Artist Interview: M.Hollis

Tell us about yourself and your music

My name is Michael Hollis but I go by M.Hollis. I chose M.Hollis because I wanted to keep it original like my music. I don’t like to get into any kind of character so when you hear my music you hear the real me. I’m from Portland, Oregon but I’ve been traveling since the age of 14. I first got into music at a very young age playing saxophone think I was around 6 or 7. I always liked to sing but since my singing voice wasn’t the best that saxophone took its place. I went from saxophone to writing poems & everyone told me my poems were like raps & I should try rapping them so I did. My music is everyday life, the good, the bad, the ugly, & the beautiful. Throughout the years I practiced to master the craft the art of it. I tried to stray away from other rap artist as influences just so I could develope my own style & delivery. I listen to more R&B lol.

Talk to us more about your latest release

My latest release is a song titled “It’ll Get Better” ft. Brandon Hatton.
It’s a song with a storyline that I wrote based on a true story of two younger people that I know which were both going through so tough times & I wanted to basically share the story & let them know they weren’t the only ones in that kind of situation & that in due time “It’ll Get Better”

What inspired you to write this release?

Two younger people that I know were the real inspiration on my latest release which I thought would be a way to help others as well as themselves know they are not alone with the issues we sometimes face in the inner city. & that it will all get better if we accept change.

Any plans to release a video?

I plan on going back to Portland to shoot the video & release it. I want it to be more like a short 7 min film.

Any plans to hit the road?

At the moment I’m working on my full album so I don’t have any plans to hit the road until I’m fully done with the album.

As an indie artist, how do you brand yourself and your music to stand out from the rest of the artists out there?

I try to stay original & real. Something that the average person can relate to. I try to stay a people’s person nothing far fetched from your everyday person of the struggle.

Who have you been listening to lately?

Lately the artists I listen to the are Sevyn & Ella Mai. Outside of those two artist I listen to mostly 80’s & 90’s R&B music.

Tell us about your passions

Life I’m in love with life. The outdoors the animals the trees the water I’m a nature boy at heart. I am still in the process of raising money for my small exotic cat rescue/sanctuary which will focus mainly on the small exotic cats that most people purchase as pets but then get rid of by usually releasing into the wild & most Zoo’s don’t accept like African Servals Caracals Ocelots Bobcats & such. I have a nonprofit organization that I donate my music sales to called Rap4Cats. I truly love animals which cats being on the top of the list.

What else is happening next in your world?

More music more adventure more progress. I want to expand more overseas and actually interact with my supporters in different countries. I hate people being felt left out. So I really wanna touch bases with my supporters of afar.

Thanks for an awesome interview, Michael!