Carmen Hillary
Chameleon
features 6 songs
Artist Information
Instrumentation
Carmen Hillary - Vocals/Piano
Tim O'Brien - BG Vocals/Guitar/Piano
Eric Tonning - Bass
Rob Gretsinger - Drums
Biography
Carmen Hillary's EP "CHAMELEON" (6songs) has definitely wetted the appetite of both industry professionals as well as the eagerly awaiting public. "Everyone's a Critic” just screams radio hit! I just don't understand why the heck she isn't already a nationally recognized singing phenomenon!" (Linton Valdock, Kenora Daily News).
Clearly in a base of solid Pop/Rock, her ethereal melodies and addictive musical hooks are peppered with electronic, symphonic and worldbeat undertones. "This talented up and coming singer/songwriter has a unique musical style that I would describe as a blend of Sarah McLachlan, Delerium and Enya - a Noir Magical genre" (Craig "Killer" Kincaid, The Wave 102.3).
"I was really impressed with Everyone's A Critic. Her voice sounds great and it has an excellent melody! A track like that should get a lot of commercial airplay." (Chris Logan, Owner - Logan's Bar).
Pleased to be generating her own audience independently thus far, it has been a busy summer. Carmen recently received a grant from FACTOR and has been touring all summer to promote Chameleon -also making television appearances on The New VI (CHUM), The Daily (Nanaimo), CH Channel 6, The Daily (Victoria). The next stop is The Western Canadian Music Festival, where she has been chosen to perform among other artists such as Kim Barlow, Jessie Farrell and Brundlefly. In past shows, Carmen has performed with ANET Ducharme, Trish Klein (of The Be Good Tanyas) and Vancouver based Hip Hop siren Kia Kadiri and in line-ups including Sarah Slean and Holly McNarland. Her song, "Memorial" is on the compilation album Secrets of the Universe that includes other top artists Morry Stearns and David Foster.
Victoria based with a four piece band, Carmen's inspiring songwriting is self-explorative and introspective. "Everyone is free to interpret my music however they want. My underlying motivation is to engage the listener is such a way that it awakens passion within them. We live in a world of over stimulation. We are for the most part told how to live and what to feel. If I can inspire someone through my music to live their life the way that they want to I've done my job."
Carmen Hillary was brought into the world by two very musical parents. Her Mother has stated that Carmen could sing before she could talk. How fitting that her name actually means “song”. Speaking of song, she wrote her first at age 7 and she has continued to write ever since. In High School, she was given the Department Award for Music and has already received accolades and label interest from Nettwerk, Virgin and The Music Publisher. Her Great Grandfather was Gitz Rice (famed Broadway composer) known for his performance during wartime. It was Christmas and as he and his fellow men started to sing Silent Night from inside the trenches, German soldiers from across the way joined in singing in their own language. Carmen feels that music is not just in her blood, but that is IS her blood. Her life dream.
