
Drew & Ellie Holcomb - Memory Bank
If memories were money, Drew and Ellie Holcomb would be set for life. The two musicians have spent nearly 20 years together, building a family at home and a genuine community on the road, pursuing separate but equally successful careers. Along the way, they’ve become more than partners, parents, and collaborators — they’ve become rich with experience, too.
“When I was younger, my Dad used to say, ‘Don’t expect an inheritance; I put all the money in the memory bank,'” Drew remembers, thinking back to the family road trips that whisked him across 47 different states while still a teenager. “I think this love of adventure — of seeing and experiencing new things and new people — was one of the reasons I chose my life of music, and it’s certainly one of the reasons Ellie and I got together. We may die broke, but we will have a great time and see a lot of great things, and try our best to live with generous hearts as we go.”
Memory Bank marks the Holcomb’s first full-length album as a duo, showcasing the entwined talents of two award-winning songwriters who’ve traditionally written their songs separately. Here, they reverse the trend by composing every song together, creating a southern sound that nods to the pair’s solo projects — from Drew’s ongoing run as frontman of Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors (whose song “Find Your People” reached Number 1 on the Americana Radio Singles chart in 2023) to Ellie’s triumphs within the CCM industry (including four Dove Awards, two Top 10 singles, and a best-selling book of devotionals) — while breaking new ground, too. Stacked with melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, and autobiographical storytelling, Memory Bank was largely written during one of Drew and Ellie’s annual acoustic tours, and it captures all the emotion and momentum of two musical lifers who’ve spent much of their adulthoods on the move.
Recorded at the legendary Sound Emporium Studios, Memory Bank‘s songs were captured during a series of live-in-the-studio performances. “Rain or Shine” is a Motown-inspired gem about mutual support, driven forward by harmonica, organ, and a slow-and-steady groove. “Silver Thread” is a meditative piano ballad rooted in gospel music. During a cover of Walk the Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance,” Drew and Ellie pass the microphone back and forth, turning the familiar song into a conversation between two romantic partners. They channel Aunt June’s character from the Pulitzer-winning novel Demon Copperhead during “Where You Gonna Go,” a cinematic track rooted in moody soundscapes and haunting vocal performances, then get funky with the tongue-in-cheek “You Drive Me Crazy.” Altogether, it’s a wide range of music, and it highlights just how good the Holcombs have gotten over the years.
“We have more fabric, thread, and color to play with now,” says Ellie. “We’ve become better communicators and better musicians. Back in the day, we used to have this joke song called ‘We Always Fight When We Write Love Songs,’ and we can’t even play it anymore! We’ve grown and expanded since then, and I think we’ve actually gotten pretty good at writing songs together.”
Drew agrees. Back in the late 2000s, when he and Ellie began touring the country with Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, he was the frontman and she was the harmony singer. Now, with Memory Bank, they swap those roles with every song, sharing the spotlight equally. “We couldn’t have made this record together at any other time in our lives,” he explains. “Memory Bank reflects nearly 20 years of marriage and hard work. You can’t write together or sing together if you don’t leave space for the other person. We’re so proud of the music we make with our own projects, but for this album, we had to learn how to share the power and the responsibility.”
Memory Bank unfolds like a soundtrack for adventure, growth, and gratitude. This is Drew and Ellie Holcomb as their best: energized, eclectic, and equal, cashing in on the mutual joys of experiencing life together. On TOUR now, contact us with any requests!