Q&A with Uniquely Talented Singer, KACY HILL Talks – Working With KANYE WEST, Her Debut EP BLOO and More!

A left-field pop singer with a soft, slightly tremulous voice, KACY HILL  entered the music industry in an indirect fashion. She started modeling during high school in her native Phoenix and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career after she graduated. Director and photographer Stephen Garnett introduced her to Jaylien Wesley.

Hill and Wesley collaborated on material, including “Experience,” a low-key song that caught the attention of Kanye West. At the time, Hill happened to be working as a dancer on West’s Yeezus tour. West subsequently signed Hill to his G.O.O.D. label. In May 2015, “Experience” was released as the lead song on the Kitsune America 4 compilation. Kacy Hill’s debut EP, Bloo is now available via G.O.O.D. Music / Def Jam Recordings (US) / PMR (UK).

All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had a chance to catch up with the talented singer-songwriter, KACY HILL. Enjoy their chat below!

Hi Kacy! How are you today? What’s on the agenda today besides our interview?

Hey Nicole! I’m great, just getting ready for a handful of interviews my show tomorrow, Friday March 10th at The Fonda in LA!

For those that are not familiar with you and your music, how did you get your start? Who or what was the catalyst for you to want to live the life of a musical gypsy?

I got started writing music almost a year after I moved to LA. I met a photographer who introduced me to his producer friend, Jaylien, who produced “Experience”. I think it clicked with me pretty early in the writing process that songwriting was something that I enjoyed and was surprisingly good at.

Shortly after, I was on the Yeezus tour as a background model/dancer, where Kanye heard my music through the grapevine and signed me.

What did you learn between your previous work, collaborations and playing live, that you felt you wanted to infuse into your debut EP, Bloo?

A lot of the inspiration for Bloo mostly came from an honest place of discovery. I was very much still figuring out how to write pop music and my own identity as an artist, so it’s a collection of work from that discovery phase.

The biggest piece of advice I took from my own previous work and working with other artists was to consider the audience; I’m making music as a platform for my own discovery, but there needs to be something relatable between me and the audience. I think that’s the purpose of pop music.

Who have been your inspirations growing up that also inspire you today?

I really didn’t grow up with idols or that sort of thing. I listened to bands and when Myspace came around, was constantly scouring the music section for new music. I was a really shy kid and was focused on school and music and (weirdly) politics and kind of bigger issue stuff.

I think the inspiration to my music now is a pretty big melting pot of stuff I listened to growing up till now; a lot of 90’s alternative, early 2000’s pop, and artists like Robyn and Florence + The Machine.

As far as songwriting goes, how do you capture inspiration as it comes to you?

My songwriting comes from a place of honesty, so I’m always writing about my own life; my songs are a reflection of myself and my perspective on relationships. The best songs I’ve written have been a result of being super emotionally charged, where the music becomes a sort of therapeutic platform.

Who would you love to collaborate with next…I’m talking wish / bucket list!?

I’d love to work with other strong female vocalists like London Grammar or Robyn or Sia.

What was the inspiration for your new single,“Foreign Fields” ? Did you help come up with the treatment for the video as well?

“Foreign Fields” came about as a collaboration between Jack Garratt and myself. It’s about finding people in your life that help move you forward and progress. I think at the time that I wrote it, I was beginning to meet more people within the music industry that were really young and incredibly motivated to do amazing things, and it kind of opened my eyes to this world of people that didn’t want to just sit around and accept whatever happened to them.

Rankin directed the video, and it’s actually the first visual element I’ve put out where I didn’t have a lot of influence on the product. I helped a bit with the final cut, but working with someone like Rankin, there’s a certain element of trust that you have to put in them as artists.

Nowadays, everything is so instant…you press a button and it’s yours ala Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes etc. What was the first album you saved up for and purchased for yourself?

The first album I ever purchased for myself was …Baby One More Time by Britney Spears… and I played the hell out of it.

What was the first song you remember falling in love with and why?

Probably “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals. I was really young when it came out, but I remember getting so excited whenever it came on the radio; it’s such a fun song.

 Who is in your current playlist? What artists or bands are in current rotation for you?

Lianne La Havas, Florence, Daniel Johns, Jack Garratt, Gallant, Tame Impala, and Mumford & Sons, to name a few.

What’s on tap next for you, Kacy? What are you most excited about for this year?

I’ve got a bunch of live shows to follow up the EP with and I’m super excited to see that energy come together. I’m also working on the full length album, which is a massive headache that I’m in love with. There’s so many pieces of this project to be excited about!

Stay connected with KACY HILL via her socials below!

Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Instagram