The beloved duo, made up of Timothy Carroll and Oscar Dawson, have announced one last tour before their indefinite hiatus
Holy Holy have finally decided to hit pause after a decade of relentless touring, five albums and countless live shows.
For the last 10 years, the duo has been a constant presence on the Australian music scene. After releasing their debut EP The Pacific in 2014, the band was constantly in motion, incorporating pop-rock and electronic elements to create the distinctive sound that we know today.
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Their albums, including Hello My Beautiful World and Cellophane, have a spot on the ARIA Albums chart, solidifying their status as songwriting machines.
“Holy Holy have always been pretty relentless and ambitious,” Tim says. “So it did feel like the right time to stop.”
Tim grins at the thought of stepping back, with no deadlines, tour itineraries or press cycles. Instead, he’s excited to explore projects outside the Holy Holy universe, where he plans to switch the tour bus for paint brushes, exploring visual art and other solo songwriting opportunities.
The plans outside Holy Holy are already in motion. With Oscar currently living overseas in London, Tim plans to pack up his life in Australia to live with his family in Sweden later this year.
“That was the trigger,” he explains. “We wanted our kids to have the chance to connect with their Swedish culture. And for me, I wanted to know what life feels like without an album in the mix or a tour to promote.”
It’s a full-circle moment for a band that started as nothing more than a casual writing project between friends. They didn’t expect it to become a career, let alone a life.
“I didn’t even think being a musician was a real career,” Tim laughs. “I was in my late twenties. We made one album and that was it. But it ended up being so much more.”
“If I zoom out for too long, I could cry”, he admits. “Music has always been important to me, and certain parts of it are within me.” He certainly does not take for granted the special and deep bond he has created with music and his fans, which have been at the heart of Holy Holy’s story.
“They’ve been so good to us – coming to the shows, listening to the records and sending us messages. After the shows, Oscar and I always go to the merch desk and meet people and hear stories about how the music soundtracked their weddings, their births and their relationships. It’s been a huge privilege.”
Tim reflects on why their fans don’t deserve a disappearing act. “There’s a version of this where we could have just slipped away, like a smoke bomb at a party,” Tim says, “but that never felt right.”
Instead, they’re choosing to give them a raw honest goodbye. “A few years ago, I decided: no more Irish exits. I want to walk around the party, thank everyone and say a proper goodbye. And that’s what this tour is.”
It’s a send-off not just for the fans, but for themselves – a way to honour a decade that’s shaped their lives. Still, one question lingers: is this truly the end for Holy Holy?
No one knows. That’s kind of the point. “I think that it’s kind of important at this moment to just not have an answer,” Tim says. “I’m excited about stepping away and experiencing a different life.”
For now, they’re focused on making this tour unforgettable, a full and heartfelt farewell for their fans. “We’re playing some beautiful venues,” Tim says.
“The Forum in Melbourne sold out and we’ve added a Sunday night show at The Corner. Then we’re doing a Cherry Bar DJ set after the Forum show. It’s going to be wild. The sold-out show, afterparty DJ set, then wake up dusty and play another gig.” Classic.
To get tickets to see Holy Holy on their farewell tour, head here.
