Rachel Hill Shares Feelings Around Mental Health With Single, ‘Ice Cubes’

Based in London in the United Kingdom, acoustic singer/songwriter, Rachel Hill joins us to talk all about her latest single release, ‘Ice Cubes’.

With a passion for music that Rachel was born into, she has been singing and songwriting for as long as she remembers, she spent her pre-pandemic days studying a degree in classical music at The University of Cambridge, and then decided to move to London at study an MA in Commercial Songwriting and Production at Tileyard, London in September 2021.

Inspired by the likes of The Staves, Gabrielle Aplin, Birdy, Phoebe Bridgers, Orla Gartland, Joni Mitchell, Billie Eilish and Julien Baker, Rachel Hill presents her own unique sound, blending elements of folk and indie.

The latest thought provoking single from Rachel Hill, ‘Ice Cubes’, was inspired by a Julien Baker’s song that personally resonated with Rachel, ‘Appointments’.

“The initial line was thought up on my bike to uni where I was about to go into a session but had an awful headache (not Covid!) and I said (to nobody) at the traffic lights ‘I want to bury my head in a bucket of ice’. Then the song wrote itself that day.” Rachel Hill

‘Ice Cubes’ is the beginning of a series of singles to be released over the coming months in the leadup to Rachel’s album. Be sure to keep an eye out so that you don’t miss out!

You can listen to ‘Ice Cubes’ below:

Would you like to start by telling us a little about yourself?

Sure!

I’m an acoustic singer-songwriter now based in London and trying to establish myself as an independent artist.

My latest single, Ice Cubes, was my first release in a few years, and it’s my attempt to make an impact in the musical scene of a totally new city!

What was it that first inspired you to begin a career in music?

My parents always say I have been singing pretty much as long as I have been talking…

I’ve had so much support throughout my life to follow my chosen career path as a singer-songwriter, that’s something I will always be grateful for.

I originally wanted to become a classical singer, and trained as a soprano for many years, before realising that my heart was set on writing original songs in a style which felt rawer and more natural to me.

How would you describe the feel of your music?

There is a beautiful picture I’ve just received from my single launch party last Friday.

It shows an audience member with her face in her hands, staring at me as I sang an a cappella, looped version of Creep.

This picture encapsulates that intimate, vulnerable feeling I strive to create with an audience every time I share my music.

Although I always try to balance out the tears with a few laughs too!

You have recently released your single, ‘Ice Cubes’.. what was the inspiration behind the creation of this track?

I always enjoy telling this story!

The opening line of Ice Cubes was thought up on my bike, on my way into Tileyard (where I am currently studying an MA in Commercial Songwriting and Production).

I was battling an awful head cold that morning and once I had reached the traffic lights I paused and said, out loud, ‘I want to bury my head in a bucket of ice…’.

Listeners have since asked me whether the song was inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that trended a few years ago… not quite, but that pretty much ended up being the inspiration for the cover art!

What did the creative process look like for ‘Ice Cubes’?

The song wrote itself within a day.

It started off with that quirky opening line, and then I sat in my bedroom and just played around with anything that came into my head.

I quickly realised that I wanted to dive deeper into this idea of numbness, and the metaphorical meaning that was implied.

For me, the song represents the constant battles we go through with our minds and the lyrics are explorations of my own mental health struggles.

Nowadays, if I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, I can turn to any of my friends familiar with the song and just say ‘I want to bury my head in a bucket of ice’.

They always understand what I mean, and we can laugh about the ridiculousness of the concept.

‘Ice Cubes’ is from an upcoming album.. are you able to let us know what we can expect to hear in the upcoming months?

I’m planning to release a few singles over the next six months before releasing a full album at some point in late summer or early autumn 2022.

I can’t wait to get more music out there.

I have been sitting on a mountain of songs, but just waiting to find the right producers to collaborate with.

The relationship I have with the producer of Ice Cubes, Vittorio Tondo (@hax_han on Instagram), is unlike anything I have experienced previously in recording, and I’m really excited to see what we can come up with together over the next year and beyond.

Where do you find your inspiration for your music?

Musical inspiration is something I find impossible to pin down.

What I do know is that beginning this song-writing master’s course has been brilliant for my inspiration levels.

I can now accept that every time I go to write something, I’m progressing in some way.

Throwing myself into a full-time course which allows me to feel productive rather than guilty about song-writing has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Being surrounded every day by extremely talented creatives helps too, of course…

How has Covid-19 affected your releasing?

Having to take my final uni exams at home during the first wave of Covid definitely made me question why I had spent the last three years doing a music degree.

Without the chance to perform live, I couldn’t remind myself of that passion for performing and connecting with people through music that had shaped my musical career that far.

I was so put out by this sudden plug put in the music industry, that I actually had to take a break from it altogether for about half a year.

I’d lost all my confidence and I was just searching for continuity at that point in my life.

I am so grateful to the handful of people who still encouraged me to write during that first year of lockdown, and who inspired me to apply for this master’s course.

I wouldn’t have recognised the musician I am now back then.

What would you like to see happen for you in your music from here?

I have my heart set on releasing a LOT of music this year, and just getting out everything I have wanted to say for the last few years.

After I have managed that, I’d love to focus on reaching more people through performing live, and perhaps even featuring at a couple of festivals next summer.

What is one message you would like to share with your fans?

I remember putting up a video of myself crying down the phone at some point last summer – I was so nervous about moving to London and having to spend most of my savings on chasing what felt like a pipe dream (it still does occasionally).

That was the most vulnerable thing I had ever posted, and the response was so overwhelmingly full of love and admiration.

Every single person that reached out and told me to keep going should have a credit on this release.

I am forever amazed by how many lovely people I manage to keep in my life, it’s one of my proudest achievements.

Where can people find your music?

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5BdwpqqWrCIpMpBZENFM19?si=m5t_NY_NRj2KpPOL6zCGlA

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/ice-cubes-single/1608288373

Website: https://www.rachelhillmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelhillmusicofficial/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelhillmusicofficial/