CHASING DREAMS IS THE NORM

Being the son of a proud United States Marine, Holdyn Barder inherited a strong will and an indomitable spirit. His father's dedication and discipline through his own personal triumphs became the backbone of Holdyn’s uncommon work ethic. Holdyn’s got a knack for songwriting, too, and it's no surprise—his mother’s a poet. Holdyn’s deep connection to country music began at a young age; the ’98 Houston-born, Philly-raised artist would sing along to '90s Country hits from the backseat of his mom's SUV, cultivating a love for the genre that would later influence his artistic journey. However, it wasn't until the unusual discovery of a blue, guitar-shaped paperclip resting adjacent to his tennis bag in 2013 that Holdyn started to strum the guitar. Holdyn took this mysterious finding as a sign to start playing music.

When Holdyn Barder realized his talent could become much more than a hobby, he did what every budding country artist must do. In a bold move, Holdyn packed his bags for Nashville on August 7, 2019, ditching an ex-girlfriend and his quantum physics career path at Lafayette College. Prior to later earning his B.B.A. Music Business from Belmont University in 2021, Holdyn interned at Big Machine Label Group just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Following his graduation, Holdyn became a marketing manager responsible for coordinating and executing global advertising campaigns for America’s largest entertainment venues at Grayscale Marketing.

Holdyn Barder possesses a musical maturity and depth that belies his age, making him an undeniable force. With his stadium-electrifying guitar riffs, authentic storytelling, and charismatic demeanor, Holdyn’s distinct and one-of-a-kind identity allows him to execute ballads and anthems—resonating with listeners of all ages. Philly’s tenacity and perseverance played a significant role in shaping his character. Fueled by his unwavering ambition to replicate the touring empires of role models Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, and Garth Brooks, Holdyn is showing zero signs of taking his foot off the gas.

In January 2024, Holdyn Barder’s Philadelphia Eagles-themed love song dominated Philly media, accumulating a staggering 1M+ views and 20K+ shares within 72 hours of posting the song to social media. The acoustic version of his song ‘Go Birds’ is the newcomer’s first release of 2024.

Holdyn Barder is just getting warmed up. Coming in hot with an authentic, brand new sound and image, along with the passionate city of Philly behind his back, Holdyn is perfectly positioned to become a household name in the country music format.

Holdyn Barder has established himself as one of Nashville’s most exciting up-and-coming artists. Holdyn’s musical endeavors have garnered widespread and generous recognition from the Philadelphia Eagles, CMT, Fox News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, MusicRow Magazine, 92.5 WXTU (Philadelphia’s Country Station), 93.3 WMMR (Everything That Rocks!), 95.7 WBEN (BEN FM), 97.5 WPEN (The Fanatic), The Boot, FOX 29 Philadelphia, NBC10 Philadelphia, 6ABC Philadelphia, the Phantastic Sports Show, Medium, Philly Live, Seven Mile Times, et. al. Holdyn has shared a performance bill with Kid Rock, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, HARDY, Parker McCollum, Lady A, Lainey Wilson, and Jon Pardi. Holdyn delivered standout performances at Barefoot Country Music Fest, the Stone Harbor ‘Tuesdays at the Tower’ Concert Series, and the Ryman Auditorium's PNC Plaza Stage. Holdyn’s efforts have also earned him playlist consideration from Spotify's Fresh Finds Country and New Music Friday Country playlists and Amazon Music's Country Heat playlist. Additionally, Holdyn’s music has been co-penned by Holdyn with/or by songwriters responsible for Nashville’s largest hits by Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, et. al. In Summer 2023, Holdyn Barder was recognized on the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s (NSAI) ‘Ones to Watch’ list. Holdyn Barder's exceptional achievements have merited him a coveted spot in the Stone Harbor Museum, where he now stands proudly alongside a familiar hometown neighbor, Taylor Swift.

ARTIST FAST FACTS

Full Name: Holdyn Burke Barder

Born: Houston, TX

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

First Song Learned on Guitar: ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’ by Poison

Years Active: 7

First Concert: Toby Keith in Camden, NJ

Influences: Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Luke Combs, Garth Brooks, Jake Owen