Langhorne artist Pete Hill discusses the tracks and recording process of his new EP Anyhow, available Sept. 8
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Not many people can say they’ve jumped out of an airplane for the sake of their craft. But Pete Hill can. It’s been almost three years since the release of his album The Bullet Tree, so the Langhorne native is more than ready to shake things up again in the local music scene. With the new EP Anyhow out Sept. 8, Hill is progressing beyond his staple sound of mellow pop/rock to give fans some of his edgiest tracks to date.
Though he’s now a seasoned vocalist, guitar player and lyricist, this didn’t happen overnight. Hill’s interest in music began to take shape in fifth grade when he and several friends formed what he now describes as a “fake band” — none of the members had instruments. But he wasn’t about to let that stop him.
After a short two weeks of bass lessons in sixth grade, Hill discovered his talents were put to better use behind the guitar. The next several years were spent honing his musical craft under the influence of ’90s rock bands such as Nirvana, so by the time he graduated from high school, he found a “real band” to join and tour with.
Shortly after, Hill formed his own band, Cow Pals, an energetic blend of fun and rock and roll that was able to crank out songs at an unprecedented speed. He and his bandmates would sit behind the drum machine and record sometimes 10 songs in a single night.
“We were writing songs as fast as we could,” he reflected.
Hill stuck with Cow Pals for some time and played guitar for various other bands, including Grand Nationals. About six years ago, he decided to take things in a new direction and pursue a solo career. To date, Hill has released the full-length album The Bullet Tree and three EPs as a solo artist, and is excited to add another to his discography after almost three years.
“I waited too long,” he said. “I got caught up with work and life in general.”
Even though Hill wasn’t actively releasing music during those years, he was never far from the music scene, touring with industry friends Good Old War and writing new tracks. Compared to The Bullet Tree, which had a pop/rock sound with a bit of country swing, Anyhow will have a much edgier vibe with powerful drum beats and distorted bass. It’s Weezer with some Built to Spill mixed in, according to Hill.
“It’s the most raucous album I’ve put out so far,” he said.
Hill had a rotating cast of musicians throughout the recording process, including his friend Keaton Thandi from Satellite Hearts and bassist Dan Schwartz from Good Old War. To allow the songs to sound as real and unproduced as possible, several were recorded with all of the musicians playing in the studio at the same time, Hill’s preferred method.
“It was a sweaty good time,” he said.
The space used to record Anyhow was a small home studio Hill previously set up in his parents’ garage. Though it’s right down the road from his current residence, the studio still makes him feel nostalgic about his high school band days.
“It’s 17 years later and I’m still coming back,” he said. “It’s where the magic happens.”
To promote the EP prior to the release, Hill put out a music video for the first track, “Road to Nowhere.” While brainstorming ideas for the video, he wanted something simple. Most wouldn’t define “simple” as spontaneously tossing themselves out of an airplane, but for Hill, skydiving was the perfect concept. As the lyrics begin — “We’re on a road to nowhere and it’s making me sick” — Hill can be seen gracefully floating down to Earth’s surface.
“It was overwhelming but pleasant,” he said of the experience.
Before trusting his life to a harness and parachute, Hill did some research and learned more people die from car accidents than skydiving.
“If that didn’t kill me yet, I should be good,” he said.
Hill’s goal is to release a music video for each track on the EP, which includes the soothing “Come On” and catchy “Law Low,” a staple at his live shows that also appears on the Know Hope Records album Solidarity in Sound to benefit ACLU. The idea for the final track, “Honest Opinion,” came to him after a relationship fight. With his emotions at an all-time high, he sat down and allowed the lyrics to pour out of him.
“The best things come sometimes when you’re not trying to write,” he said. “You just have to let it flow.”
When Hill isn’t cranking out lyrics, he maintains a full-time job in real estate photography with his high school classmate’s company, Plush Image. After graduating from Temple University, Hill did some freelance in film and video. Though he got to work large-scale events like Made in America, he admits it’s nice to have more stability as he continues to advance his music career. Hill photographs everything from mansions to West Philly row homes, and even had the pleasure of shooting the home of Action News anchor Monica Malpass.
To celebrate the new EP, Hill will host a release party at Bourbon & Branch, 705 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia, on Sept. 8 starting at 8 p.m. With a full band behind him, Hill will perform Anyhow in its entirety as well as fan favorites from previous albums.
To listen to Hill and view upcoming shows, visit petehillmusic.com, petehillmusic.bandcamp.com or instagram.com/petehillmusic. ••
