The second Newsroom Live performance gearing up toward Eagle Radio Music Festival happened on Monday, Feb. 3 with local artist, William Holt.
In an interview hosted by ENTV Sports Director Ty Maranzatto, Holt shared his music experience and the background behind the style of music he performs.
Read the full interview below:
Ty Maranzatto (TM): What was the moment when you knew that you had a passion for music?
William Holt (WH): The moment that I knew is actually like as soon as I started listening to the radio when I was young, my grandfather, my family, they would play music all the time, and ever since then, I just wanted to pick up a music instrument, and I wanted to play guitar.
TM: Did you have musicians in your family? Or are you the first one?
WH: My grandfather played guitar, and that’s how I actually learned how to play guitar when I was a kid.
TM: Was he the one that got you into that older music? And what do you enjoy about listening to older music?
WH: And that’s actually very interesting, because it’s my parents that got me into that sort of music. My dad was really into the Rock and Roll and stuff of the 80s and the 70s, and my mom was more into the soul and Motown and R B of the 60s and 70s. So I kind of got it from both of them.
TM: If you got to pick a favorite artist from that time, is there one you could pick out, or you got a Mount Rushmore?
WH: There’s too many. There’s too many. If I had to pick my favorite rock album, it’d probably be the first Van Halen album.
TM: So this might be your first live performance since high school. Is that correct?
WH: Yep, it will be.
TM: So what made you say the Eagle Radio Music Fest is for you?
WH: Actually, it’s because my friends actually suggested it. I would be playing with them. I’d be playing for them, and then they would tell me that it would be a good idea to spread my music out and actually further perform.
TM: Throughout your high school career, you were in band and choir. What does that experience benefit to you as the musician you are today, and how can you take what you learned there and bring it out to the performance next month?
WH: Well, it actually helped me a lot learn how to perform on stage, as well as when I did stuff like theater. And so I learned how to perform on stage during high school, and so all I got to do is bring back that magic back from high school, and I know I’ll be all set and good to go.
TM: Now, did you have solo performances in high school, or was that out with a band?
WH: I did have solo performances. I’d perform at, like talent shows, or in theater, I did competitions where I performed solo, and so I have done solo work before.
TM: So what’s the difference between giving a song and say, ‘Hey, you’re going on stage to play this’ and now, whenever you go out there next month, you get to pick your favorite songs. What’s the difference?
WH: I actually enjoy this a lot more, to be honest. I get to express myself a lot more with the music that I like to really enjoy.
TM: What would you like to see for your future self as a musician?
WH: I would like to see myself actually performing more, getting myself even more out there, performing on stage more often, and just being able to learn more music and then being able to perform that live.
TM: Now for people that enjoy your performance next month, is there a way we can find you on social media? Is there an outlet you post music to or not yet?
WH: Well, I have created two new accounts. Nothing’s posted exactly yet, but I will be posting stuff soon. You can follow me on Instagram: @williamholtsings as well as Tiktok: @williamholtsings, so please be sure to follow me there.
If you want to hear more from William Holt, join us at Eagle Radio’s Music Festival on March 20 from 6-11 p.m.
The next Newsroom Live performance, featuring local duo Holt and Cabe, will be on Feb. 7. The video performance will be available next Friday on YouTube, @entveaglemedia.
