Hollie Steel

Don’t worry about the cricket sounds – they are there to prevent illegal downloads and will be removed in a few weeks.

Hollie Steel’s second single, Edelweiss, is out today and available for immediate download from the store. I have just downloaded and listened to both of the versions – one of the versions is a “Radio Edit” and slightly shorter in length. The process of ordering and downloading the single was extremely simple and you don’t have to download any software – all you download is the song in MP3 format. All tracks are high quality 192Kbits and can be downloaded up to three times.

The single is beautiful. Hollie’s voice is crisp, clear and polished and the piano accompaniment superb. You will be not be disappointed.

Hollie’s upcoming single, Edelweiss, has today gone to the factory to be made. As you know, it is due to be released on March 29th.  Hollie has posted on Facebook the artwork from the single which I am reproducing here. Doesn’t she look adorable?

Here are some lovely amateur videos made by Joe C of Hollie singing “Where are you Christmas?” and “Nessun Dorma” at the Christmas lights switch on in Preston. These videos are also available in the Gallery.

Don’t forget to pre-order Hollie’s single at HMV!

Hollie Steel’s single is starting to get some of the press coverage that it deserves, thanks to Nina’s excellent work in promoting her daughter. Today, there are articles in both the Lancashire Telegraph and Burnley Express.

Hollie’s single, Where Are You Christmas?, is performing well in the HMV presale charts, despite the fact it has not received any airplay yet. Hollie’s mum Nina told the Lancashire Telegraph that  after just three days of being available on pre-order, Hollie’s single was at Number 10 for the most pre-ordered single.

Nina is urging everybody to back Hollie with more orders to help her dream come true and get Hollie a top ten hit for Christmas.

Nina describes Hollie’s single  as “beautiful” and says: “Currently Hollie’s single is just behind Robbie Williams’ and ahead of singles by Nelly Furtado, Alicia Keys and Morrisey – and the single should be played across radio stations within the next week.

“It is only the pre-order charts and it is early days but she could have been on the last page and instead she is on the first so it is a good sign.

“Especially as no-one has heard the song yet!

“If we can keep her pre-order numbers high then it means that she will get more air time when the single is released.

“It’s a very, very similar idea to the song ‘Walking In The Air’ from The Snowman. It’s a beautiful Christmas song with some quite powerful high notes.

“It starts off really, really sweet but it shows two sides to Hollie’s voice. By the end she is singing in quite a strong opera voice.

“The song is from ‘The Grinch’ and before the Britain’s Got Talent thing started Hollie loved it. She’s loved it for years.”

Hollie recorded the single  in October with the VVR2 record label.

“Recording the single was really exciting for Hollie. She had lots of fun.” said Nina.

Hollie has signed a two-single record deal with VVR2 and is hoping to get a contract to release an album, which is due to be finished in the new year.

In other news, Rolf Harris disappointingly chose to record a single with Status Quo, instead of performing a song he had written about a grandfather and granddaughter with Hollie which he had previously planned to do.

On Rolf’s change of heart, Nina said: “I didn’t hear anything from his manager about the decision despite getting positive feedback in the beginning.

“It is a project idea and could still happen next year or the year after, though.

“Hollie is doing really well on her own and in some ways it would be better to see her make it into the charts on her own efforts.

“She would love to be in the top ten and I really hope everyone will support her.”

“Where Are You Christmas”  will be played for the first time on radio stations nationwide over the next week and will be released on December 7th.

Here is a message from Nina Steel, Hollie’s mum:

Dear Fans,

Hollie would like to ask you all a huge favour.  She needs 6,000 UK pre orders. I did a few calculations, if just 60 fans asked 100 of their friends or family to buy the single, then we’ve done it! If overseas fans ask UK friends or family to order for you, these figures will also be counted in the charts. The press have very high expectations of Hollie, expecting her to try for a Christmas Number One. The track certainly is good enough to achieve this, but we haven’t got thousands of pounds for promotion. We need all your help to make this happen.

Unfortunately, having a beautiful voice isn’t enough to get Hollie into the charts. We, Hollie’s family, are trying everything we can think of to ensure Hollie doesn’t feel she’s failed in this exciting venture. Thankyou for listening.

