Biography
Although Holly Miranda first gained notice through her time with the Jealous Girlfriends, she had already embarked on a solo path years earlier. Growing up outside Detroit, she left high school at sixteen and relocated to New York, where correspondence courses allowed her to complete her education before securing a contract with BMG. The label ultimately shelved her debut effort, prompting her departure from its roster. Working independently, she issued her first proper solo recording, the twenty-track High Above the City, in 2001 and sold copies while performing across the East Coast and Midwest.
In 2003 she met producer Alex Lipsen, leading to the formation of the Jealous Girlfriends; the group issued two albums and continued touring until the close of 2008, after which its members paused to explore separate endeavors. Miranda seized the moment to refocus on her own work.
She quickly followed with the Sleep on Fire EP in the middle of 2009 and then began a full-length collaboration involving Dave Sitek, co-founder of TV on the Radio and the most frequent producer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, along with Celebration’s Katrina Ford. The resulting The Magician’s Private Library appeared on XL Recordings in February 2010. Extensive touring ensued, including support slots with Tegan & Sara, Florence + the Machine, and the XX.
By 2013 Miranda had joined Scarlett Johansson, Julia Haltigan, Kendra Morris, and Este Haim in a studio collective called the Singles, styled after the Go-Go’s. The project prepared its first single, “Candy,” for release in February 2015, yet a cease-and-desist from the longstanding Detroit-based rock band also named the Singles halted its progress.
Around the same period Miranda sought fresh inspiration by renting a house in the California desert near Joshua Tree. The setting proved fertile, yielding the songs that became her third solo album, Holly Miranda. She and Florent Barbier produced the record, which Dangerbird Records issued in May 2015.
The following May she released the six-song EP Party Trick, featuring her interpretations of material by Drake, Bon Iver, and Sparklehorse. She next partnered with Chris Maxwell and Ambrosia Parsley on an album of original holiday material, Catskill Christmas, which arrived in October 2017. Her most ambitious undertaking followed with 2018’s Mutual Horse, a densely arranged set that drew contributions from Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio, and Maria Eisen of Underground System.
In 2003 she met producer Alex Lipsen, leading to the formation of the Jealous Girlfriends; the group issued two albums and continued touring until the close of 2008, after which its members paused to explore separate endeavors. Miranda seized the moment to refocus on her own work.
She quickly followed with the Sleep on Fire EP in the middle of 2009 and then began a full-length collaboration involving Dave Sitek, co-founder of TV on the Radio and the most frequent producer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, along with Celebration’s Katrina Ford. The resulting The Magician’s Private Library appeared on XL Recordings in February 2010. Extensive touring ensued, including support slots with Tegan & Sara, Florence + the Machine, and the XX.
By 2013 Miranda had joined Scarlett Johansson, Julia Haltigan, Kendra Morris, and Este Haim in a studio collective called the Singles, styled after the Go-Go’s. The project prepared its first single, “Candy,” for release in February 2015, yet a cease-and-desist from the longstanding Detroit-based rock band also named the Singles halted its progress.
Around the same period Miranda sought fresh inspiration by renting a house in the California desert near Joshua Tree. The setting proved fertile, yielding the songs that became her third solo album, Holly Miranda. She and Florent Barbier produced the record, which Dangerbird Records issued in May 2015.
The following May she released the six-song EP Party Trick, featuring her interpretations of material by Drake, Bon Iver, and Sparklehorse. She next partnered with Chris Maxwell and Ambrosia Parsley on an album of original holiday material, Catskill Christmas, which arrived in October 2017. Her most ambitious undertaking followed with 2018’s Mutual Horse, a densely arranged set that drew contributions from Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio, and Maria Eisen of Underground System.
Albums
Virtual Funeral
2023
Mutual Horse
2018
Midnight Oil
2017
Party Trick
2016
Holly Miranda
2015
The Magician's Private Library
2010
Singles
