Holding Absence

The band took their name from the title of the song "Holding Your Absence" by Hammock.

Following their departure from their previous band Oceans Apart, bassist James Evans and guitarist Giorgio Cantarutti sought to form a melodic hardcore band. The pair hired vocalist Zac Vernon, whom Evans performed alongside in a pop-punk band, as well as second guitarist Feisal El-Khazragi. Holding Absence formed in 2015. Vernon appeared on only their first recorded and released tracks. Their debut single, "Immerse", was released on 21 June 2015, with their second single, "Luna", following soon after. In 2016, Zac left the band and formed Parting Gift, leaving the door open to Lucas Woodland of defunct outfit, Falling With Style.

Upon Woodland joining the band in 2016, Holding Absence released "Permanent", their debut single under this iteration. The band would soon go on to follow up the release of "Permanent" with their contrasting single "Dream of Me", gaining the attention of US-based record label SharpTone Records. In 2017, the band signed with the label, who put out a physical release of the double-A side single Permanent/Dream of Me. The following few months were spent touring the UK alongside several bands, including Blood Youth and We are the Ocean, before eventually performing at the prestigious Download Festival in Donington. Soon after Download, the band released their third single "Penance", a six-minute track about "the journey towards happiness". Before the year was out, the band toured the UK again supporting Young Guns, and soon after released their fourth single "Heaven Knows".