BY: JESSE ZAPATERO

Kacy Hill, the folk-pop singer-songwriter known for her unique blend of earthy folk, dream-pop, and spacious Americana, has just released her latest album, "BUG."

Hill's fourth studio album continues to showcase her growth and self-awareness. "BUG," filled with confessional ruminations and nectarous vocals, highlights her journey from angst to clarity, offering listeners a deeply personal exploration of life's ups and downs. As she WRAPS HER North American tour, Hill reflects on her transformative journey, balancing the allure of stardom with a grounded self-awareness fostered by her love for gardening and nature. With contributions from producers like Bartees Strange, Sega Bodega, and Jim-E Stack, and features from artists such as Nourished By Time and Donna Missal, "BUG" marks a new era for Hill, blending her past experiences with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose.

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Hi Kacy, how are you? We’re halfway done with 2024. How has this year been treating you so far?

Hello, I’m good. I’ve been on tour and it’s been a real grind, but I’m feeling more alive today. This year has really tumbled me around and spit me out so far, but perhaps the second half will be easier. 

Your latest album, BUG, weaves themes of angst and clarity. How did your personal journey of self-awareness influence the thematic direction of this album?

I think each album has been a reflection of where I am in my life at the time. I wrote most of BUG when I was 28 and 29, and turning thirty felt like a looming milestone that pulled me between wanting to feel settled and longing for the selfishness of my early twenties. 

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"Frog Rinse" is described as a "gorgeous fever dream" evoking vivid natural imagery. Can you elaborate on the inspiration behind this track and how you achieved its unique sound?

“Frog Rinse” was really just a result of playing with cheap keyboards at the studio we were writing at. I ended up taking our day one sketch of it home and built it out to have an actual song structure. It sort of lives in its own world, I don’t know if there was conscious inspiration behind it except what it is. 

You mentioned an organic, soul-searching process to create this album. Can you share more about what this journey entailed and how it impacted your music?

I don’t think there was a soul-searching process any more than anything else in life. It was more so a practice in trying not to fixate on expectations and perfectionism. I spent years feeling disappointed and depressed and have always been very hard on myself, so I tried to focus on the process of making this project instead of the future success it may or may not bring. 

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You’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, yet in the past you’ve mentioned feeling like an outsider. How did this feeling shape your decision to take control of your career and the music you create?

It’s hard not to feel like an outsider sometimes when you are surrounded by successful people. I didn’t grow up with money or with any exposure to the entertainment industry, and I was really thrown into the deep end when I first started doing music. Since I got out of my first record deal in 2018, I feel like I’ve been moving through my career in reverse. I had so much money thrown at me during my first project that I thought that was the standard. I somehow didn’t really have to work for it in those first couple years, and when it all (very quickly) disappeared, I felt I had profoundly failed. It’s taken me many years to understand that it’s an immensely tumultuous and volatile career to anyone.

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You describe gardening as a spiritual and grounding experience. Can you delve into how this practice transformed your approach to life and music?

There aren’t enough opportunities in adult life to stick your hands in dirt and I think that disconnects us from what matters. Watching a seed turn into something edible puts everything into perspective and diminished the entitlement I felt towards success. Whatever happens, happens. If you get food from your seeds, beautiful! But it’s also entirely possible that bugs or a squirrel or the heat will beat you to it and it doesn’t make the experience any less valuable,

You've found a balance between the allure of stardom and a deep, grounded self-awareness. How do you plan to maintain this harmony in the future?

That’s quite flattering, but I’m not sure if I feel any of the allure of stardom. I am just who I am, I like the things I like. I’m pretty unwavering in the foundation of who I am. 

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Where do you see your career going in the next five to ten years? What are some of your long-term goals as an artist?

I am starting to dive into writing my next album and I want to keep going until the wheels fall off or it’s not fun anymore. For as long as I’ve been doing this, I feel like I’ve never really gotten fully off the ground in the way that I want to. I want to tour the world and play to big crowds, I want to creative direct more than just my own projects, I want to write a show about my experience in the music industry (I have so many stories…). I always want to keep learning.

How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in your creative process?

I respond to a lot of the DMs I get and I try to stay after every show to say hi and chat with fans. I don’t think they play a role in the creative process as I’m pretty insular when making music, but I do think seeing people come to shows inspires me to keep going.

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What do you enjoy most about performing live, and how do you prepare for your shows?

It’s refreshing to see people in real life and not just on the internet. I warm up my voice and eat dinner and usually sit in a grimy little green room until show time. I try to walk around if I have time.

The music industry has changed significantly over the past decade. How do you feel about these changes, and how have they impacted your approach to making and sharing music?

I just try to not take it personally and adapt. It’s so hard to make a consistent income doing music, but it’s always been. Art has never been a great career path if you’re looking to get rich. I hate the over saturation of the market and the idea of having to churn out quantity in order to please an algorithm, but there’s no point in me fixating on it.  

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What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your career, and how did you overcome it? 

Everyday is a new challenge, not sure if I could quantify them. I just keep going. I’m a pretty resilient person. 

If you were a book what book would you be and why?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar