South African born and residing in the United Kingdom, singer/songwriter Loulita Gill joins us to talk all about her latest heartfelt single release, ‘Heaven Is Holding You’.
Loulita, who is also a graphic designer by trade and a mother and a wife, began her music releasing journey in May of 2018, and since that time has released two full albums and ten singles, as a twelve year accumulation of music outpouring from her soul.
The latest single release from Loulita Gill, ‘Heaven Is Holding You’ is a brave and raw emotional expression of a deep and lifechanging experience from Loulita’s past, that began in November 2015.
Loulita was in the process of completing a master’s degree in practical theology, when she miscarried.. an experience and pain that so many women go through, but is so often unspoken.
Speaking of the pain, the grief, the isolation and loss experienced, Loulita wrote ‘Heaven is holding you’ as a way to express her heartache and to honour her lost child.
“Miscarriage is understood to be ‘so common’ that women (and their partners) who face it are often
overlooked, or their deep sorrow treated as insignificant.” Loulita Gill
The piano and strings, combined with the beautiful authenticity in Loulita’s vocals take you on a melancholic journey through the experience of grief that will lead to reflect on your own journey of loss and of coming out the other side.
You can listen to ‘Heaven Is Holding You’ below:
Would you like to start by telling us a little about your background?
I’m originally from South Africa and moved to the UK when I was a teen.
I met my lovely husband, Joe, here and we have been married for 12 years.
We have three lovely boys. Other than a music artist, I’m also a graphic designer and run my business from home.
What began your exploration of a music career?
I’ve always loved music.
It has been an anchor for my life in many ways.
After I left school I did a course on worship (religious) music and started to write songs.
I sang in church for a long time (I still do) but after a while, I felt like something was missing, like I should be doing more with my music.
I had written some songs and wanted to do something with them.
So after I had my 3rd baby, I decided to give my music career a go. It was a ‘now or never’ moment.
I recorded and released my first album and was blown away by all the love and support I received, and I’ve been pursuing this career ever since.
How would you describe the feel of your music?
Most probably easy listening but with a very meaningful message.
You have recently released your single, ‘Heaven Is Holding You’.. what was the inspiration behind the creation of this single?
In November 2015 I graduated with my master’s degree and one week later I had a miscarriage.
I was in the early stages of pregnancy and in the space of a week I achieved one dream and lost another.
So, I wanted to write a song that expressed my pain and grief, while offering it as a source of comfort to others who have lost loved ones.
What does ‘Heaven Is Holding You’ mean to you?
It’s a deeply personal song.
I will never forget the heartache I experienced through this loss.
It is something that cannot be described, only experienced.
So Heaven is Holding You is a song to honour the baby that I lost.
It is also a song of comfort to know that one day I will be reunited with the little person I never got to meet.
The only thing separating us now is time.
What did the creative process look like for ‘Heaven Is Holding You’?
I had various melodies and lyrics saved in my phone (I always record my ideas in my phone) and I was going through them all one day.
When I listened back to this particular idea I had captured, I loved it and decided to develop it.
It sounded so sad and I felt it fitted the subject matter perfectly.
Where do you find your inspiration for your music?
From my life’s experiences.
I am a complex trauma survivor and so many of my songs refer back to the things I’ve been through, but also the hope that is to come.
I believe that there is hope for my future and my faith plays a big part in that.
How has Covid-19 impacted your release?
I don’t think it really impacted it too much.
I haven’t done as much gigging as I was doing before but to be honest, it gave me an opportunity to really focus on my online audience.
What would you like to see happen for you in your music from here?
I would love to see many more people’s lives impacted by my music.
My next EP project is aimed at trauma survivors and I hope that the songs will remind people that they are not alone, that they can get help, heal and find true freedom.
What is one message you would like to share with your fans?
That there is hope for their lives.
Just because people have had a really difficult past does not mean that it should define who they are or what they can become.
Where can people find your music?
I’m on all digital streaming platforms.
If you Google Loulita Gill you will definitely find me.
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.