Matt Carins and Ryan Henderson, the talents behind Hollow Coves, walked differing paths to reach where they are now.
Carins was raised in Brisbane, surrounded by music. His dad is a songwriter who plays in area cover bands, while his mom is a piano and flute teacher. He also has a brother in an alternative rock band and a pianist sister.
Henderson, on the other hand, does not originate from a musical family. He didn't grow up playing instruments and at one point listened only to hip hop and rap. That all changed in high school, when friends roped him into seeing the band Angus & Julia Stone at the Woodford Folk Festival.
Despite his own expectations, Henderson liked the show. He began learning to play guitar and discovered a lifelong passion.
Hollow Coves formed rather organically in 2012, a time when neither man had envisioned himself turning professional. Carins was working on a side project, Henderson had some YouTube covers online, and they met via a mutual friend. After meeting up for a jam session, they decided to begin writing songs together and released their first EP, Wanderlust, five years later.
The band's name does not have a profound story behind it. Carins and Henderson tossed word combinations back and forth for months, attempting to find something that matched their style. Many of their early tracks were inspired by nature, and Hollow Coves stuck.
'Earthy, warm tones'
Based on the Gold Coast of Australia, Hollow Coves has managed an international following. Their song "Coastline" became one of the 20 most used songs on Instagram reels in the summer of 2021, and their portfolio has garnered more than half a billion streams worldwide.
"Our sound is usually built around acoustic guitars and our two voices," explain the duo. "It's simple but very intentional. We lean into earthy, warm tones and write lyrics that are often uplifting and inspired by how we see the world, its beauty, its wonder and our place in it.
"Inspiration comes from all over: where we live, how we live, what we watch and listen to, the places we travel. Our tastes are always evolving, and that naturally shapes the way we write. But at the core, the goal is always to create songs that feel authentic to who we are."
Carins and Henderson have toured overseas with the likes of Passenger, the Lumineers, Tom Walker and the Paper Kites. They know the music industry can be unforgiving, and that hard work and perseverance are prerequisites to success. Even so, both feel remaining genuine to themselves and each other yields optimal results in the long run.
While "half of Australia" seems to have visited Whistler at one point in time or another, Carins has not. He's heard plenty of good things though, and eagerly looks forward to his visit.
Henderson experienced the 2012 ski season in Whistler, working in the Fairmont rental shop and residing in Brio staff housing. He remembers the mountains as being "magical" and enjoyed experiencing the Sea to Sky's melting pot of cultures, even if he also brushed shoulders with many fellow Aussies.
The year's final Whistler Summer Concert Series offering is scheduled for Aug. 29. DJ Badger sets the proverbial table at 6:30 p.m. before a more recently unveiled act, Australian/Canadian singer songwriter FINOJET, performs at 7:30 p.m. Hollow Coves will take the Olympic Plaza stage half an hour later. Find more details at whistler.com/events/concerts.
