With Happy Hour, her ravishing new LP, Hollie Cook matures into the queen of modern-day “lovers rock”—the lush girly harmony reggae style beloved in Britain since the 1970s. Evolution rings from the bittersweet opening title track which arrives today, ahead of the album’s June 24 release date, with a music video directed by Jasmine De Silva. Tender yet assertive, Hollie’s voice caresses evocative lyrics through the arrangement’s tumbling changes. Add it to your happy hour playlist today:

A director’s statement from De Silva:

After listening to “Happy Hour” and hearing Hollie’s inspirations behind the song, I was drawn immediately into the idea of creating this world of illusion and isolation within a dreamscape set of visuals, all to represent how the idea of something like an eternal happy hour would entice you into a false sense of happiness and a deceiving sugar-coated reality. I wanted Hollie to appear like a movie star from retro futuristic posters, trapped between various worlds, never quite knowing which is the real her. The use of bold and colourful props contrasted against black-void backdrops aimed to assist in making Hollie seem suspended in these isolated yet dreamy spaces all constantly looping between one another. 

Happy Hour features an eclectic mix of reggae, soul, and pop inspired by sounds from the past and present, recorded in a live studio setting with Hollie’s longtime touring band, General Roots, with additional production from Youth.

“Happy Hour” follows previous singles “Full Moon Baby” and “Kush Kween” featuring Jah9. Pre-order Happy Hour now on CD, LP, and limited-edition orchid & tangerine Peak Vinyl in the Merge store, Hollie’s website, and participating independent record shops. In addition, Rough Trade will have an exclusive blue & purple vinyl pressing available at all of their US and UK shops, including Rough Trade East in London where Hollie will perform a record-release show on June 30.

Tickets are going fast for Hollie’s shows in Los Angeles, New York City, and across the UK and Europe, so get yours today!

Hollie Cook on tour:
Jun 30 London, UK – Rough Trade East (Happy Hour release show)
Sep 23 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
Sep 24 Ventura, CA – Ventura Theatre
Sep 28 Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Rooftop
Oct 01 Mexico City, MX – Fronton
Oct 14 Glasgow, UK – King Tut’s
Oct 15 Blackpool, UK – Bootleg Social
Oct 16 Manchester, UK – Gorilla
Oct 18 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
Oct 20 Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
Oct 21 Bristol, UK – Thekla
Oct 22 Brighton, UK – Chalk
Oct 23 Southampton, UK – The 1865
Oct 26 London, UK – Village Underground
Oct 27 Beauvais, FR – L’Ouvre-Boîte
Oct 28 Paris, FR – Trabendo
Oct 29 Brussels, BE – Botanique
Oct 30 Utrecht, NL – Tivoli de Helling
Nov 04 Saint-Pierre, RE – Kerveguen
Nov 05 Le Port, RE – Kabardock