By: Juan Carlos
Linn Holmstedt is a Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter from Sweden. Known for her work as a session singer, performing and recording background vocals for a wide variety of bands and artists, this year she embarked on her solo journey under the artist name “Linn Holmes” and with her EP “Introducing Linn Holmes,” which was released on July 12th this year. Her debut single, “Cut Me,” premiered on April 5th.
Holmes’s style is a mix of the influences of her mother’s time singing gospel and her father’s love for Rock’ n Roll.
After coming to Los Angeles, Linn’s career has been quite a journey. In 2020, she started working as a resident session singer for LA-based Management Company Sparam Entertainment, for whom she performed as a background vocalist for their Artist roster – including pop star and Australian X-Factor Artist Julian De Vizio. Then, she began working as an artist herself under Sparam Entertainment as part of the blues/rock duo Swedish Highcoast Ensemble. Holmes functioned as the lead singer and songwriter for the band, and they performed livestreams sponsored by massive companies such as Ultimate Ears and Digico. They also recorded a full-length album that is currently in the works.
Linn is also a member of the 12-piece vintage rock group Harry Katz and the Pistachios with whom she has been performing headlining shows, festivals and countless venues around California, and a member of duo Asteron alongside producer Tom Hatziemanouel.
The Swedish singer is attracting the attention of brands, receiving sponsorship contracts, and is currently endorsed by SE Electronics as well as Minuendo Sounds.
We talked to her about her life and career.
Working with producer Tom Chandler and musicians like Derek Frank and Adam Peri must be exciting. How did these collaborations come about, and what has the creative process been like?
It all started with me getting introduced to Rev. Tom Chandler through my close friend and glam rock artist Jules & the Howl – who also works frequently with Tom. I had been sitting on a handful of songs that I’d written and that I had been wanting to do something with for quite some time, and when it met Tom, it just all kind of clicked. We went into the studio, and it all just sort of naturally unfolded into this EP. Our flow was amazing, and our thoughts on music were the same; we became great friends, and I am so grateful to have met Tom.
I am also so incredibly grateful for all the musicians working on this EP – Daniel Jakubovic, Derek Frank, Adam Peri, Andrew Benjamin Maldonado, Tom Chandler, of course, Alexy Shant Yeghikian and Jenny Dang. They brought the music to life, gave it so much soul and gave each song its own identity. It would not have been possible without them, and I feel so blessed that they wanted to lend me their talents.
In addition to your solo work, you are involved with several bands and projects. How do you balance your time and creative energy between these different endeavors?
Honestly, it all kind of feeds off one another. The musicians around me – friends, collaborators, artists, and the bands I sing with – inspire me so much. Seeing their work ethic and how much heart and soul they put into their work really inspires me to try my hardest to do the same. It gives me SO much creative energy, and I have learned so much from working with them all. It is amazing in so many ways to be a part of such a vibrant and amazing community of creatives.
I also love the aspect of seeing and experiencing the different approaches to music, to get to sing different genres of music and learn from others musicianship – through that I have gotten to grow my own skillset too. I absolutely love working as a session singer and I love the variety it brings – I feel like I get to learn so much on the daily.
What can fans expect from your solo EP “Introducing Linn Holmes”?
I want to take my listeners on a little escape from reality – to take them with me in my vintage little daydream. I want people to feel heard and I hope that my music could make their day even so slightly more joyful. If my music can contribute with just a wee bit more joy or, a smile or a little dance, I’d be over the moon.
I like to think of each song as reflecting its own little season of my life, and I hope that all the feels come through, resonating with my listeners!
Published By: Aize Perez
