Both unflinchingly experimental and undeniably listenable, Metamorphosis marks a mid-career rebirth for vocalist Holly Palmer. Known for her eclectic collaborations with legends like David Bowie, Gnarls Barkley, Seal, Michael Bublé, Billy Preston, and Dr. Dre, Palmer now takes a fearless leap into new territory—blending jazz-inflected art-pop, improvisation, and avant-vocal innovation into a body of work unlike anything she has released before.
Conceived with producer and multi-instrumentalist Pete Min, Metamorphosis was born in the studio through improvisation, experimentation, and a willingness to explore unknown sonic landscapes. The record brims with radiant performances from a stellar supporting cast, including Cuong Vu, Jeff Parker, Benny Bock, Jay Bellerose, and David Bowie’s Blackstar rhythm section of Mark Guiliana and Tim Lefebvre.
Palmer, who first came to national attention with her mid-1990s major-label debut, has always been an adventurous artist. With a background at Berklee College of Music and advanced training as a vocologist and holder of a Master’s in Vocal Arts and Opera, she has long been fascinated by the possibilities of the human voice. On Metamorphosis, she pushes those possibilities to the edge, creating a vocabulary of sounds that communicate volumes without the need for words.
“Metamorphosis is an album about turning into the thing, the person, the force, the energy that you’ve been headed for all along,” Palmer explains. “I thought my life was headed in one direction and at a certain point, everything shifted and took on a different shape. That’s the ‘metamorphosis’ this album embodies.”
Although the album’s roots lie in improvisation, Palmer and Min shaped the material into tight, focused art-pop compositions. The result balances exploration with accessibility, echoing the groove-driven soundscapes of Tune-Yards and the avant-vocal jazz of Jeanne Lee, while remaining uniquely Palmer’s.
The music is exploratory, yet intentional—full of layered textures and fresh sonic ideas. “This marks a new phase of my musicianship and writing approach,” Palmer notes. “We made this album for the love of making the music, and no other agenda. I had no idea that we’d end up with such a personal statement.”
Release Calendar
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July 30: “Requiem for a Dream” + Album Announce
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August 20: “Metamorphosis (Capes Up!)” ft. Jeff Parker
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September 12: Full LP Release
Perhaps the most striking element of Metamorphosis is that while the record contains no decipherable lyrics, it still feels deeply communicative. It’s a testament to Palmer’s artistry that her voice—untethered from words—can still channel emotion, narrative, and transformation with such clarity.
“This record is full of feelings I’d previously not found a way to express,” she reflects. And in that sense, Metamorphosis isn’t just a reinvention—it’s a revelation.
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