Hollie Cook announces Happy Hour album plus tour and video

It’s action stations this summer for the former Slit and Orb collaborator turned lovers rock singer

Hollie Cook has announced the release of her forthcoming new album Happy Hour, set for a June 24 launch via Merge Records. 

On the album Hollie invites listeners into her personal sound-world of lovers’ rock and reggae, which she co-produced with her General Roots band members Ben Mckone and Luke Allwood, as well as executive producer Youth.

To celebrate the official album announcement and accompanying tour dates (see below), Hollie has shared the video for ‘Full Moon Baby’, the first single from the album. 

Cook said: “The song is inspired by new life and, of course, the moon. Two of my closest friends had recently had babies, and I was filled with so much hope and love. Moons and babies both have such a soft, gentle nature to them and fill me with wonder. Also, babies look like tiny moons.”

Touring as a teenager with punk legends The Slits, Hollie’s mentor was Ari Up, the band’s lead singer and a lifelong friend of Cook’s parents (Sex Pistols drummer Paul and her singer mother Jeni of Culture Club). 

“My father always said I would be a singer. But I discovered lovers rock on my own. I heard it on pirate radio and at friends’, and I was bewildered, enchanted,” she recalls. “The Slits are the reason I have pursued this career. I was surrounded by powerful women at a young age, and when my time came, I was never fazed by male dominance. They were my wall of courage.”

Cook also said of the ‘Happy Hour’ LP: “Particularly with the songwriting, I was trying to really push myself and be open, to not be restricted in any way. I have always been a fan of theatrical pop music and wanted to experiment more with the song form.”

“I can’t get away from it,” she said. “Making this music that I love, I do turn deep inside myself. It makes me explore a lot of human truths and feelings that we should not shy away from, and it feels like a release to turn them into songs.”

‘Happy Hour’ is set to be released on June 24. Pre-order the album here.

Cook’s upcoming world tour pencils in numerous live dates across the UK, New York State and the Netherlands (info below). For tickets and more information, visit: www.holliecook.com

Jun 30 LONDON, UK – Rough Trade East (‘Happy Hour’ release show)

Sep 28 BROOKLYN, NY – Elsewhere Rooftop

Oct 14 GLASGOW, UK – King Tut’s

Oct 15 BLACKPOOL, UK – Bootleg Social

Oct 16 MANCHESTER, UK – Gorilla

Oct 18 LEEDS, UK – Brudenell Social Club

Oct 20 NOTTINGHAM, UK – Rescue Rooms

Oct 21 BRISTOL, UK – Thekla

Oct 22 BRIGHTON, UK – Chalk

Oct 23 SOUTHAMPTON, UK – The 1865

Oct 26 LONSON, UK – Village Underground

Oct 27 BEAUVAIS, FR – L’Ouvre-Boîte

Oct 28 PARIS, FR – Trabendo

Oct 29 BRUSSELS, BE – Botanique

Oct 30 UTRECHT, NL – Tivoli de Helling

Nov 04 SAINT PIERRE, RE – Kergueven

Nov 05 LE PORT, RE – Kabardock