HolleeStar Shines Bright: Louisiana’s Alternative Scene Gets a New Sound

Nicole Brice

Apr 21, 2025

HolleeStar's music is an organic fusion of sounds.

Louisiana is known for its vibrant metal scene, but among all the heavy sounds lies a musical group poised for greatness, thanks to the unwavering heart and dedication of its members. Enter HolleeStar. HolleeStar is the brainchild of Jakob Bollich and Brennan Sanders, two musicians from areas just outside Lafayette, Louisiana. Both have a natural talent for creating the unique textures, sounds, and rhythms that define a HolleeStar song.

Louisiana-based duo HolleeStar for Mixed Alternative Magazine by Gary Governale — Credit: Gary Governale

So, what exactly characterizes a typical HolleeStar song? The truth is, there is no formula. No two songs sound alike, and no two concepts are the same. The music is an organic fusion of sounds that emerges from the creativity of Brennan and Jakob. As best friends and collaborators, they have recorded a diverse catalog that will capture your interest and lead you down a musical “rabbit hole.” HolleeStar is making music on their own terms, choosing not to follow the crowd.

Their sound showcases an alternative style that incorporates elements of synth rock, industrial, and a hint of nu metal. While some listeners might compare the band's style to that of the legendary Linkin Park, such a comparison barely scratches the surface. It’s challenging to categorize a sound that draws from so many diverse influences, ultimately defying easy definition. We’ll leave it up to you to decide for yourself.

Since the early 2010s, HolleeStar has consistently released singles, completing one project and then promptly moving on to the next without pause. Mixed Alternative Magazine recently had the opportunity to chat with the members of HolleeStar to learn more about who they are as musicians and friends. Read on to discover more about this duo from Louisiana with one of the state’s most unique sounds.

Louisiana-based rock duo HolleeStar for Mixed Alternative Magazine by Gary Governale — Credit: Gary Governale

MaM: Tell us a little more about where you’re from. I know you’re based close to Lafayette.

Jakob: I’m actually from Eunice.

Brennan: I’m from Maurice, which is just outside of Lafayette.

MaM: What city do you claim as your hometown?

Brennan and Jakob: We can claim Eunice.

MaM: Give us a little history of how you met.

Brennan: Well, that’s a cool story. I was friends with a guy named Matt Rougeau, and he introduced me to Jakob and Tim D'Aville when Jakob and Tim were playing in a band together. Tim was our old bassist. I played in a little band for probably six months, and it was the first time I had played in a band. I was trashing drums. It wasn't perfect, but I got better from practice. Matt eventually said he knew a couple of guys in Eunice who were auditioning drummers, so I thought that was perfect. I went by and I was super nervous. We started vibing and playing, and it all ended up working out. We meshed well. That was also when Tim, who was playing lead guitar, decided we needed to be a 3-piece, and he decided to play bass. The rest is history, and we played music together for about six or seven years until Tim decided to start doing his own thing. Then, Jakob and I went through a few more members until we decided to do things ourselves.

MaM: I like that dynamic, too, with it being just you two guys. So, I know you play the drums, Brennan, but take us through who does what musically.

Jakob: I make a bunch of stuff at my house, to be honest. I’ll make a whole song from beginning to end and then send it to Brennan. I have an entire Dropbox full of songs, and we’ll talk about what needs to be done to improve each song. Maybe Brennan should sing on this verse—stuff like that. We produce everything together.

Brennan: Jakob will go in and create the bones of a song. He’ll make a generic beat and then lay a guitar over it, maybe even a rough melody, and then once he gets the general idea going for the song, he shoots it over to me. We both have our studios at home, so when we link up, we start working in each other’s studios and practicing. We always have everything set up to record. It’s a constant creative process.

MaM: So, you both collaborate on beats and vocals, but how are you getting the bass there?

Jakob: I used to write in a normal way, I guess, on my guitar to come up with the lyrics and song, but now I sit at my computer, and I have a process of how to make a song. The bass is EDMish bass, which is all made electronically. A virtual instrument. It fills in what we need. I feel that our sound wouldn’t work with a traditional bassist.

