Opening with Holly’s own bluesy, smoky vocals, and a lilting, strummed guitar, Cuts Me Up gives the impression of a certain timidity. That is shattered, however, as the song hits its first chorus, an earth-shaking bass-drop underlining Wild’s delivery.
The result is a song that feels both coy, and knowing. As Holly sings about living with the aftermath of a relationship turned sour, she appears to be both heartbroken, and completely in control. She sings about being cut up, and yet, notably, admits ‘I know I was the one with the knife’.
Born and raised in a musical family, Holly’s father used to while away his evenings, singing and playing Roy Orbison songs on guitar. Holly learnt the foundations of her craft, singing backup vocals with her father, as her (less musically gifted) mother attempted to keep up, and keep in tune. Wild brings that experience, being immersed in the rock and folk music greats, into a contemporary setting.
The result could feel cheap, and yet Holly’s performance transcends the trappings of the electronic elements of Cuts Me Up’s production. The result swings between brassy, classical, bluesy pop, and something much more self-aware — just like Holly’s lyrics.