Stu Hillstead is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter hailing from Essex, and not long ago, he delivered his utterly beautiful debut single, Secret Child. It was a tune I instantly resonated with - from its sonic warmth to its eerily relatable lyrics.
Since then, Stu has released his debut EP, a five-track offering titled …not all those who wander. It's a deeply personal collection of songs, and an EP I urge you to explore.
Getting the feeling that Stu had an interesting story to tell, I reached out to see whether he'd be up for an interview. And, much to my delight, he was keen to spend some time and chat!
Diving into the backstory behind Secret Child, why he dreams of having one of his songs in a film or on the small screen, and which three albums he'd take with him to a desert island, please welcome our new friend Stu Hillstead!
Hey Stu, I can't wait to get to know you better and introduce you to our ever-growing audience!
To kick things off, please tell us a little about your musical journey.
What first sparked your passion for it, and what twists and turns have brought you to where you are today?
My first musical memories would have been made at home with my parents. My father had a large record collection, which I now possess. A lot of his records were country artists, but there were some real gems in there too, like Jack the Lad's Rough Diamonds and a couple of John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett singles. I used to spend hours sifting through them, playing them and admiring the album cover art. The connection between the music and the artwork fascinated me.
We had a swing at the end of our garden, and I used to swing as high as I could, singing at the top of my voice, whatever lyrics I could remember. Goodness knows what the neighbours must have thought, but we never had any complaints as far as I know.
Then, I was shipped off to church on Sunday mornings where I sang along with the rest of the congregation. I was never a strong singer, but I found that I could keep relatively in tune. Amongst the wailers and warblers I started to experiment with harmonies, ensuring that I remained under the aural radar.
At school I flirted with the guitar, the violin and the clarinet without much enthusiasm, and singing hymns was a standard part of morning assemblies. The pivotal moment came when I was around thirteen years old, when my family and I were visiting some family in Lewes, East Sussex. I recall being a bit bored with the adult conversation and taking myself off to the next floor up in their five-story Victorian house. In the lounge there was a piano and a nylon-strung Spanish guitar. I started to strum three or four chords that I could remember from lessons at school.... and that was it. I was hooked.
On returning home, I dug out my three quarter sized nylon strung and began teaching myself more chords. My influences have jumped from genre to genre over the years and life has taken me in many different directions. And, although many of these paths have led me away from creativity, I have always returned to songwriting in the end.
OK, I'm just going to come right out and say it: Secret Child is one of the most charming, thought-provoking, and delicate little tunes I've heard all year.
Take me back to the moment it was written: where were you, where was your head at, and how did the initial idea start?
I wrote Secret Child around 5 years ago. I started with the first two lines and didn't know which direction it was going to go. I have no conscious connection to the 4th of July or cornfields, but I do recall feeling that the rhythm of those first twelve words sang well.
Looking back at my notes and drafts, it appears that this was one of those songs that started to write itself. I can't say that I had any intention to write a song that told this particular story; however, 'winning underdog' stories do resonate with me. Maybe this song came more directly from my subconscious than I realised. The thing about 'winning underdog' stories is that they have the potential to give everyone hope, whoever and wherever they are. It's nice to be able to spread a bit of positivity.
Which would you rather:
Have one of your songs featured in a massive movie, or have it become the favourite song of your musical hero?
To have a song that I have written feature in a film or on the small screen has always been a dream of mine. That is the ultimate for me. The connection between music and images, whether that be album cover art, music videos or scenes in a film, completes the whole package.
When music supervisors marry up the right track with a scene, it can multiply the emotional impact. It draws another of your senses into the experience, which adds to the feeling that what you're seeing is really happening. It can bring a scene to life.
Who has shaped your sound over the years, and who’s occupying your headphones/speakers these days?
My influences over the years have been so eclectic; however, I have always been drawn to acoustic artists. As a teenager, I considered myself part of the grunge scene, going to alternative venues and swearing at the unoriginality of the trendies.
