Ahead of his November UK tour, critically acclaimed guitarist Philip Sayce’s new single, ‘Hole In Your Soul’, has been released by Atomic Gemini Records via distribution with Forty Below Records.
Described as “a heavy blues track screaming to be turned up loud,” this new recording is a timely sneak peek into Sayce’s upcoming album, slated to be released in 2025.
‘Hole In Your Soul’ was tracked live at Noble Street Studios in Toronto, Canada, by producer and engineer Brian Moncarz and features the legendary Fred Mandel on Wurlitzer. This fresh recording and arrangement breathe new life into this reclaimed song, making it available to blues rock lovers, new and old.
‘Hole In Your Soul’ is said to be an embodiment of Sayce reclaiming his power, reconnecting with and reimagining his songs so they can be released and available to audiences on Sayce’s terms.
“The title of this song draws inspiration from an Albert King quote,” Sayce revealed. “It addresses the toxic obsession with material wealth and the relentless pursuit of external validation, often at the expense of one’s intuition and inner truth. The lyrics explore the futile attempt to fill an internal void with fleeting approval, leaving one perpetually unsatisfied. I’m thrilled to share this song with you. Feel the music – Crank up the volume!”
From its first burst of ferocious guitar wailing guitar, Philip Sayce’s ‘Hole In Your Soul’ drags you in and refuses to let go. Soulful in its delivery while stomping heavily, the song has hooks but don’t grow over attached first time round as his guitar takes flight in other exploratory directions and you soon become aware this needs to go on replay so you can soak in all that going on. Play it loud in the morning and it’ll certainly shake the cobwebs out your ears.
‘Hole In Your Soul’ is available on all streaming platforms here and check out the video here at RAMzine.
From the moment Philip Sayce first put his hands on a guitar neck, he never let go. Malcolm Gladwell theorised that “greatness” requires 10,000 hours of practical training. A teenage Sayce had easily surpassed this threshold when his hometown hero, legendary guitarist and multi-platinum artist Jeff Healey, caught Sayce playing a ferocious show in downtown Toronto.
Within a year, Sayce was touring internationally with Jeff Healey’s band and performing at prestigious festivals. Since that time, Sayce has put in multiples of that 10,000 hours, recording and touring for four years with musical icon Melissa Etheridge, then launching a solo career and establishing a rabid fan base in Europe and beyond, opening shows for the likes of ZZ Top and Deep Purple. Sayce is a rare artist, and been described as “a combination of outstanding songwriter, unparalleled guitarist, soulful singer, and electrifying performer.”
In 2015, Sayce made his major label debut with Influence (Warner Music). Recorded with Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb, the album spawned strong press notices, a top 20 radio track, and expanded his global audience. The release was followed in 2016 by Scorched Earth, Volume 1 (Warner Music), a captivating live performance documented at Toronto’s Silver Dollar Room. Sayce’s electrifying live performances leave fans awestruck — a devastating house-shaking appearance at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in New York City was heralded as one of the top performances of the event.
In 2020, during the global pandemic, Sayce released his seventh full-length album, Spirit Rising (Warner Music). The self-produced recording quickly became his most successful album without the support of tour dates or traditional promotion. Undaunted, Sayce turned his attention to social media and saw his fan base grow by over 300%. To date, Spirit Rising has eclipsed 131 million streams on Spotify. With 2024’s The Wolves Are Coming, Philip Sayce surpassed expectations, intensifying the anticipation for his forthcoming album.
Philip Sayce’s UK tour starts Thursday 21st November at Leeds Brudenell Social Club. Tickets for all concerts are available by clicking here.
