Equal Parts Staple Singers And AC/DC
Durham , N .C .

Nikki Hill’s secret recipe: Take equal parts AC/DC metal stomp, revved-up rockabilly punk, and scorching, modern electric blues; add overflowing spoonfuls of raw, edgy jump blues and R&B, and Staple Singers soul. Hill took all of that, blended it at 11, and what poured from her speakers was one fiery, passionate soul-shouter with plenty of attitude and the grooves to back it up. “Being an artist with a lot of vintage references is cool, but at the same time, you don’t want to be perceived as a complete throwback. It’s not everything that I am,” Hill says. “I mean, I am not reinventing the wheel by any means, but I make things fresh.” The North Carolina native grew up listening to oldies and singing gospel, while a brief detour in a punk band cemented her ability and confidence. Hill’s soulful roots burst forth when husband/guitarist Matt Hill rescued her from a bartending job. Initially a duo, though now a full band, acts such as The Bo-Keys utilized Hill’s voice on their recordings as well. Heavy Hearts, Hard Fists is Hill’s long-awaited, rousing debut. “There’s just something about the music that makes me feel good; that makes people feel good,” she exclaims. “That’s why I’m doing it!”