My main influences back then were Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, those kinds of alt rock bands. When it became popular for these heavier bands to do acoustic sessions or albums, I became obsessed with them. It was like stripping down a Ferrari to see the raw, integral parts. I think it also made the artists seem more human and accessible. Maybe even that I could see myself doing something similar.
These days I still listen to a mixture of genres. To name a few - Foy Vance, Frank Turner, Glen Hansard, Bonnie Prince Billie. I tend to lean towards artists that have a bit of quirkiness about them and create what they want to, regardless of popular culture.
German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
What would your life look like without music, and what fills your days when you’re not busy creating?
Life without music sounds like the theme of a book written by Ray Bradbury or George Orwell. Music has been a part of the human experience for all of documented history. It's how we tell stories, how we pass on knowledge, how we entertain, how we celebrate. I can't imagine a life without music.
Outside of music, I like to create visual art. I am not a fine artist, but I let ideas come to fruition however they want to appear. The artwork for Secret Child and the subsequent EP, …not all those who wonder, are examples of that.
I'm finding myself using more unusual materials to create these days. I love a skip rummage!
What would “being successful” in the music industry look like for you? And do you see it as an imperative or more of a cherry on top?
What is success? This is a question I have been asking myself for as long as I can remember. I think it's subjective, and I've come to the conclusion that success is satisfaction. So long as I'm doing what I love and it feels fulfilling, then I don't think I can ask for more than that.
I don't crave money or fame or awards, but I do think a little bit of recognition is enough to keep the creative juices flowing. I like to play live, and that's the recognition box for me. And as such, there is no imperativeness to it. It's a road, and so long as I'm enjoying the journey, that's enough success for me.
OK, Stu – desert island time! You’re allowed to grab 3 albums before being stranded on an island. Which do you go with and why?
I'm going to delve into my more left-of-field music tastes to answer this question.
My first is Steve Goodman's self-titled album, which I think is a compilation. Am I allowed compilations? I was in a bar in Nashville when You Never Even Call Me By My Name came on the jukebox. I'd never heard of Steve Goodman before, let alone this particular song. It created the most amazing and magical atmosphere in the bar. Everyone knew the words and sang together as if they were singing Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve. A perfect example of how music brings people together. From then on, Steve Goodman has been a favourite of mine and now and then I treat myself to a loud listen of his great lyrics.
My second is Sting - The Soul Cages. My father drove company cars and one time, when he was given a new one (I think it may have been a Peugeot 309 GTI), the previous driver had left this CD in the CD player. I'm not sure whether my father tried to reunite this CD with its rightful owner; however, thankfully, I ended up with it. I absolutely fell in love with this concept album, and I think this was the beginning of my obsession with concept albums. There were traditional-sounding instruments, minor keys, and atmospheric melodies. There was a bit of a darkness to it as well, and I later found out that Sting wrote this album as a result of his father passing away. This sound was inspirational for me. The enchanting introduction to Island Of Souls, played on the Northumbrian pipes, was something I'd never heard anything like before. I'll take this one, thank you very much.
My third is Xavier Rudd - Solace. I love this album, and it reminds me of the year I travelled around the world. It reminds me of freedom and spirituality and taking time to appreciate the earth in its rawest form. Xavier is an incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist, playing percussion, guitar and didgeridoo, all at the same time. I have been lucky enough to see him play live too. He also incorporates bird song and natural sounds like rainfall into his tracks, which takes me back to the Australian rainforests. Spirit Bird is a track I would recommend lying on the ground to listen to with your eyes closed. It'll take you to your desert island, wherever you are.
There are so many albums that I could talk about here. It's been difficult to narrow it down. I've chosen three that I hope will be new discoveries for some to seek out.
Stu, I really appreciate the conversation! Thank you for taking the time!
What does your next sonic chapter look like, and when can listeners expect to hear some new material?
There will be some new music coming soon, and it's going to be a lot more daring and experimental. I have a lot of ideas that are slowly coming to life. There will also be more live music. Please do watch this space. I am looking forward to it!
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