Q: Hey Jillie thanks for coming on Rising Artists. We have fallen in love with your single “Something Amazing” and think it’s such a great song! Tell our audience on here more about you!
JILLIE: Thank you! My name is Jillie. I am an artist based in Chicago. I have been writing and releasing songs since 2007, but my full-time job is as a piano bar entertainer. I started at Howl At The Moon in Boston and now play all over Chicago at places like the Redhead Piano Bar, Zebra Lounge, Sluggers Dueling Pianos, etc. I always dreamed of making a living as a songwriter/performer, so when 2020 hit and all my work was cancelled due to bars being closed, I was able to get back into songwriting and I made it a goal to release more songs and try to make some of my career as a songwriter.
Q: “Something Amazing” has such a nice happy feel to it. What was your creative process in making it?
JILLIE: I wrote the song for my father, who passed away from covid-19 in 2020. I wanted to express what I was feeling, that even though my life continues on, I can always remember him as an amazing person in my life. I also sing in the song about how not everyone gets another day. So its a song of enjoying the people in your life and being thankful for everyday.
Q: Did any real-life events occur in your life that inspired this single?
JILLIE: Yes, the passing of my father. His passing was the reason for me writing the song, but it also is for anyone who’s lost someone.
Q: Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to follow your path as a musician?
JILLIE: I was always into music since childhood. I did dream of being a famous pop star for sure, but knew that would probably never happen, so I went into film/tv as a career. I quickly realized it wasn’t for me and in 2007, i started writing songs like crazy. I submitted a song to an international song contest and was a finalist for my song “Travel On.” It made me think that music was something I should pursue, so I recorded an EP and did a mini east coast tour. As an indie artist, its pretty hard to get off the ground by yourself. Then life happened, I got married, had 2 kids, and songwriting kind of took a back seat. However, through that, I found my job as a piano bar entertainer and that totally satiated my need for music in my life. Ive been doing that for the past 10 years and I love it. Now i’m trying to add my own songs into my career and loving that as well.
Q: Your vocals are awesome! Who are your biggest influences?
JILLIE: I love so many artists! I get inspired by so many people. I have a low alto voice, so I really love when I hear popular altos on the radio like Dua Lipa, Cher, Fiona Apple, Miley Cryus. I really cant name them all.
Q: What is coming up next for you?
JILLIE: I released a new song called “Come to My House” on August 6 that I am really excited about. It’s a upbeat, fun, dance banger if I say so myself. I really love the hook and the story line for it came out of nowhere, but I really love it. I usually write songs about my feelings, but this one is a total storyline with dialogue and everything, so its a little different for me. Hope you like it! Follow me on Spotify for more!
Interviewed by Stephanie Pankewich
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