The Jock of Rock Presents: Holly May Brown

CHARLEMONT, MA. - Say hello to Miss Holly May Brown… and remember that name folks because believe me, you are going to be hearing a lot more about this young lady in the very near future. In fact, Holly May has packed a lot into just the last year, including a Boston audition for the popular NBC-Television show The Voice, filming a video for a song written just for her, (that has gotten over a million YouTube hits) filmed yet another video for her second single titled “I’ve Been On The Run” and also recently signed a record deal... Whew! But don’t let me get a head of myself here… let’s go back a bit.

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Photos courtesy of Holly May Brown

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Growing up in Charlemont, Massachusetts, a small town in the Berkshire Mountains, Holly was first exposed to singing and performing at an early age through participating in talent shows, at church functions and school sporting events. “I’ve always sang songs for fun since I was around three years old,” Holly May said in a recent Cider interview.

“My first singing appearance, that I can remember, was at First Baptist Church in Colrain, Massachusetts. I was a member of that church when I was young and I remember singing a song called ‘Shout to the Lord.’ After that, I started learning a new song nearly every day and sing everywhere I went. My family isn’t really musical in the sense of performing or playing an instrument, but they have influenced me greatly because they enjoy all genres of music and of course, always help and encourage what I do as a musician.”

As her talents became more apparent, Holly May began performing National Anthems at her school’s football and basketball games, at school talent shows and other area competitions such as the Valley Idol Jr. competition at the Shea Theatre in Turners Falls, Ma., and Franklin County Fair’s Texaco Country Showdown, (at the ripe old age of 14) hosted by Bear Country Radio in Greenfield, Ma.

It was at the Valley Idol Jr. competition where Holly May would meet Enoch Jensen, a judge at the competition who became very impressed with her vocal talents. So much so, in fact, that Jensen would become Holly May’s manager. Holly also went to school with Jensen’s daughter, 16-year-old singer/songwriter Una Jensen, who also just so happened to write a song with Holly May in mind. Recorded last November, the aforementioned “Go Big or Go Home” has since been posted on YouTube, chalking up over a million views.

“The song ‘Go Big or Go Home’ was written by my friend and former classmate, Una, whose dad is now my manager. I had been introduced to Enoch Jensen at a local talent competition and then later in 2012, he had seen how much I’d grown as an artist and was interested in working with me. We began recording ‘Go Big or Go Home’ at his Eastlake Recording Studio (Shelburne Falls, MA.) and soon after, we filmed the video (with Enjen Video Productions) which has done well YouTube.”

With momentum building, Jensen started the search for a record deal and began working with Sono Recording Group based in Norwalk, CT. Sono is a full-service label dedicated to breaking new artists and concentrates on social media, collaboration and interactive services. “My manager reached out to Sono with my “Go Big or Go Home” single and soon after, we met with their management and signed a one-year deal,” Holly May said. “Claude Villani at Sono has also worked out a deal with Spotify for worldwide distribution through their online music streaming service.”

More recently, Holly May began recording songs in September to be released as an EP later this month, while also appearing in a video shoot with pop-country and Nashville recording artist Krista Angelucci, who just so happens to be Holly’s friend and former music rival from past talent competitions.

“I recently had the opportunity to head to Nashville and work with Krista, then record my new song, “I’ve Been on the Run,” at Castle Recording Studio in Tennessee, the very studio where Brad Paisley has recorded his albums. The video for the song was shot at different locations on the way to Nashville and will be released soon.” Pretty heady stuff for a 16-year-old from a small town in the Berkshire Mountains, who has never taken a vocal lesson in her life!

Along with the upcoming release of her debut EP, Holly will also be guest-appearing at some area shows in November with Randy Smith and His Band of Merry Men, including Nov. 23 at The Arts Block in Greenfield, Ma., Nov. 27 at the Mole Hill Theatre Night Club in Alstead, NH and Nov. 29 at The Venue in Burlington, Vt. Learn more about Holly May and her upcoming shows and EP release by visiting her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hollymay.