POP-ROCK PRINCESS OF THE NORTH HOLLY NICHOLSON RELEASES ANGSTY NEW SINGLE ‘I FORGET WE’RE FRIENDS’ |

SINGLE REVIEW | HOLLY NICHOLSON – I FORGOT WE’RE FRIENDS by Martha Munro

The ever growing fan base of Manchester-based favourite Holly Nicholson has been waiting for this one: i forget we’re friends, her most eagerly anticipated single to date, and a testament to the fearless vulnerability, stunning vocal strength, and biting pop-rock edge Nicholson brings to her music. Armed with her childhood’s 80s soundtrack as well as the unflinchingly honest pop influences of today, this rising star is kicking off her 2026 with a single full of grit, openness and power, coming onto streaming platforms Friday 9th January. Fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Lizzy Mcalpine and Mazzy Star – you won’t want to miss this.

The track itself flips the classic ‘friends to lovers’ trope on its head to reveal a more painful reality than a simple happy ever after. The lyrics grapple with the complexity of having feelings for someone you can’t be with, but who is always around you as an excruciatingly present friend. Holly Nicholson’s take gnaws on these tensions of desire and restraint, dreams and reality, yearning and doubt, resulting in a piece of artistry that pierces the listener with every vibration.

Starting up this emotional journey is an airy, delicate synth note that carpets the soundscape before bringing in the first verse’s guitar and vocals. Firstly, this electric guitar; it’s got Mazzy Star written all over it, with melancholic melodies full of sweetness and depth, always hitting the spot. The vocals here are brilliant too, Holly Nicholson’s voice taking on a Lizzy Mcalpine quality in its full, smooth skillfulness. There’s even a slight, endearingly imperfect quality to the vocals, sounding more like a phone recording than a studio one. It has to be said that, at times, this does make the mixing sound a bit messy, but overall actually feels a lot more real and personal, which encapsulates the cathartic nature of the song – Holly herself has said that this project came to her in one of those creative moments when it all just flows out of you in one half-an-hour stint, which is not only a testament to her natural knack for songwriting, but also does definitely explains the raw, emotive energy in the single, completely unshackled and open. Over the opening verse’s stunning textures and layers, Nicholson’s lyrics continually overlap lines, as if she can’t get the words out fast enough as they bubble over.

Sonically speaking, the first chorus continues the soft trajectory of the first verse, but the refrain’s lyrics speak volumes: ‘Thoughts of you that are making me go insane / My friends, they’re getting sick of your name / I had a dream you were dating someone else and you met her parents / Don’t know why I got so jealous / My mind tells me not to go there / Cause sometimes I forget we’re friends’. This section in particular is full of turmoil as Holly moves from lovesickness, to shame, to jealousy, to restraint, then back to full-body yearning, and despite the fact that the volume control (in a production / editing context) can get stuck in a bit too much contrast at times, this chorus is ultimately highly moving and connects the listener to the emotions at play.

But we haven’t even got to the good bit yet – after the chorus, the guitar is isolated in a short instrumental section, before being joined by synthetic strings that crescendo into a heavier, grittier, angstier next verse. While Nicholson sticks to the tried-and-true pop song formula, it almost feels like i forget we’re friends is really split into two sections, the first balladic pop, the second leaning much more into the deep rock foundations of the artist’s musical influences. This switch transforms sadness into intense, passion-fuelled frustration, shattering all the delicacy of the opening to reveal the battered heart of the story being told.

Here, the track is full of strong, steady drumbeats, amped up electric guitar, and powerful vocal lines that lead seamlessly into a dramatic second chorus, enhanced by the cymbal-driven drums and ebbing and flowing vocal adlibs that fill the entire sonic space. Then we come to the bridge, which is undeniably Taylor-Swift-esque – reminiscent of tracks from Speak Now in particular – with its slide up the key, atmospheric instrumentals, and killer lyrics: ‘In another life I think we would be just right / Star-crossed lovers who never made it to the starting line’. And once again, the drum patterns – their cut-in-cut-out rhythms – really faciliate the drama of it all as post-bridge, we enter the final climactic chorus, highlighting the emotional desperation in this last blast. These closing moments are highly reminiscent of 2010s breakup-pop, full of familiar, angsty instrumental movements that bring out a youthful yearning and spotlight the vocals, which here make some really impressive vocal shifts and harmonies. And just as dramatically, an unfinished hook abruptly ends the track, leaving the listener in stunned radio silence and awe.

It’s safe to say that Holly Nicholson didn’t hold back with i forget we’re friends, and has crafted something that leaves its mark raw, messy and bold. Despite some production blips, the song is undoubtedly a triumph for this rising singer songwriter, whose voice is pop-rock-perfect and musical ear bitingly brilliant. A real, raw release, an exciting up-and-coming artist, and an undoubtedly star-studded future ahead.