Quicksand Heart

Quicksand Heart
Studio album by
Jenny on Holiday
ReleasedJanuary 9, 2026 (2026-01-09)
Genre
Length39:40
LabelTransgressive Records
ProducerSteph Marziano
Singles from Quicksand Heart
  1. "Every Ounce of Me"
    Released: 18 September 2025
  2. "Dolphins"
    Released: 16 October 2025
  3. "Good Intentions"
    Released: 11 November 2025
  4. "Quicksand Heart"
    Released: 8 January 2026

Quicksand Heart is the debut studio album by Jenny on Holiday, the solo project of British musician Jenny Hollingworth. It was released on January 9, 2026 through Transgressive Records.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.3/10[7]
Metacritic72/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
DIY[1]
The Guardian[2]
The Line of Best Fit6/10[3]
PasteB-[4]
PopMatters8/10[5]
Pitchfork7.3[6]

On the review aggregator website Metacritic, Quicksand Heart has a score of 72 out of 100 based on 10 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8]

J. Simpson of PopMatters praised the album, writing that "Quicksand Heart is as good as pop gets. It finds the perfect equilibrium between authenticity and vulnerability and craft and accessibility."[5]

Daisy Carter of DIY noted the record lacks the experimentation of Let's Eat Grandma, but lauded its introspective qualities: "... as an exercise in self-actualisation, Jenny On Holiday's solo debut is indeed a revitalising break - one that underscores the small joys of living and points to blue skies ahead."[1]

On a more critical tone, Tom Kingsley, writing for The Line of Best Fit, argued that "too much of Quicksand Heart feels rushed, or perhaps consciously unambitious, eschewing bold creative strokes in favour of the kind of inoffensive consistency you might put on at a cheese and wine night to set the mood."[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jenny Hollingworth, except where noted.

Quicksand Heart track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Good Intentions" 4:18
2."Quicksand Heart" 3:41
3."Every Ounce of Me"
  • Jenny Hollingworth
  • Steph Marziano
3:43
4."These Streets I Know" 4:23
5."Pacemaker" 3:00
6."Dolphins" 4:47
7."Groundskeeping" 3:19
8."Push" 3:22
9."Do You Still Believe In Me?" 4:18
10."Appetite" 4:49
Total length:39:40
Quicksand Heart - Limited Edition Vinyl track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Androgynous"Paul Westerberg 
12."Don't I Hold You"
  • Brendan Harney
  • Ricky Brennan Jr.
  • Scott Levesque
 

Personnel

  • Jenny Hollingworth – vocals (1-10), backing vocals (1-10), keyboard (1-5, 8-10), piano (7)[9]
  • Steph Marziano – drum kit (1-5, 8-10), synthesizer (1-10), piano (7)
  • Jacob Berry – bass guitar (1-5, 7, 9-10), guitar (1-10), keyboard (1-5, 8-10), piano (6)
  • Rosa Walton – backing vocals (1, 6)

References

  1. ^ a b Carter, Daisy (2026-01-09). "Jenny On Holiday - Quicksand Heart". DIY. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  2. ^ Aroesti, Rachel (2026-01-09). "Jenny on Holiday: Quicksand Heart review – Let's Eat Grandma innovator's knowing new-wave reinvention". The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  3. ^ a b Kingsley, Tom (2026-01-09). "Jenny on Holiday plays it safe with Quicksand Heart". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  4. ^ Wei, Lydia (2026-01-09). "Jenny on Holiday embraces life, loss, and '80s synth-pop on Quicksand Heart". Paste. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  5. ^ a b Simpson, J. (2026-01-15). "Jenny on Holiday's 'Quicksand Heart' Is As Good As Pop Gets » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  6. ^ Cliff, Aimee (2026-01-09). "Jenny on Holiday: Quicksand Heart". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  7. ^ "Quicksand Heart by Jenny on Holiday". AnyDecentMusic?. 2026-01-09. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  8. ^ a b Quicksand Heart by Jenny On Holiday, retrieved 2026-01-29
  9. ^ Jenny on Holiday - Quicksand Heart, 2026-01-09, retrieved 2026-02-12