Metalcore juggernauts Hollow Front have unleashed their powerful new single “Letting Go.” While the track is a brutal display of their prowess, the song’s origin story adds a fascinating layer to its emotional depth following the departure of Daniel Alvarez, who is featured on the new single.
In a social media post made by the group leading up to the release, they share, “We’re dropping a brand new song (ft. Dakota Alvarez) this Thursday. This is one of two final songs we created with him, before he exited the band.”
Vocalist Tyler Tate reveals that the song’s initial inspiration revolved around the concept of moving on from a past romantic relationship. However, everything took a poignant turn when singer and guitarist Dakota Alvarez parted ways with the Grand Rapids, MI group. The song evolved into a heartfelt message to Alvarez, acknowledging his impact on Hollow Front, his former bandmates, and the community of fans and friends they cultivated together.
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Tate explains how the lyrics took on a new perspective, reflecting the pain of Alvarez’s departure and his own struggle to cope with the unexpected loss. The track now stands as a heartfelt farewell and a tribute to Alvarez’s time with the band, capturing the bittersweetness of parting ways with a valued bandmate and friend.
“Originally, ‘Letting Go’ was more written more towards the idea of letting go of a past romantic relationship,” Tate explains. “A person figuring out how to move on from someone they loved, because there was nothing left there to hold onto…”
He continues, “But after [singer/guitarist] Dakota [Alvaraez] left the band, the song took on a whole new meaning for me. When it was time for me to write my parts, I started to see the song in a new perspective. It became a song about Dakota needing to let go of Hollow Front and go out on his own. He might have been talking about an ex when he wrote the lyrics, but when I heard the words, ‘We let our guard down/The passion’s gone now,’ I immediately connected with it, only in a different way than he had intended. All the pain of his departure came out. My lyrics became directed toward Dakota. Telling him how I was so sorry about him leaving, sorry that it had become too much for him to handle because I never thought I’d have to lose him too. I truly thought Dakota and I were in this for the long haul together, that 10-20 years from now, we’d still be making music together. But sometimes life doesn’t work out how you planned. And that’s okay. You pick up the pieces and move on. You let go of that pain and keep going.”
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Alvarez shares his sentiments, expressing gratitude for the rollercoaster ride of emotions during his time with Hollow Front. “I’ve traveled the country with my brothers a few times over, and got to share the stage with so many other talented musicians that I had dreamed of meeting, and made friends with people across the industry I grew up with,” Alvarez shares. “While the last year in Hollow Front had its tragedies and tribulations, I only have love and support for the band and community we cultivated. Hollow Front fans are the most beautiful, emotional, and invigorated Community of people, and this single is for everyone who loved the soundscape we created! Whatever they release after this will be a testament to how talented and headstrong my boys are.”
“Letting Go” achieves a sense of closure for Alvarez and Hollow Front while also marking the beginning of the group’s forthcoming new chapter. The single provides a gratifying and crushingly heavy farewell, with the band assuring that their upcoming releases will escalate in intensity, teasing an exhilarating and unyielding musical expedition ahead.
With its emotional depth, poignant lyrics, and powerful instrumentation, “Letting Go” is a testament to the unbreakable bonds forged through music and the transformative power of letting go and moving forward. As Hollow Front continues to evolve and push the boundaries of metalcore, their fans can anticipate even more intense and electrifying music on the horizon. Check out Hollow Front’s blistering new single, “Letting Go,” below.
