Shy Girl

Almost fifteen years since the release of her self-titled debut LP on Mr Bongo, reggae's orator of love Hollie Cook is returning to the label for Shy Girl, her fifth studio album and her most authentic yet. Woven with tight grooves, beautiful vocals and catchy melodies, 

Shy Girl hears singer and songwriter Hollie Cook revel in her contemporary lovers rock sound, more confident and open to vulnerability than ever before. A sun-drenched exploration of love in all its guises, Shy Girl tells stories of the magical and the melancholy, the heart-lifting and heart-breaking, across 12 luscious, analogue reggae compositions - the culmination of a soft-hued and instantly recognisable "tropical pop" sound that Cook has made her own. 

Put together across three years and four cities - from LA and NYC, to Vejer de la Frontera in Spain and Cook's hometown London - Shy Girl was written with long-time collaborators, The General Roots Band, and features a contribution from legendary dub MC Horseman, who lends his voice to the album's first single 'Night Night'. The album opens with the title track 'Shy Girl', a buoyant and elastic slice of lovers rock that was written in a moment of spontaneous intuition, and bubbles with a charisma and positivity that Cook radiates. "I'm not a natural show-off," Cook explains. "The Shy Girl theme is me. It's just about being my most vulnerable self and being as true to the music that Iove as possible." It is this honesty which shines throughout, from the chugging deep dub of 'Frontline', complete with raking electric guitar lines, to the bittersweet roots ballad 'We Share Love', which closes out the album. It's clear to see that Cook's songwriting draws on a lifetime of musical influences and inspirations. 

From her father, Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook's record collection and touring with post-punk icon Ari Up's The Slits, to her love for strong female-led pop music and the bassweight of London's sound system culture. Enamoured with the music of Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon, Shy Girl represents a homecoming and a coming-of-age for Hollie Cook, distilling and refining a shimmering reggae sound that will capture your heart, as it first captured hers.

Tracklist

A1.   Shy Girl
A2.   Ooh Baby
A3.   Rockaway
A4.   Night Night
A5.   Holding On
A6.   In The Pictures

B1.   Frontline
B2.   Take Me In Your Arms
B3.   Crying Wolf
B4.   River Runs Deep
B5.   Hello Operator
B6.   We Share Love

Credits

Backing Vocals – Jalen Ngonda (tracks B2, B5, B6), Maverick Sabre
Bass – James McKone
Drums – Ben Mckone
Guitar – Andrew Lorenzo Marzolini
Horns – Tomoya Forster (tracks A2, B1 to B3, B5), Lucas Petter
Keyboards – Cyrus Richard, Luke Allwood
Lead Guitar – Brett Tubin (tracks A1, A5), Ernie McKone (track A4), Gyasi Crosdale
Rhythm Guitar – Joe Price
Vocals – Hollie Cook
Vocals – Horseman (track A4)