DEVIL'S ISLAND featuring Holon
Welcome to this weeks edition of Devil's Island! Every week we maroon a band or artist on the island and see what they get up to, how they cope with being all alone on a small island in the middle of the ocean. It's not your average desert island and we'll see just how each person copes with the extreme conditions.
This week when we arrived at Devil's Island we find Holon sat on the beach. The island is far from their home, so how did they end up here and how did they cope with life on Devil's Island?
Find out now...
Welcome to The Razors'e Edge and our somewhat lovely, warm desert island. Don't worry about it's name I'm sure it's not as bad as that would suggest.
You're marooned here on this island, but before you ended up shipwrecked you chose one album that you couldn't live without. Which album did you each chose and why?
Easy. Dream Theater – Images & Words.
That album was like my musical awakening. Every time I hear it, I remember the moment I thought, “Wait… songs can be 11 minutes long AND emotionally devastating?” It’s got riffs, emotion, keyboards that sound like spaceships, and enough time signature shifts to keep me confused for a lifetime. Perfect island companion.
Just behind that palm tree is a shack for each of you to stay in, with enough space for you to put up a poster on the wall of one album cover. What album cover do you each chose?
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here.
It’s minimalist, mysterious, and feels like it would match the moody, desolate island aesthetic perfectly. Plus, I’d like the guy on fire to remind me not to fall asleep too close to the bonfire.
There's also a bar on this here island. But alas each of you only get to choose one drink for the entirety of your stay. What's your tipple of choice?
Easy—Piña Colada.
If I’m going to be stuck on a tropical island indefinitely, I might as well fully commit to the cliché. A Piña Colada is basically the ultimate island survival tool: it’s got coconut, it’s got pineapple, it’s got rum… hydration, vitamin C, and emotional support all in one glass.
Plus, if I’m sipping Piña Coladas under a palm tree, playing sad songs on a battered guitar, it kind of turns the whole “stranded forever” situation into more of a “we’re on vacation, just indefinitely and slightly against our will” vibe.
Also, let’s be real: nothing pairs better with existential island ballads than a drink that comes with a tiny umbrella
Your suitcases were lost when your ship sank, but you each managed to salvage one item of band merch. What’s the merch and for what band?
I saved my Frank Zappa “Shut Up ’n Play Yer Guitar” hoodie. It’s warm, confusing, and gets strange looks from people—which is basically how I operate as a musician.
You’re sat on the island thinking “I’m stuck here on this island with my bandmates for eternity”… who would you rather have been shipwrecked with?
Well, since Holon is a solo project I don’t really have bandmates so can I say my girlfriend, Maria? I really don’t want to be alone.
She might not be more practical than me (which is saying something), but at least we’d laugh ourselves into survival mode. Between her quick wit and my questionable coconut-opening techniques, we’d have entertainment sorted.
Plus, we already vibe on the weird, philosophical, and slightly ridiculous wavelength, so being stuck together would never be boring.
There's a walkman in your pocket, on the tape inside is the recording of the one live show that stands out for you. It could be any show, from any band, anywhere in the world. What show is on that walkman?
That would be Zappa’s Universe—no question.
That show was a total eye-opener for me. It was like someone took musical genius, duct-taped it to absurdity, and then set it loose on stage. The musicianship was off the charts, the arrangements were tight but full of chaos in the best way, and the whole vibe was like a masterclass in not taking yourself too seriously while still being ridiculously good.
It was one of those performances that made me go, “Okay, so music can be this weird… and still be absolutely brilliant.” Perfect Walkman material for when you’re stranded on an island and need to be reminded that art doesn’t have to follow rules—it just has to feel alive.
You're getting desperate, you decide the only course of action is to put a message in a bottle and hope someone finds it. Your message could be to any member of any band, but should be the most suitable for a rescue attempt. Who is it?
I’m sending that bottle straight to Steve Morse.
Not only is he one of my biggest guitar heroes, but the guy is actually a licensed pilot—which feels like a huge tactical advantage when you’re stuck on a deserted island. I figure he could just fire up a plane, fly over, and pull off a rescue mission that would somehow involve mind-blowing guitar solos mid-flight.
Honestly, I trust Steve Morse to navigate storms, airlift me off Devil’s Island, and still have time to jam a couple of killer licks before we even land. Dream rescue plan.
You've been stuck here a while and food supplies are running low. There's only one thing for it... which fellow band member gets sacrificed to help the others survive?
Well, since Holon is mainly a solo project… looks around…
Guess I’ll just eat my feelings instead. And maybe snack on my Zappa hoodie if it gets desperate. At least I have some Piña Colada. … slurp…
Finally, when the ship sank you each managed to save one person from the wreckage. That person is the one musician that has influenced your career the most, shaped your way of thinking and your outlook on life. Who did you save?
Frank Zappa. Without question.
He showed me that music doesn’t have to follow rules—it can be weird, smart, sarcastic, emotional, and technically wild, all at once. Plus, with him around, we’d never run out of ideas… or twisted jokes to lighten the existential dread.
Thanks for your time. We hope you get back to dry land before you're next due out on tour!
Thanks! And if not, I’ll be here writing a 19-minute concept song about coconut scarcity and sand-induced melancholy. Stay weird, stay hydrated, and support your local prog artist—especially if they’re stuck on an island with no Wi-Fi.
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