#RisingArtist: We are making History together with John Holiday
Photo credit Shervin Lainez
Following the success of his debut single “Alive in Me,” accomplished countertenor John Holiday is set to release the ballad “Waste Mine” out now via all major streaming platforms with a visual slated for early October. The second song to be released from Holiday’s upcoming EP this winter, “Waste Mine” was written by songwriters Adam Argyle (Dua Lipa, 5 Seconds of Summer), Josh London (Jimmie Allen), and Steven McMorran (Celine Dion, Michael Bolton) and reunites Holiday with producer Rob Grimaldi (BTS’ “Butter”) and Grammy-winning engineer Tony Maserati (Beyonce, Usher, Mary J.Blige).
We had the chance to chat about his latest song, life lessons, and all things music, you can see the interview right above this post. If you are not, hit subscribe.
Holiday has a strong, personal connection to the song having been introduced to the track around the same time as the start of a new relationship, sharing, “‘Waste Mine’ is probably one of the most beautiful songs that I’ve ever heard, it immediately resonated with me. At the moment, I’d just started “talking to” my now fiancé Rio Souma while we were in Los Angeles - both contestants on The Voice - both on John Legend’s team. Though I was in the midst of a divorce, I instinctively felt an attraction to his heart, intellect, personality, and his voice.”
“One of the cardinal rules that we almost all follow is not wasting another person’s time. With this song, here I am telling Rio that if you do anything, please waste my time. Even if it doesn’t work out, and I’m just a fool in love, I’d rather give my everything, including having you waste my and your time to figure out what happens next. Where will this go? Who will we be together and how will we choose to love each other? Maybe it’ll work outright, but even if you’re wasting time, waste mine.”
More about John Holiday
Countertenor John Holiday has established himself as “one of the finest countertenors of his generation”(Los Angeles Times). His voice has been praised as “a thing of astonishing beauty” (New Yorker), “arrestingly powerful, secure and dramatically high” (Wall Street Journal), “exceptional [and]strong...even in its highest range” (The New York Times)and “timeless” (Washington Post). Holiday’sunique voice and powerful story have been the subject of profiles in the New Yorker, CNN’sGreat BigStory, Los Angeles Times, and more.
In 2021, Holiday will make his anticipated Metropolitan Opera debut in Matthew Aucoin’sEurydiceasOrpheus’s Double and is slated to make his role debut as Cherubino in Nozze Di Figaro at DallasOpera. An acclaimed concert singer, Holiday has performed at world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, London’s Barbican Center, and the Philharmonie de Paris. His career highlights have included a tour with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; the sorceress in Barrie Kosky’s production of Purcell’sDido and Aeneas, and the world premiere of MatthewAucoin’sEurydiceas Orpheus’s Double at the Los Angeles Opera; the world premiere of DanielRoumain’sWe Shall Not Be Moved with Opera Philadelphia and the Dutch National Opera; title role interest the Glimmerglass Festival; and Caesar in Handel’sGiulio Cesare in Egittoat Wolf Trap Opera. Outside of classical repertoire, Holidayexcels in jazz and gospel music has opened for Grammy award winner Jason Mraz in concert. In 2018, Holiday sang the national anthem for his hometown team the Houston Rockets, and in 2019, Holiday performed at the star-studded Ozwald Boateng Harlem RunwayShow at The Apollo Theater, in a performance that was covered byVogue, Forbes, and CNN, and attended by celebrities Jamie Foxx, Idris Elba, Dapper Dan, and others. Additionally, in 2019 Holidayperformed Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” at the Apollo Theater Spring Gala. Holiday has been the recipient of numerous major competitions and award programs such as the 2017Marian Anderson Vocal Award; the 2014 Richard Tucker Foundation’s Sara Tucker award; first place at the 2013 Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition, the 2012 Sullivan Foundation, and the 2011Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition; and third place winner in the 2014 OPERALIA competition.
In addition, Holiday was selected among WQXR’s prestigious20 for ‘20 Artists to Watch, named one ofBroadwayWorld’s “New York Opera Gifts that Keep on Giving,” nominated for “Newcomer of the Year” by the German magazineOpernwelt, and listed as one of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 100 honorees for 2018. John Holiday received a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Artist Diploma in Opera Studies from The Juilliard School in New YorkCity. Holiday grew up in Rosenberg, Texas, located near Houston, and attended the town’s public schools. Select an area to comment on
