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2hollis – ‘Pirouette’ review: a lovestruck fantasist faces his fears of vulnerability
Music News•November 11, 2026 at 9:00 AMNational

2hollis – ‘Pirouette’ review: a lovestruck fantasist faces his fears of vulnerability

By Georgia Evans•NME Music News

The Los Angeles artist swaps some swagger for sentiment on a cinematic fifth album that doesn't quite add anything to his expansive catalogue The post 2hollis – ‘Pirouette’ review: a lovestruck fantasist faces his fears of vulnerability appeared first on NME.

2hollis has fallen in love. At just 22, the rapper, singer and producer has already developed a distinctive sound, blending underground experimentation with emotionally driven pop. His new record arrives off the back of his 2025 major label debut ‘Star’, which brought a wave of newfound fame and affection, and lyrically wrestled with that feeling of being put on a pedestal. Now, on ‘Pirouette’, he explores what happens when things go deeper, and how loving and being loved has left someone with usually so much bravado surprisingly vulnerable.

There’s still the signature 2hollis tension on this new album, with darkness and euphoria explored side by side. The opening stretch is made up of romantic gestures. ‘Sophie’ starts as a sweet ditty, before twisting into an almost power ballad-like declaration with distorted guitars and a shouted chorus. A lot happens in its three minutes, but that restless approach has become part of 2hollis’ appeal. Follow-up track ‘Sex’ brings it all back down to earth with its lyrics of lust and voyeurism, as he poses the question: “Sex with me, aren’t you curious?”

‘Hurt’ feels like a moment where everything neatly comes together. Its mashing up of pounding percussion and industrial techno creates a dark backdrop for 2hollis’ rapid-fire delivery of: “I‘m gon’ make you hurt / Right now right now right now / Can you make it hurt?” It’s here that his confidence wavers, as if he’s had his guard up for so long that vulnerability feels terrifying. It stands out for a complexity, both lyrical and sonic, that isn’t quite matched elsewhere.

Nevertheless, closer ‘Daisy’ is a flash of greatness. The upbeat pop song swells into a mélange of digital textures as 2hollis declares that she’s his “one and only”. With its impossibly romantic atmosphere, it feels like the end of a fantasy game. The lyrics feel earnest too, as he reflects on losing friends and dismisses his behaviour as youthful recklessness, admitting that “you make me so nauseous” he can’t function.

‘Pirouette’ is an enjoyable, carefully constructed addition to 2hollis’ catalogue. While the presentation suggests a new era for the singer – the album artwork by Final Fantasy illustrator Yoshitaka Amano seems to signal a larger sense of world-building – it’s more like a level-up than a reinvention. The record rarely challenges the sounds or ideas he’s already established, but there are moments of brilliance and a tangible sense of euphoria that keeps you eager to see what he’ll do next.

Details

2hollis pirouette review

  • Record label: Interscope Records
  • Release date: November 11, 2026

The post 2hollis – ‘Pirouette’ review: a lovestruck fantasist faces his fears of vulnerability appeared first on NME.

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