Holding On to You is the second song on Twenty One Pilots's third studio album Vessel. It was recorded in Los Angeles and is produced by Greg Wells. It served as the first single from the album and was released on September 11, 2012. The video was released on November 14, 2012 on Fueled by Ramen's YouTube Channel.
The song was originally recorded for Regional at Best, and was released in 2011, before the album was discontinued following the band's first major label signing. "Holding On to You" was also released as an EP on August 16, 2013, and served as the first track.
Commentary[]
Following the release of Vessel, Spotify shared an exclusive commentary by Tyler Joseph for each track on the standard edition.
The next song is called "Holding On to You" and — if I’m being honest with you — I’ve never been super pumped on the name. I didn’t really know what else to call it other than just taking the words that I say most in the song and naming it. I always get this weird like 80’s rock vibe from the title of the song, which has always bothered me, but since then have gotten over. I remember the riff for the song Holding on to You — I can see it now, on the piano, on the keys. I’m very visual when I write music and I remember I accidentally jumped over a few notes when I was tryna figure out just the riff and I didn’t think it worked. Then I listened to it again and actually the riff anticipates the chord progression in a really nice way and then I fell in love with it. And then obviously, this is one of our key tracks that has been on this album that Josh and I — the other guy in my band — we’re a little… we don’t really know what it means exactly to have a single out because we’ve always just worked on a body of work, but this is one of those songs where we have to introduce ourselves and say, 'this is kind of who we are.' You know, this is one of those songs that’s kind of a staple for us.
Official Video[]
On November 14, 2012, Fueled by Ramen uploaded the official music video to their YouTube channel.
Versions[]
"Holding On to You" was originally recorded for Regional at Best, but following the band's signing with Fueled by Ramen and subsequent discontinuation of the album, the song was re-recorded and included on the album Vessel. A live performance of "Holding On to You" at the LC Pavilion was uploaded to the Fueled by Ramen's Youtube channel on July 1, 2012. This live version also served as a bonus track on the Japan/Korea release of Vessel.
Holding On to You (Live at LC Pavilion) was recorded at a show around April 28, 2012.
Another live version, recorded for The Live Room was uploaded to The Live Room powered by Warner Music's YouTube Channel on April 29, 2013. This was recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, CA.
Lyrics[]
I'm taking over my body |
Credits[]
| Writers and producers | Tyler Joseph and Greg Wells, with lyrical elements from Lean with it, rock with it written by Maurice Gleaton, Charles Hammond, Robert Hill, Deangelo Hunt, Bernard Leverette, Gerald Tiller and Jamal Willingham. |
| Recorded by | Ian MacGregor at Rocket Carousel Studio Los Angeles, CA 
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| Programming | Tyler Joseph and Greg Wells |
| Piano and keys | Tyler Joseph |
| Drums and auxiliary percussion | Josh Dun |
| Vocals | Tyler Joseph |
| Additional synths and keyboards | Greg Wells |
| Mixed by | Greg Wells at Rocket Carousel Studio Los Angeles, CA
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| Mastered by | Howie Weinberg & Dan Gerbarg at Howie Weinberg Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
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| Published by |
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| Twenty One Pilots | ||
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| About | Twenty One Pilots • Tyler Joseph • Josh Dun | |
| Studio albums | Twenty One Pilots • Regional at Best • Vessel • Blurryface • Trench • Scaled and Icy • Clancy | |
| EPs | Three Songs • Migraine (EP) • Holding On to You (EP) • Quiet Is Violent • The LC LP • Double Sided • TOPxMM • Trench 10" Triplet EP • Location Sessions | |
| Live albums | Blurryface Live • Scaled and Icy (Livestream Version) • MTV Unplugged | |
| Singles | Holding On to You • Guns for Hands • Lovely • House of Gold • Fake You Out • Car Radio • Fairly Local • Tear in My Heart • Stressed Out • Lane Boy • Ride • Heathens • Heavydirtysoul • Cancer • Jumpsuit • Nico and the Niners • Levitate • My Blood • Chlorine • The Hype • Level of Concern • Christmas Saves the Year • Shy Away • Choker • Saturday • The Outside • Overcompensate • Next Semester | |
| Tours | Mostly November Tour • Blurryface World Tour • Emotional Roadshow World Tour • Tour De Columbus • The Bandito Tour • Takeover Tour • The Icy Tour • The Clancy World Tour | |