FEATURE
Ariel Hill Interview with Muzique Magazine
How did you come by your stage name?
My stage name was given to me by my very own mother the minute I exited her womb and I thought to myself, “This will do!”
When did you discover your love for your craft and what made you realize you wanted to pursue a career in it?
I discovered the love of my craft at the age of 10 when I wrote my first song. I was immediately enthralled by the whole process. (Although looking back, I’m fairly certain the first song I ever wrote was inspired by the Disney Channel Cheetah Girls so, we’ve come a long way.)
The decision to pursue songwriting as a career came during my freshman year of college. At the time I was studying to become a journalist and subsequently, was pursuing that. However, when I continuously missed class to stay home and write songs I had to take a step back and reexamine my priorities.
It was a tough decision to make, virtually
everyone advised me against it but I didn’t feel I had a choice in the matter. It was more than just a hobby to me. I was ready to dedicate my life to studying the art and craft of creating music. So, I doubled up
my credits, graduated 2 years early, and moved to Nashville at the age of 20 to begin my journey as a songwriter.
To what or whom do you accredit your sense of style?
Life experiences. With each song I sit down to write I have one of two objectives; create a mood or summarize a lesson.
On your current project, how did you come up with the concept?
Made Up is a song that I wrote based on some of the best advice my mom ever gave me. Being a sometimes painfully pragmatic type of woman she once told me “those feelings you get when you first start to fall in love with someone, don’t trust them. They aren’t real.” It seemed a bit harsh at the moment but as I grew older I understood what she meant. When we “fall in love” with someone we aren’t actually falling in love with who they are but the projection of who we want them to be. This not only sets us up for disaster but also robs us of experiencing real, unconditional love.
At the end of the song, I stuck in a voice memo from my cell phone. You can even hear my piano bench creaking if you listen closely. I was a bit jaded and disillusioned at the time. I sat down, pressed the record, and just sang “show me a love that will last” over and over. I think we all want that. The kind of love that will expand as we do, that will burn bright and hard, that may bend but never break.
Ariel Hill Interview with Muzique Magazine
I believe that’s a noble desire and one worth committing to if you find a person with potential. But in order to achieve it, we have to let that person exist outside of our own heads. We have to create a space safe enough for them to be fully who they are and to love them through every side of their multifaceted existence. An exercise in loving someone that way will only allow us to be better at doing the same for ourselves.
What are some of your greatest challenges, and what is your greatest attribute when it comes to your work ethic?
A great challenge, one which I’m sure many artists struggle with, is not letting perfectionism stand in the way of completion. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap that each work should be a masterpiece but that seems to miss the point. The point is the act of creating, not what comes of the creation after its completion. Understanding this has become my greatest attribute and has also freed me in a lot of ways.
Are you the best at what you do in your opinion?
This question feels like a trap so therefore I will answer very ambiguously and tell you that I am the only one who does precisely what I do and therefore I have no other competition.
What are your plans for the near future?
I will be releasing my album by the end of the year and I already have my next few musical projects written and ready for release after that!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank, any shout-outs?
My cat, Copernicus.
How can fans find you?
On Spotify under “Ariel Hill” or on Instagram at @rielfeatures
What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
Keep on creating, your voice matters.
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