Exclusive | R&B Singer Temani Hill is Using Her "Power" to Inspire
By: Omar Cook
This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is Temani Cherise Hill, a smooth r&b artist from the East Coast! At only 19 years old, Temani hails from Durham, North Carolina. Aside from music, Temani is also very passionate about film photography. She recently graduated from Cary High School in 2017. This is an artist that you don’t want to sleep on and you can definitely hear the talent and realness in her music. Temani has an untitled EP dropping early 2019!
We talked with Temani Hill in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
QUESTION: How long have you been making music and how did you get started?
Temani: My freshman year of high school is the earliest I can remember consistently writing songs & poems in a journal. It wasn’t until 2016 I recorded my first song “lukewarm v2” and uploaded it to soundcloud. I got a microphone for Christmas in 2014 but didnt end up using it until I recorded that song.
QUESTION: Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?
Temani: A collective that went by the name of 1234 Creations inspired me to start making my own music, so I owe a lot them. Willow Smith specifically inspired me to write my first song. If I remember correctly, at the time she was free styling a lot of her songs. I adapted that style & made it my own. There is so much good music out in the world and being released right now its hard to say who my favorite artist are. JMSN, Mac Ayres, Princess Nokia & Childish Gambino are in my daily rotation but its not limited to them. Anything thats good ill listen to.
QUESTION: What artists would you like to collaborate with and why?
Temani: My dream collab changes frequently. Right now it would be Mac Ayres, he’s so freaking talented. I’d really love to work with a live band and i’d really love to work with more women. Music is still a male dominated industry and i’d like to see more women at the fore front. I know female producers, engineers, etc are out there, they’re just harder to find.
QUESTION: What do you feel is your best song ever released and why?
Temani: “Power” for sure. I think the message of the song was clear and people understood and related to it because of that its reached a super wide audience. I made “Power” for myself because it was a message I needed to hear at the time and I think a lot of people need a reminder that the power is in their hands.
QUESTION: How do you generate new ideas for your music?
Temani: The music I write is based on things i’ve experienced and am experiencing. Things are changing every day so I don’t think ill ever run out of things to write about. Each day i’m realizing more things about my past and how they’ve effected me & i’m coming to terms with who I am. I just want to share my story.
QUESTION: What motivates you and how do you define success?
Temani: It’s actually really hard for me to get motivated. It comes and goes, so when it does come I run with it. I don’t define success by numbers. I really just want to connect with people. And if on top of that I can take care of myself and the people around me, cool.
QUESTION: How do you describe your music to people?
Temani: This is a hard question. I don’t really want to label myself with a genre. Currently my style of music is more r&b/neo-soul but I want to do more than just that. I’ve always dreamed of doing an alternative rock album. I guess I would tell someone it’s an honest reflection of me over a beat and you would just have to hear it to know if you’d be into it or not.
QUESTION: Who is your greatest inspiration?
Temani: Kevin Abstract. I’ve been listening to him since very early on and i’ve watched him bloom into the queer icon that he is today. He is the lead member of the very successful boyband Brockhampton and is openly gay. He is very open about his sexuality and has straight kids wearing tshirts that say ‘gay’ on them. That shit is crazy to me. They’ve created a safe space in rap music. As someone who is bisexual and part of the LGBT community I appreciate having that representation.
QUESTION: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?
Temani: Right now its a little bit of everything. The music i’ve released so far is more on a happier note. I’ve sung about love, self-awareness, and moving on from things that are no good for us. On my EP i’ll be dropping next year I definitely express more sadness and anger about things that have happened in my life.
QUESTION: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?
Temani: So far I haven’t had to sacrifice much but i’m sure I will in the future. I am queer and i’ve been public about it on the internet and with my friends and my sisters know but not all my family is aware (they know now if they’re reading this interview lol). Its a big part of who I am and i know some of them may not agree so i may have to sacrifice some of those relationship. it is a topic that will shine through in my music and I want to be an ally and an advocate for the LGBT community.
QUESTION: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?
Temani: I get most excited when i find a beat and i’m free styling and i’m really in the zone and everything flows together perfectly. the most discouraging aspect of making music is finding beats and having a reliable person to mix & master for me. I don’t do either of those things (I plan to learn in the future, maybe when i can quit my day job) so i’m constantly having to rely on other people and it sucks.
QUESTION: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?
Temani: I don’t really know. Hopefully I wont still be living in North Carolina. All i can really hope for is that my only job is to create music all day and i’m surrounded by people who love & support me.
QUESTION: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?
Temani: If music is what you are really passionate about learn to do everything yourself. Learn everything it takes to make a song, make a project. Do it all yourself. Maybe even learn the business side of things. It will save you a lot of time, money and prevent a lot of stress.
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