01Profile
A Sophy Hollington Photo
Sophy Hollington
Artist/Illustrator — Brighton
03Interview
Photo: Sam Hiscox
Name, where are you from?
Sophy Hollington, and I’m from Brighton.
Describe your style in three words?
Androgynous, practical, eclectic.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Fleetwood Mac at the 02 Arena in 2012, I wasn't a big fan before the show but a friend had some free tickets and I went along. They totally won me over and it was weirdly emotional. I think it was the first show they did with Christine in a long time and Peter Green was in the audience.
If you could work with any artist in history?
After recently collaborating with a writer (David Keenan, who I made a tarot deck with) and it working so well, I think I’d choose another. Maybe Kurt Vonnegut. He’d write a new collection of short stories and I’d illustrate them - ha!
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I’ve actually recently returned to Brighton after 10 years in London. I was a teenager down here and was completely drawn in by the '60s counterculture stuff that’s been happening here for decades. My friends and I would go to all the mod-nights wearing pastel polyester dresses and white tights with beehives. Fashions aside, I still love all the music and have gone from listening to garage like you’d find on the Pebbles and Nuggets compilations to more psychedelic, jazz and folk-influenced music of the later '60s and early '70s.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Hieronymus Bosch, I’d love to know where all that came from.
Of all the places you’ve shown your work, which is your favourite?
As an illustrator, I don’t exhibit my work a lot in a gallery setting, but I do get to have my work shown in plenty of magazines and papers. I think having my work printed in The New Yorker is the coolest one so far.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Unsung? Nick Drake, who I guess was unsung in his lifetime, although he’s massively lauded now. Maybe not enough though, I love his music and his voice and his lyrics, so much.
Artist and illustrator, Sophy Hollington, works primarily in linocut combining modern themes with medieval-like motifs and narratives. Her work has recently featured on the artwork for Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs' new album 'King Of Cowards' and as part of the Rough Trade Books new series of pamphlets, in collaboration with author David Keenan.
Find out more at sophyhollington.com
Sophy also plays guitar in London based band Novella.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Nirvana - 'Polly'
I remembered this song playing from my sister’s bedroom when she was a teenager and I was a kid. When I became a teenager myself and discovered Nirvana, I played this over and over like a badge of honour and teenagerdom.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Pixies - 'Where Is My Mind?'
I was a very melancholy teenager and liked to wallow. This song was one of my favourites to wallow to and it was easy to play very badly on an acoustic guitar.
One record you would keep forever?
Nick Drake - 'Five Leaves Left'. Song: 'River Man'
A record I never get tired of.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
“Sometimes my life is so eerie”
Love - 'The Red Telephone'
A song you wished you had written?
Beach Boys - '’Til I Die'
How is it that a band like The Beach Boys, on an album as hit and miss as 'Surf’s Up', can come up with something as existentially sad and amazing as this? I love it.
Best song to turn up loud?
Pentagram - 'Be Forewarned (Macabre mix)'
I first heard this song on a '60s compilation called ‘Gathering of The Tribe’ but it was by a band called Macabre. Later I found out they were an early incarnation of the heavy metal band Pentagram. The ending of this song is so heavy, you can see where they were headed.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Souls Of Mischief - ’93 'Til Infinity'
I know pretty much nothing about Hip Hop but know I love this record. their song 'Cab Fare' isn't on Spotify but I’d choose that if I could.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Dee-Lite - 'Groove Is In The Heart'
Self-explanatory.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Syrinx - 'Hollywood Dream Trip'
I found this recently. It’s serene.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Adrianne Lenker - 'Symbol'
I’m not listening to a lot of new music at the moment, but this is an exception.
03Interview
Photo: Sam Hiscox
Name, where are you from?
Sophy Hollington, and I’m from Brighton.
Describe your style in three words?
Androgynous, practical, eclectic.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Fleetwood Mac at the 02 Arena in 2012, I wasn't a big fan before the show but a friend had some free tickets and I went along. They totally won me over and it was weirdly emotional. I think it was the first show they did with Christine in a long time and Peter Green was in the audience.
If you could work with any artist in history?
After recently collaborating with a writer (David Keenan, who I made a tarot deck with) and it working so well, I think I’d choose another. Maybe Kurt Vonnegut. He’d write a new collection of short stories and I’d illustrate them - ha!
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I’ve actually recently returned to Brighton after 10 years in London. I was a teenager down here and was completely drawn in by the '60s counterculture stuff that’s been happening here for decades. My friends and I would go to all the mod-nights wearing pastel polyester dresses and white tights with beehives. Fashions aside, I still love all the music and have gone from listening to garage like you’d find on the Pebbles and Nuggets compilations to more psychedelic, jazz and folk-influenced music of the later '60s and early '70s.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Hieronymus Bosch, I’d love to know where all that came from.
Of all the places you’ve shown your work, which is your favourite?
As an illustrator, I don’t exhibit my work a lot in a gallery setting, but I do get to have my work shown in plenty of magazines and papers. I think having my work printed in The New Yorker is the coolest one so far.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Unsung? Nick Drake, who I guess was unsung in his lifetime, although he’s massively lauded now. Maybe not enough though, I love his music and his voice and his lyrics, so much.
Artist and illustrator, Sophy Hollington, works primarily in linocut combining modern themes with medieval-like motifs and narratives. Her work has recently featured on the artwork for Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs' new album 'King Of Cowards' and as part of the Rough Trade Books new series of pamphlets, in collaboration with author David Keenan.
Find out more at sophyhollington.com
Sophy also plays guitar in London based band Novella.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Nirvana - 'Polly'
I remembered this song playing from my sister’s bedroom when she was a teenager and I was a kid. When I became a teenager myself and discovered Nirvana, I played this over and over like a badge of honour and teenagerdom.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Pixies - 'Where Is My Mind?'
I was a very melancholy teenager and liked to wallow. This song was one of my favourites to wallow to and it was easy to play very badly on an acoustic guitar.
One record you would keep forever?
Nick Drake - 'Five Leaves Left'. Song: 'River Man'
A record I never get tired of.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
“Sometimes my life is so eerie”
Love - 'The Red Telephone'
A song you wished you had written?
Beach Boys - '’Til I Die'
How is it that a band like The Beach Boys, on an album as hit and miss as 'Surf’s Up', can come up with something as existentially sad and amazing as this? I love it.
Best song to turn up loud?
Pentagram - 'Be Forewarned (Macabre mix)'
I first heard this song on a '60s compilation called ‘Gathering of The Tribe’ but it was by a band called Macabre. Later I found out they were an early incarnation of the heavy metal band Pentagram. The ending of this song is so heavy, you can see where they were headed.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Souls Of Mischief - ’93 'Til Infinity'
I know pretty much nothing about Hip Hop but know I love this record. their song 'Cab Fare' isn't on Spotify but I’d choose that if I could.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Dee-Lite - 'Groove Is In The Heart'
Self-explanatory.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Syrinx - 'Hollywood Dream Trip'
I found this recently. It’s serene.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Adrianne Lenker - 'Symbol'
I’m not listening to a lot of new music at the moment, but this is an exception.