Although he's been releasing music since 2015, this is the first time we've seen Joe Holt on IMC. And when you listen to his repertoire, you wonder why it didn't happen before. To be honest, we know why. There's so many great musicians to discover!

You might be wondering what a music blogger does when he discovers a musician he didn't know before. He goes to Spotify and listens to his previous releases. And in Joe's case, it was a great adventure.

From the elegant and moving "It's You I'd Save" on the EP "It's what We Give" released in 2020, to the incredibly catchy "Love Will Always Win" on the EP "Something Louder" in 2018, There is something for every taste. Joe Holt is a musician who thrives in all musical genres. Graduated from the Berklee College of Music (which does not surprise us, given the quality of his productions), the musician now based in NYC is at a turning point in his musical career.

The song that caught our attention this week is his new single "Not Satisfying", released today. Above all, do not trust the title of the song because the impression you will have will be the exact opposite. This is the first single taken from his fourth full-length album set to be released in June.

We are not going to reveal everything about this album but we can already simply mention the name of Kat Kennedy. The most seasoned IMC fans will understand. We made you discover this wonderful singer at the beginning of last summer with "Can't Wait", whose catchy chorus is still running in our mind. Kat Kennedy, who is a friend of Joe's (yes, the world of indie music is infinitely small) put down some vocals on a track called "Kingston". And we're looking forward to hearing it!

"Not Satisfying" is exactly the kind of song that can give you goosebumps in a pretty intense way. With warm vocals, like those of a friend who would try to confide, and a slow but magnificent evolution, the song surprises with its unusual structure: after the 2 minute mark, the song marks a pause. And puts the violin in the foreground, with just the voice, then joined by a discreet but elegant piano. The choice of the different instruments which compose "Not Satisfying" is absolutely prodigious.

Vocally, we loved the Joe Holt performance, able to move from the lowest notes to the highest with impressive ease.

As for the writing, it's raw. It comes from the heart, without filter, and it comes out naturally. The artist understood that after all, time flies. And I'm also realizing the same. My favorite line is definitely "I’ve got tax stuff in a folder, the Lego’s gone, guess I moved on, but I’m no smarter". Of course, it's impossible to go back in time. And I feel the same way Joe does. My wife is a live-in nurse, and I felt this strong feeling of nostalgia yesterday, a bit like Joe Holt with his tax folder... when a kid started to read a book with rabbits. A book that I myself read hundreds of times when I was his age, and that I kept, like a lot of "just in case" things.

Yes, sometimes, things are not satisfying, but we have no choice but to keep moving forward. And the last two years have been trying for everyone. The year that has just started is already shaping up to be challenging. If only we could solve all problems with music, I wish I could send this song as a gift to all human beings on earth. Kind of a hopeful message. If you too are tired of trying but know you can, do it.

With a melody capable of ending all conflicts, "Not Satisfying" leaves a very strong emotional imprint. This song will become your next favorite. And now, it's your turn to make someone
relaxed. Feel free to send this song to anyone who needs it.

Reach out to Joe Holt

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Written with love by Niko. "Not Satisfying" has been added to our "Indie Music" playlist on Spotify.