Patricia Hill: "Why Should I" (Exclusive Interview)
How did you get your start in music?
At the early age of 4 my passion for music and singing started to grow with me. My biggest influence were my two elderly brothers Thomas and Christopher, who had a boom box in their room, playing dance hits from the 90s. There was always music in the house. My mother Marlies was a very talented singer and dancer. As a former figure skater she taught me how to skate and express myself to music on ice. She supported me a lot and was always by my side. Unfortunately she passed away back in 2005. Ever since I was working on my musical career. My solo-project "Patricia Hill" was founded in 2015. On 1st October 2019, I published my debut single „I Know What I Want“ as well as the music video.
What is music and movement and single all about?
My latest single „Why Should I“, that I released on my birthday - April 18th, was written and produced by Wolfgang Bayer (Label Chilli Music, AT) and Emad Sayyah. It's a powerful, uptempo dance song with a soulful-catchy chorus, that takes the listeners back to the 90s -when it was originally written, but never published. This song features unique synths, strong beats and dynamic vocals. This time we decided to go for a more story driven music video that was highly inspired from the craptastic '90s karaoke videos, once again shot with a vintage camera for that nice retro feel that reflects the song: A young lady, after being betrayed by her boyfriend, goes through an existential crisis, before finding new love.
What was the hardest part of making this single?
To wait for it's release, haha. It took some time to finish everything. I was responsible for the production and casting of the „Why Should I“ music video. Ari Tiihonen is my director. We worked as a team and came up with a bunch of ideas. The actress and model Ieva Pocytė was perfect for the „Lady“ role. All the actors did such a great job and brought our wacky vision to life. I'm so glad that everything worked out the way we've planned it.
What was the most enjoyable part of making this record?
To record the vocals in the studio. I love to improvise with my voice and it's always a lot of fun to come up with the backing vocals and harmonies. Of course I enjoyed the video making process as well. To be in charge of hair, make up and style was an awesome experience. I was aiming for an authentic and dramatic 80s look - that's my thing.
Who are your top musical influences?
My mum played mostly 80s and 90s music at home with all the amazing stars like Celine Dion, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand and Whitney Houston. I look up to those artists and their musical and vocal range. I am open to almost every genre and prefer Soul, Pop and R&B music.
How did you prepare to make this all happen?
Where there's a will there's a way, I say. „I Know What I Want“ and I am thankful to have a great team that believes in me and my music. Time management is everything. „Why Should I“ was ready and there was no pressure for it's release. We came up with the music video idea one year ahead, so I had the chance to prepare and cast the actors. After that it started to flow.
What can we expect from you in 2021?
I am so happy that concerts are possible again. I can't wait to be on stage with my band. Meanwhile I started to write a couple of demo songs that I need to finish. I already have a song in mind that I will release next. I'm dreaming of coming back to the States and I would love to visit Toronto. I miss travelling and singing outside of Austria. As an artist, I'm curious to see how my music is received internationally. Right now it's all in the stars.
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