chairlift - Bruises / Best Coast - Our Deal / Cults - Go Outside / Camera Obscura - French Navy / Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill / Odin Malchik - Another Time / Tennis - Origins / Rilo Kiley - Silver Lining / La Sera - Never Come Around / Florence + The Machine - Breaking Down / Wham! - Last Christmas ︎

Mark