On his fifth album, Pirouette, 2hollis pairs real-life romance with a sprawling sci-fi story. The record follows a Lightcarrier named One, a divine guardian made to feel nothing who suddenly wakes up to human emotion. That storyline extends directly to the cover art, hand-drawn by legendary Japanese illustrator Yoshitaka Amano to bring classic fantasy art into modern pop.
2hollis handles the vocals completely solo across the album with zero guest features, letting his own voice carry the story. Behind the boards, he teams up with producers like Skai, Mk.gee, Andrew Aged, and Conceal to layer guitars over heavy electronics. That direction hits right away on opening tracks “Spring (Love Me)” and “Skin,” pairing glassy synths with frantic percussion.
One of the album’s strongest tracks, “The Lady in Red,” names the central figure pictured on the cover, connecting the music directly to the visual artwork. Co-produced with Skai and Andrew Aged, the song pairs heavy, distorted bass and electric guitar with a sudden harpsichord-like break as 2hollis raps through paranoia over being watched and complete infatuation with the lady in red.
Across the album’s middle stretch, Hollis matches his wild production with clear song structures and real pop hooks. “Sophie” builds from quiet piano into distorted guitars, while “Sex” channels late-2000s electropop into a club-ready drop.
Lead single “Hurt” anchors the run, piecing together piano chords, piercing whistles, frantic synths, and raw screams as he embraces the pain of falling for someone, backed by a self-directed video referencing Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam.
Further in, “Betrayal” slows the pace with a raw account of losing trust in a childhood friend, adding genuine emotional weight to the tracklist. That tension carries through “i2i” into “Warhorse.” First previewed online and live in 2025, the finished four-minute version elevates those rough early drafts by locking heavy distortion, sharp beat switches, and chopped Hatsune Miku vocals into an unstoppable climax.
“Heaven Speaker” sets up the finale with stuttering synths and indietronica nostalgia before flowing through “My One And Only” into “Daisy.” After circulating online as an early demo for years, “Daisy” gets a full studio rebuild with co-producer and guitarist Andrew Aged, adding live instrumentation that turns the track into a soaring, emotional finale.
Combining stronger songwriting with ambitious production, Pirouette stands as 2hollis’ best work yet.
By Jojo P.