The name Vlad Holiday sounds like a special day in Russia honoring Mr. Putin, but it’s actually the handle for a Romanian-born pop artist now living in Nashville. Vlad was born in Bucharest but moved to NYC to hone his lo-fi craft, thence to Music City. His new single “Closer” is a melodic midtempo number that’s rhythmically inventive. The song is a preview of Holiday’s debut album My Favorite Drug, dropping on November 15.
Cage The Elephant’s Matt Shultz co-wrote “Closer” and adds supporting vocals on the track. “This is a love song,” says Vlad. “It introduces the romantic element of the album. It’s about going with the flow and letting the universe do its thing rather than forcing things into existence.”
Vlad’s previous single “I Don’t Wanna Party Anymore” was a collab with Kacey Musgraves. Holiday will soon kick off a Midwest tour, with stops in Austin, Grand Rapids and Chicago.
Most of history’s famous Vlads have been scary dudes like Vlad The Impaler and Vlad Lenin. But this Vlad will instantly charm you with his love for vintage microphones and tape machines. With help from his famous friends, Holiday is well on his way to becoming a lo-fi legend.
Listen to “Closer” below, or find it on the streaming services.