Blackwater Holylight: All-Female Doomgaze Outfit Rocks Psycho Las Vegas, 2022
In my previous post in this series, I spoke about the benefits of attending a music festival as diverse as Psycho Las Vegas. Besides the big headliner names you already know, there are several great bands you get to discover. Another one of those bands, for me, was Blackwater Holylight.
Blackwater Holylight are a doomgaze/metal band from Portland, Oregon made up of bassist-vocalist Allison “Sunny” Faris, guitarists Laura Hopkins (who, for some reason, did not perform with the band at Psycho in favor of Camille Getz on viola), guitarist Mikayla Mayhew, synth player Sarah McKenna and drummer Eliese Dorsay.
How would I describe them? I think New Noise Magazine put it best: “Blackwater Holylight, as the name suggests, is all about contrasts. It’s a fluid convergence of sound that’s heavy, psychedelic, melodic, terrifying, and beautiful all at once.” After watching them perform and editing their photos while listening to their three albums on Spotify, I can unreservedly concur. Fans of Black Sabbath to Lush or the Cocteau Twins will appreciate their dreamy stoner rock sound, especially the vocal harmonies of Faris and Hopkins.
Blackwater Holylight
The band’s self-titled debut album, released in April 2017, was followed up with “Veils of Winter”, released in October 2019. Their latest album, “Silence/Motion”, released in October of 2021 was praised by Metal Injection Magazine: “Silence/Motion feels like a sinister lullaby, with the bookending tracks of “Delusional” and “Every Corner” setting the tone of deceptively savage melancholy.” Treblezine added: “Self-assured and thoughtfully concise, Silence/Motion shows both maturity and ownership of the band’s aesthetic, the kind of bold work that can only come with time, experience and a certain confidence to take on a bolder approach.”
Allison “Sunny” Faris: bass/vocals
The band’s self-titled debut album, released in April 2017, was followed up with “Veils of Winter”, released in October 2019. Their latest album, “Silence/Motion”, released in October of 2021 was praised by Metal Injection Magazine: “Silence/Motion feels like a sinister lullaby, with the bookending tracks of “Delusional” and “Every Corner” setting the tone of deceptively savage melancholy.” Treblezine added: “Self-assured and thoughtfully concise, Silence/Motion shows both maturity and ownership of the band’s aesthetic, the kind of bold work that can only come with time, experience and a certain confidence to take on a bolder approach.”
Mikayla Mayhew: guitar
That they’re an all-female outfit ain’t no accident either. All band members have played in bands with men before, but Blackwater Holylight isn’t necessarily a reaction to those experiences. When the band first started writing together, Faris quickly realized the interpersonal advantages of an all-female lineup. “If there was a point of contention between two people, it was more of a conversation than, like, an outlet to blow up,” she said in an interview with Revolver Magazine. “We do have our moments — don’t get me wrong — but it’s just a little bit more delicate and soft in keeping each other’s feelings in mind.”
She continues: “For some women that watch us, I think it’s more about us being women. And for other women, it might be about how we play. But men and women and non-binary folks come up to us after shows and they’re inspired by us whether or not we’re female. So if us being up there and playing our songs inspires someone and gives someone confidence to go and work on their art, that’s extremely fulfilling.”
Eliese Dorsay: drums
“Music is a vessel in which to show and appreciate the ways I feel vulnerable. What is art if you’re not pouring your heart and soul into it? I want our music to provide a space for people that helps guide them through whatever it is in their life that’s causing pain.” said Faris in an interview with Invisible Oranges. “If someone can listen to our music, and it helps them get through the hour or day or helps them feel less alone, that makes me feel very fulfilled.”
Enjoy the photographs…
Sarah McKenna: synthesizers
Camile Getz: viola
All photographs taken with the Sony A7RIII using the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AF, Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 and Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 lenses
