Monday October 4, 2021
Australian singer-songwriter Julie Haigh has been touring and doing gigs for quite some time now, performing professionally as a solo guitarist/vocalist in local venues, then as lead vocalist/guitarist of various high-profile duos, trios and pop cover bands in Melbourne and interstate.
But it’s only recently that she has stepped out on her own, with a debut EPrelease, Never Too Late, and this work, Hold On To Love, the lead track. An accomplished musician—fifth-grade classical guitar with first-class honours, to be precise—Julie has performed at some of Australia’s most prominent venues and appeared on Foxtel sports TV, performing the opening songs for pre-match entertainment, as well as singing the national anthem at many major boxing tournaments.
Julie began writing songs about her real-life experiences while painting full time. She has since resurfaced from the pressure of the day-to-day grind; her newfound attitude revealed on Hold On To Love, a country-rock-tinged pop amalgamation of melodic flair, strident vocal performance and a lyric that attempts to explore the complexities of defiant, determined love. As Julie says about the new track, ‘My partner and I were in a tumultuous relationship for nearly five years, but we knew we loved each other deeply. We agreed it was a once in a lifetime love.
I wanted to convey one message in the song, no matter how tough true love is, no matter how many obstacles you might face, no matter how much love might hurt, the pain is worth enduring, there is such a thing as true love, and it’s precious, it’s irreplaceable.’ I’m sure many will agree with that sentiment, and Julie espouses it with conviction and a certain kind of persuasive solemnity. But the track is quite a zippy musical ride too, taking its cues from a retro version of country peppered pop-rock.
As Julie has said about the stylistic treatment of the song, ‘When recording the song, I wanted it to be pretty upbeat, with a bit of a country-rock vibe, something along the lines of Shania Twain, something you could maybe dance to, or at the very least tap your foot along to.’ And that’s pretty much what’s on show here—a relatable, accessible, musical experience.
