Today we’d like to introduce you to Sally Hill.
Hi Sally, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My love for music really began in middle school. I joined the Main Line School of Rock in Berwyn, PA when I was 11 after my dad started teaching me what he knew on guitar. I was a student at SOR for about 7 years where I took guitar, piano and vocal lessons. I would occasionally play gigs in our town or in the city. I started writing and producing my own songs on Logic in high school. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I found the most peace and fulfillment making something creative that was my own. My Soundcloud is quite the time capsule.
By the time I was 18 I graduated high school and decided that I wanted to move to Nashville to study Music Business at Belmont University. I found so much joy in music, live shows & production that I made it my ultimate pursuit. I continued writing in college, going to classes and making some of the best friends I’ve ever had. By the year 2020 I had moved off campus into a 5-bedroom house where my roommates and I decided to create a DIY venue out of our basement called Sigler House. The goal was to create a safe and inclusive space where people could gather and discover new music. We hosted local and touring artists such as Medium Build, Spill Tab, Boyish, Sun Room and so many other inspiring musicians.
After graduating from Belmont in 2022, I began juggling different jobs to make money so that I could put out my own music. I had never worked with a producer at that time, but was interested. I met Joey Liechty at a work Christmas party in 2023 where he had just started working in production full-time. We hit it off and he ended up producing the first 4 singles I ever put out! Joey has played a massive role in my artistic development and we’re currently in the process of recording a new project together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My sophomore year of college (2019), I got an unexpected phone call from my dad telling me that my mom had passed away. My mom had cardiac arrhythmia and a stroke that caused her to have health issues while I was in high school. I didn’t realize how quickly it would happen when she suddenly collapsed. There was no time for me to come home and say goodbye, it was too late. My life took a giant pause, I dropped the majority of my classes and I grieved. I have never experienced anything like that in my life. The pain was insurmountable.
In 2020 when COVID hit, I spent a lot of time by myself at home in Philly, taking classes online and crying. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get through school; I wasn’t sure if I would ever recover from this loss. It made me aware of the fragility of humanity and how things can change in a moment. Luckily I have the most amazing support system of friends who loved me and lifted me when I needed it. Therapy has also given me the tools to heal and confront difficult emotions, it is something I strongly recommend to anyone who may be struggling. There is no right way to process grief, it shows up everyday in different forms, but there is always a way through it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My main focus right now is finishing my debut EP that is set to release by the end of the summer. Alongside the EP I am creating visual content for promotion and planning future live shows. I think what sets me apart from other creatives is how lyrically vulnerable I am. I enjoy the shock-factor and writing raw lyrics that people wouldn’t necessarily expect from me. I am very much in the beginning stages of my artistry, so I am excited to keep experimenting with my sound and growing my confidence.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Build a foundation of trust with yourself. Trust that if you mess up on stage you are still worthy of performing. Trust that if you had a bad vocal take you are still worthy of making music. Some of my favorite artists can be messy and imperfect on stage and that is what I value in a performance. At the end of the day it’s about showing up authentically and sharing your art. If you believe in yourself, other people will believe in you too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/sallyhill
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyhillgirl/
