Holon: Finding Beauty in Silence

Hi there, thanks for answering some questions for us!

Happy to be here! Always great to talk about holon and the music - especially if it means a break from obsessing over mix tweaks I’ll probably undo later anyway.

Please tell us a bit about yourself…

My name’s Ronny, I’m based in Trondheim, Norway, and holon is my solo project - though I’ve had the great fortune of collaborating with Geir Anfinn Halland Johansen on drums since the very beginning. I write, record, arrange, mix, master - basically everything except drum magic, which Geir handles brilliantly.

I’ve been into music since I was a kid, and at some point I realized that if I didn’t make the kind of music I wanted to hear, nobody else would. That led to holon: a blend of progressive rock, ambient textures, ethnic music and singer-songwriter storytelling, and the occasional harmonic detour.

Tell us about your new album or single

The latest holon single is “Silent City,” and calling it a “single” feels slightly optimistic because it’s about 17 minutes long. Some streaming services seem to think I’ve released an EP. They may have a point.

The first part of the song was written around fifteen years ago, shortly after my marriage ended. My ex-wife had moved out, and I spent Easter alone in Trondheim. Norwegian cities become remarkably quiet during Easter because everyone disappears to their cabins or into the mountains. That year the empty streets seemed to amplify the loneliness I was already experiencing. I was sitting alone playing acoustic guitar when the chords and melody appeared.

About ten years later, COVID happened and Trondheim became a silent city again - but this time for completely different reasons. By then I had a new partner and wasn’t lonely at all. If anything, like many couples during lockdown, spending all our time together occasionally made escaping downstairs to my studio rather attractive!

The second half grew from a discarded drum idea Geir had recorded years earlier. We’d finished recording the original song when I asked him to try a 6/8 groove with an African-inspired feel, mostly using toms. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with it, so it sat unused until lockdown suddenly gave it context.

The entire seventeen minutes are built primarily around two chords, so arranging it became an interesting exercise in creating movement through rhythm, dynamics, instrumentation and texture instead of harmony.

There’s acoustic and electric guitar, sitar, Indian-inspired singing and some fairly expansive instrumental sections. Kjell Magne Robak also plays cello, and his hauntingly beautiful performance adds a wonderful melancholy to the track.

So it’s really two pieces of music, written about a decade apart, reflecting two very different kinds of silence.

Which song would you say sums up your sound the best?

I think possibly the previous single, Love & Behold - is a culmination of the holon sound. It has melodic sections, vocal harmonies, ambient sounds, ethnic elements, acoustic instruments, emotional and philosophical lyrics, fuzz guitar, long instrumental sections that just keeps building, a bass solo, hammond organ, slide guitar, punchy drums. What more could you want? I guess the title song from the previous album “The Time Is Always Now” also has quite a few typical holon elements.

How did you get into music?

I started out taping radio chart countdowns on cassette as a kid. That sparked my interest in how songs were constructed - how they made you feel something. Later, I was assigned the guitar in music class (a lucky twist of fate), and that’s when things really started to click.

From there, I was off to the races - locked in my room with a guitar, a 4-track recorder, and a drum machine, trying to figure out how to bring my musical ideas to life. The obsession hasn’t really stopped since.

What does a typical writing and recording day look like?

It usually starts with an acoustic guitar and a half-brewed idea. I’ll play around until something catches my ear - a chord progression, a melody, even just a texture. I record rough ideas on my phone, then dig into them later and start building arrangements in my home studio.

I try to let songs develop organically. Sometimes they come together quickly. Other times, they fight me every step of the way. Either way, I always trust the process - even if it includes long detours into plugins, technicalities or existential reflection.

How did you get your band name?

“holon” is a philosophical term I found while reading Ken Wilber. It describes something that is both a whole and a part of a greater whole. That felt right - both for music and for life. Every sound, every emotion, every moment - connected, but still its own thing.

Also, it had a nice ring to it. And let’s face it, all the cool one-word band names were already taken.

What has been the hardest thing about your music journey so far?

Probably the sheer scope of wearing all the hats. Being a one-person operation means you’re the artist, producer, engineer, social media manager, music video animator and occasionally your own therapist. It can be a lot. Especially when the world expects you to be loud and visible all the time, when your art leans toward introspection and subtlety.

What’s been the easiest?

The music itself. Not always technically easy - but emotionally natural. Writing and creating feels like something I’m meant to do. Even on the hard days, there’s a sense of purpose behind it that keeps me going. I don’t have to force it - it’s the one part of life that consistently makes sense.

What would you be doing if you weren’t making music?

That is such a strange thought that I can’t even envision it. Maybe in a parallel universe there is a version of me that gets all of his creativity out in knitting floral patterned sweaters? Or something like that. I am quite good at filling my time with things to do so I would possibly have had some technical project or ideas that I would use my hyperfocus on. Maybe I would be working on making guitar effects or plugins then?

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

Frank Zappa had some words of wisdom: “Watch out where the huskies go and don’t you eat that yellow snow!”. That is some advice that comes handy here in snow ridden Norway ;) On a more serious note - and still with Frank Zappa. The following quote has been attributed to him: ”A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open” is some seriously good advice. Be open to things and you will live a better and happier life. You can apply it to anything in your life. I use it all the time with music - trying to be open to anything and taking inspiration from any good and authentic music out there.

What’s next?

Finishing and releasing Part 1 of Love & Behold is the next milestone, with more singles coming soon. After that, I’ll turn my attention to Part 2, and start resurfacing some older songs that never got the spotlight but still have something to say.

There’s also a lot of visual and conceptual material I want to bring to life - so while live shows aren’t the current focus, the creative output will be constant. The goal is to keep making music that resonates, for those who find their way to it.

Please add any socials so we can share

📡 Connect with holon

🔗Latest single: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/holon2/silent-city

🌐 Website: https://holon.band

🎧 Spotify: Holon on Spotify

🍎 Apple Music: Holon on Apple Music

🌊 Tidal: Holon on Tidal

🎵 Bandcamp: https://holonband.bandcamp.com