Brennan: For those at home who like to listen to music, and not produce it, you’ll hear a lot of modulated bass in our songs, similar to dubstep or techno. A real bassist can’t give us that sound all the time. We want the type of bass flowing in and out of guitar riffs, beats, etc. It lets us explore many new sounds and textures without a regular bassist.

MaM: How did the name for the band come about?

Jakob: I have no idea.

(laughter)

MaM: Was it just a series of words thrown out?

Jakob: The band came together just out of high school, so I can’t quite remember.

(laughter)

Credit: Elise Hanks

MaM: Well, kudos to the name because when you search for your music, you are the only band that pops up with that name, and it’s easy to find you guys. So, let’s touch upon your discography. From 2014 to now, you are at a completely different place musically, but your debut has some standout tracks I could see you guys reenvisioning or rerecording. Have you ever thought about that?

Brennan: Oh no …

(laughter)

MaM: Am I wrong for that?

Jakob and Brennan: Not entirely. You’re kind of psychic for that.

MaM: Well, let me tell you what I wrote down. ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’ – that song is catchy as hell with a great chorus, and then when the chorus fades into the guitar break, you’ve got that great breakdown at the end. I could see this rerecorded and released as a single. How would you explain your evolution in sound?

Brennan: Well, the cool thing is that you can see that evolution with our YouTube channel. Between the Demons EP in 2014 and our latest material, the songs that are coming out are so different. We have three albums' worth of material on our YouTube channel, though, and you can see the progression and evolution of sound through those releases. We go from being a raw rock band to a raw, almost post-grunge band that then progresses into an electronic sound you can’t define. No one around here is doing that.

MaM: I wrote down that you have an interesting dichotomy of sounds.

Brennan: Thank you for that.

MaM: I also noticed that some of the sounds you create have an industrial, almost metallic vibe. Have you guys ever listened to Throbbing Gristle? They’re pioneers of industrial, but their sounds are intriguing and draw you in, and I feel the same about your music. It draws you in. Take us through the creation of the song, ‘Throwing Stones.’

Jakob: That was one of those songs that just happened one afternoon. I started writing a progression with the synth, then sang over it and freestyled. The piano right at the beginning, and me singing lightly, that’s where it all started. It all came together quickly.

Brennan: He had sent me a chorus because it came together instantaneously, and the song was almost done, except for the verses. It reminded me of a Linkin Park vibe, and I started writing rap lyrics because I felt this Mike Shinoda type of energy with it, and it all fit perfectly.

Louisiana-based rock duo HolleeStar for Mixed Alternative Magazine courtesy of Gary Governale — Credit: Gary Governale

MaM: What’s next for the rest of this year as a band?

Brennan: We’re working on many t-shirt designs to hit the website. We’ve got a ton of shows booked, too, but we want to push out the whole album this year. We’ve got another four or five songs we have to finish. We’re working on completing one of my favorite songs.

Jakob: A lot of it has a more defined industrial sound.

Louisiana-based rock duo HolleeStar for Mixed Alternative Magazine courtesy of Elise Hanks — Credit: Elise Hanks

MaM: Watch out. The next Atticus and Trent, the next Ministry—you guys could be it. Who has been your biggest musical influences?

Jakob: Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park. He’s a musical genius. Korn also made me want to start playing music as a teenager because I felt connected to their music. I’ve always liked The Beatles, too.

Brennan: Korn and Linkin Park – Korn took me out of some real dark places in middle and high school. Jonathan’s lyrics were powerful and gave me the will to keep going. Trent Reznor, too.

MaM: If you could open for any band in the future, dream band, who would you pick and why? Also, where do you see yourselves headed in the next five years?

Jakob: Linkin Park and Korn. Smile Empty Soul, too. I love them. They come all the time around here, too. Would love to share the stage with them.

Brennan: I can agree with that. This is literally all we do. If we’re not working our full-time jobs, we’re making music. If we’re recording a song, we’re thinking ahead about every single facet to drive the band forward: Merch, graphics, videos, the whole package. We just want to drive things forward and see where they go.

As they carve out their place in the modern rock scene, HolleeStar shows that the heart of Louisiana beats loudly through every note they play, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for them musically.