Unravel the captivating life and resounding success story of Gavin Holligan.
Pioneer Stories: Gavin Holligan
From the roaring cheers of the football pitch to the mesmerising rhythm of the stage, Gavin Holligan's transformation from a celebrated footballer to a passionate musician is a testament to his unwavering determination and fearless pursuit of his dreams.
A true maverick who charted his own course, Holligan's journey transcends the boundaries of traditional paths, discovering his own voice and new passions along the way. Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of hearing him perform, and the experience was nothing short of soulful. Inspired by his incredible talent, we had the privilege of sitting down with Gavin to dive deeper into his extraordinary life journey…
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Tell us a bit about your story…
When I was growing up, I always wanted to do two things, football and music. I managed to sign for West Ham at the age of 18 and made my debut at Anfield. After a few years, I sustained so many injuries that I felt it would be wise to pull away. I quit my career in football and then moved into music.
I got to work with some of the biggest names in the industry from Gloria Gayer to Stevie Wonder to Duffy to Aswad. Finding your own identity as an artist can be quite tricky. After a long time, I think I discovered what I want to say, and who I am, so that's brought me to this point here, now.
Mental Health is an important thing to take care of. How do you support your own Mental Health?
So mental health, it's a big part of everyone's journey. I've been practising what I call the art of acceptance, which essentially is just accepting things don't always go planned or the way you hoped. I think being able to be at peace with every eventuality, and being in a place where you can go, "okay, this is what it is."  It's so liberating being in that mindset and I'm enjoying that kind of practice.
What is your favourite piece from the &SONS collection?
So when it comes to the &SONS collection, there are a few things I really love. I love their Baker Boy Hats. They look great, but there are so many things that I would pick out.
And finally, what is your definition of the word Pioneer?Â
For me, a pioneer is someone who makes a new path that didn't exist before them. They work hard to break down barriers and remove obstacles out of the way for someone else to pursue their goals in a similar field in the future. Pioneers are important because their journey inspires others.