Emerging singer-songwriter Jo Hill talks musical influences, individuality and the creative process behind her relationship inspired debut single ‘HONEYMOON’

What inspired you to begin a career in music?

A weird series of events including getting Lymes Disease, moving to the Middle East, a BTS song writing cut and drama school rejections.

What differs you and your sound from other rising singer-songwriters in the music industry?

I’m OBSESSED with nostalgia and things that sound ‘fresh’ but also kind of timeless and like they could had existed 40 years ago. Finding my sound has been a PROCESS (and it’s still happening) but I think I’m onto something!! I want to create this new genre called ‘UK COUNTRY’. It’s not REALLY country music, but more a mixture of indie pop, rock and soul with ‘smatterings’ of country.

I’m from a weird little village called Cheddar (in Somerset, where the cheese is from) and I think this kinda upbringing has embedded itself in my song writing and storytelling. I’m in my early 20’s and a lot of my friends are getting married, having babies, settling down and I’m running around a big city trying to ‘make it’. I’ve written a lot of songs about this and can’t wait to start releasing them. HONEYMOON is just a taster of my unique sonic pallet that I’m exploring- the real exciting stuff is yet to come :O

Your debut single ‘Honeymoon’ is out now. Please describe the creative process and inspiration behind the release?

I wrote HONEYMOON in a cottage in Wales with my boyfriend Benjy last spring. The song is all about that ‘honeymoon’ phase in a relationship where you’re doing all these lush things together (breakfast in bed, buying flowers, shower sex) BUT you don’t want to put a label on it.

Just like spring, the ‘honeymoon’ phase doesn’t last long but is intensely hopeful, beautiful and a time which people look back on with great nostalgia. Blend all these emotions together, along with my musical influences of Fleetwood Mac and BENEE, and I present to you my first musical baby, HONEYMOON.

In your own opinion, what is the most meaningful song you wrote? What makes you say that one?

A song called ‘The Circle’. A very good friend of mine’s boyfriend sadly passed away before Christmas in a car accident. He was an absolute legend from Somerset and she asked me to write a song for them/about their story. She sent me ‘All Night Parking’ by Adele as a reference track- this was one of the last songs they listened to together.

Jo Hill

I called the song ‘The Circle’ as this is where they first met; The Stone Circle at Glastonbury. I sent it to my friend, and she passed it on to his family. It’s probably the most precious song I’ve ever written.

Throughout your musical career, have you experienced any ‘wow’ moments?

Having a curry with Ed Sheeran. I ended up writing a bit of a chorus for a BTS track that Ed also wrote the verses for. I got to meet him and we all went for curry and got quite pissed- that was a real wow moment for me.

What personal advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue this career?

HAVE A STONG TEAM, BE TRUE TO YOURSELF, DON’T STOP IF YOU WANT IT ENOUGH, MEDITATE, DON’T LET SOCIAL MEDIA GET U DOWN. (these are the things that help me keep my head together as it’s a bloody tough ride at times).

What does the foreseeable future hold for you as an artist?

BIG TINGZ (I hope haha). I very much feel at the beginning of my journey but I’m currently working on sooooo much more music alongside writing for other people. I can’t tell you what the future holds for me but I’d love to make it to LA one day and make my hometown ‘Cheddar’ proud!

Anything else you would like to add?

Stream HONEYMOON and get ready for a full music video and Soul Clap are doing a remix of the song which is exciting!

Connect with Jo Hill

Instagram | Facebook | Spotify

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