INTERVIEW: As John Holiday prepares for his Met debut, he also turns toward pop
Photo: John Holiday’s new single is called “Alive in Me.” Photo courtesy of Shervin Lainez / Provided by Fearless PR with permission.
John Holiday, an accomplished countertenor who appeared on NBC’s The Voice, has earned many accolades throughout his illustrious career, and he has stayed busy in 2021, despite a global pandemic that has upended the live performance industry. He recently sang with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in an all-Gershwin program at the Hollywood Bowl, and in December, he’ll make his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Eurydice. He’ll also appear with the New York Philharmonic for their annual performances of Handel’s Messiah.
As a much-in-demand countertenor, Holiday has appeared on stages around the world, but his musical interests extend beyond opera and include everything from jazz to gospel to pop. In fact, Holiday recently released a pop song called “Alive in Me.” The tune is just one more bullet point on the long résumé of the accomplished singer.
Recently Holiday exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox to talk about his new single, what it has been like to be a singer during a pandemic, and his desire to communicate love, joy and peace. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What inspired you to record “Alive in Me”? What’s the song mean to you?
Growing up, it wasn’t uncommon for me to see the multi-faceted nature of love; however, all those variants of love were heteronormative in nature. As a young, black, gay kid, I never saw myself reflected in any of that love. Maybe, it was too taboo … it was unspoken. So, I began to feel as if I’d never experience love for myself. “Alive in Me” is a reminder to everyone, but especially to those young kids and teens who are like me — a reminder that there is love. Love so deeply rooted within you that it’s aching to come out. Love so beautiful that it’s a sin not so share it.
“Alive in Me” is [a] story about knowing that if there is love for others, then, certainly, love is also there for me. When I began to discover songs for this project, I wanted to find something that was representative of me. Questions of love and whether or not I’d find a genuine love began to resurface. Was I good enough? Was I worthy of love again? Would I find someone who cares enough about me, just as I am? As sure as my name is John Holiday, Jr., and, after a lot of soul-searching, I discovered that the answers to all of those questions were an emphatic YES.
I have found love, and I know that I’m worthy of every good thing. “Alive in Me,” in many ways, was the song that brought about a new awakening in my life and helped me to find that place of surrender, which I am always searching for. Surrendering to love … to the process of the journey … to life and my pursuit of happiness.
How have you fared during the pandemic? As a performer, has it been difficult?
Thanks be to God, I’ve done OK. There are moments when I begin to question what it all looks like, post pandemic, but, then, I’m reminded to be in the present and to follow my feel good. For me, the only thing that’s been difficult is the ability to hug those who are dear to me. Another hard aspect is being able to connect with my audiences, post show. Typically, I love to hug, shake hands or speak with my fans. Nowadays, that is all done behind a rope line or barriers. It’s not the most opportune way to connect, but it will work, especially until we find a better way. The other challenge has been the ability to connect with my other singer friends. It will happen, I’m sure, in due time.
When did you realize you had a gift as an operatic singer?
I think the realization of one’s gift is ongoing. It’s a journey. I continue to discover the multi-faceted nature of my vocal gifts, each time that I’m presented with new repertoire — be it classical or commercial in nature. What I’m thankful for is the ability to recognize and know that there is more …. that I am capable of more … that I’m on the journey. When will I arrive, who knows? Who is the arbiter of that arrival, who knows? What I do know and believe is that each opportunity that I am lucky to have leads me further along the journey, and my biggest prayer is that God is pleased with what I’m doing with the gift he’s given me and that I always show up as my most present and authentic self.
Do you have a preference on what music you like to sing? Baroque? Contemporary?
I have no preference. My only desire is to communicate love and joy and peace. To promote that. To show what it feels like when you live in the fullest most beautiful expression of yourself.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
John Holiday’s new single is “Alive in Me.” Click here for more information.