Nina x

Nina has asked me to help by uploading this promotional leaflet. We are asking you to help promote Hollie’s single by printing the leaflet out and giving copies of it to your friends and family.

You can also put it on noticeboards at work or at clubs you attend – you could even stick it in the back corner of your car window. Together, we can help Hollie to get the Christmas Number One!

Get the leaflet now – click here (it is in Microsoft Word format – if you can’t view it correctly, let me know and I will covert it to PDF for you.)

Thank you.

PS. Georgi has also suggested that all the fans who have their own YouTube videos of Hollie  put the pre-order link in the video description.

Dave D’Mello says:

Sorry I have not been updating as really been very ill this week. Presale link will be with us on Friday hopefully and will also be releasing the forthcoming gigs and appearances. (I) have been informed by the distributors that if fans buy up to 5 copies of the single for friends and family then this is okay, but anything higher may cause a problem. Email me on info@vvr2.co.uk if you would like a PDF copy of the short version press release with exclusive photoshoot.

Dave D’Mello has been updating us on the release of Hollie’s single via Hollie’s Facebook page.
Dave says:

Myself and Nina are working very hard behind the scenes on the new release “Where Are You Christmas?”… The single is finished and sounds absolutely amazing, and the distribution to HMV, Amazon, and Play.com has been signed and agreed for the CD’s. It will also be available on iTunes, Amazon, Napster, Emusic, and Rhapsody as a download.

So you will be able to buy your CD from places other than HMV, or download it digitally.

By next week we will also have the presale link for the CD at HMV. Please, please, please be aware that if somebody buy’s multiple CD’s (We mean hundreds to sell on eBay etc) it could be marked as Chart Rigging, and not entered into the charts here. Many thanks to all for keeping up the support, and now the Steel’s are back home they will continue to keep the (Facebook) site updated, but please understand this is the busiest time ever for them.

The Steel’s stayed with me and my family over the weekend, and Hollie did an amazing performance in Rochester on Saturday night, which lead to her having to sign autographs on stage for over an hour for her fans, even making the legendary “Drifters” have to wait to come on after her!! (Quick note for everybody…, believe me when i say this, never challenge Hollie to late night Guitar Hero!! This girl can play guitar!!! Butt was well and truly kicked) Tomorrow we will find out which Radio playlists have accepted the single, then we can follow up on the live booking enquiries and TV appearances we have lined up for the release.

Hollie confirmed in today’s chat session that her debut single, Where Are You Christmas, will be released on December 7th and available as a pre-order two weeks earlier (so from around November 23rd).

The single will be on sale exclusively from HMV, a UK online retailer with bricks and mortar shops aswell. At the moment the link on the site just links through to the HMV homepage. As soon as Hollie’s single is available, I will link through to the exact place on the site where you can find it.

HMV deliver worldwide, so you can all buy Hollie’s single. HMV deliver free to the UK, delivery to Europe costs £2.50 and delivery to the rest of the world is £4.50.

Nina said during the chat: “Everyone can order for delivery from HMV. We would be most grateful if you could ask all your friends and family to order – (the single) will make a wonderful gift. We have to get 6000 pre orders (in order for the CD to be sold in HMV branches on release)”.

Hollie’s CD will make a great Christmas present – and remember, she needs your help to get the CD into the shops.

The Sun newspaper have today published an article publicising Hollie Steel’s upcoming single release. This clearly marks the start of publicity for the release of Hollie’s Christmas single, Where are you Christmas?, in the media, so well done Nina, we knew you could do it!

However, the article in The Sun is factually incorrect, stating: “Hollie’s dream seemed over when she broke down during May’s BGT semi-finals. She begged Cowell for a second chance – but despite the music mogul, giving her another go she failed to make the final.”

Of course as we all know, Hollie did indeed make the final!

In the Sun article, Nina says of Hollie recording her single and album: “We’re doing this for her because it’s what she wants to do and she’s got all these songs she wants everybody to hear.

“It’s a really special experience for an 11-year-old to go into a recording studio but she just takes it in her stride and is still the same Hollie.”

Also, according to the article, the single will be available for download (so it will be undoubtedly available worldwide.) However, the article also states that Hollie now hopes to find a producer to get the album into shops, with Nina saying: “We’re hoping someone will come forward and sponsor her.”

You can read the complete report here.