released February 26, 2021

Produced by Rick Holmstrom & Steve Mugalian
Recorded by Kevin Jarvis at Sonic Boom Room, Venice, CA
Mixed by Rob Schnapf at Mant Sounds, Los Angeles, CA
Mastered by Mark Chalecki at Little Red Book Mastering

All songs written by Rick Holmstrom
Arrangements by Rick Holmstrom, Steve Mugalian and Gregory Boaz
Published by Holmstrom Music Co. (BMI)

Art Design: Ben Hernandez
Cover Painting: Ellie Holmstrom
Logo Design: Lusa Holmstrom

Special thanks to Toni, Lusa & Ellie Holmstrom, Diane Holmstrom,
Pete Hjellen, Mavis Staples, Steve & Linda Taylor, Heidi Mattson,
Kimberly Biehl, Dunlop Strings, Tom Nevins, Steve Fazio, Donny Gerrard, Saundra Williams, Dave Bartlett, Matt Cornell, Adam Ayers,
Stephen Hodges, Jeff Turmes, Heather West, and Andy Kaulkin.

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Rick Holmstrom has stories. Thirty-two years of hurtling around the globe in metal tubes will do that. From his early days with blues and soul artists like William Clarke, Johnny Dyer and
Booker T. to his 13-year run as gospel/soul/civil rights legend Mavis Staples’ guitarist/bandleader, a conversation with Holmstrom quickly turns to road stories. Sidelined from touring due to the pandemic, he initially felt depressed, but ultimately turned to his guitar for solace. “See That Light” is the result of that period, when Holmstrom masked up and recorded with his bandmates Steve Mugalian and Gregory Boaz, who also tour with Staples. Bob Boilen from NPR has raved; ”...the band is crucial, discerning and supportive. Rick Holmstrom is her soulful guitarist -- Staples called him 'Pops Jr.’..."

“When we returned from Australia in March, 2020, like most musicians, I sat at home stunned. We had a banner year booked--bus tours with Patty Griffin and Norah Jones, Wrigley Field with Chris Stapleton—poof, gone. So after a couple weeks of family time and de-compression, my livelihood dried up. I got depressed. Unusually depressed. I’m normally a pretty upbeat person. At some point I finally grabbed a guitar. Always the best medicine. Playing really helped me regain purpose.” Holmstrom recounted.

These songs were written looking out of airplane and bus windows, or in hotel rooms at 2 am. Holmstrom explains: “The main thread, as I see it, is in the songs, or the stories. We’ve got a person here who’s struggling; who’s afraid to wake up to the truth; afraid they’re losing their shit; can’t find work; looking for love under a freeway overpass in San Bernardino; trying to convince a fair-haired hotel clerk to see the bright lights of Fresno; while anxiously trying to navigate an existential dystopian crisis; feeling like a loser; and an asshole; that the world is passing them by; and that they might be better off calling it quits. But in the end, a four year old points her finger up at the night sky and asks: ‘See that light? What’s its name and how do you know?’ It’s the child’s joyful eye that restores this guy’s hope.”

“See That Light” was recorded near Holmstrom’s home in Venice, CA at Kevin Jarvis’ Sonic Boom Room with Mugalian (Lucinda Williams, Harry Dean Stanton, Chuck Prophet) on drums and Boaz (Dave Alvin, Mick Taylor, John Mayall) on bass. Rob Schnapf (X, Beck, Richard Thompson) mixed the record, emphasizing the rawness and sense of space around the trio. 

Holmstrom has released 5 solo records on labels including Black Top, Tone Cool and M.C. Records, as well as winning a Grammy with Staples (“You Are Not Alone”) and nominations in 2015, 2013 and 2009, but this will be his first self-release, on LuEllie Records, named after his beloved daughters, who have been his North Star during a dark year.