Hillsburn (band)
Hillsburn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2014–2024 |
| Labels | LHM Records |
| Members |
|
| Past members | Paul Aarntzen |
| Website | hillsburn |
Hillsburn was an indie pop band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. During their career they were hailed by several media outlets as one of the east coast of Canada's next big acts.[1][2] Hillsburn released three full-length studio albums, and won a number of national and regional awards.[3]
Musical career
[edit]The band was formed as a quartet in 2014 at the home of band member Paul Aarntzen, who was residing in the small village of Hillsburn, Nova Scotia at the time.[4] Rosanna Burrill and her brother Clayton were joined by Jackson Fairfax-Perry at Paul's home where the band had its first rehearsals. Aarntzen subsequently relocated to Halifax to dedicate more time to the project. Hillsburn released its self-titled, self-recorded EP in October 2014.[5] One of the tracks from this self-recorded EP was a finalist in CBC's Searchlight competition that year.[6][7]
This early success was followed up with the release of the band's first full-length album, In The Battle Years in 2016.[8] Shortly after releasing their debut full-length the band added drummer Clare Macdonald. Clare, Rosanna, and Jackson had all previously known each other from Dalhousie University's Music program.[9]
In The Battle Years was awarded the 2016 Canadian Folk Music Award for New/Emerging Artist of the Year.[10] Hillsburn was also nominated in several categories at the 2017 East Coast Music Awards, including Rising Star Recording of the Year, Group Recording of the Year, and Fans' Choice Video of the Year.[11] The band won the 2017 ECMA for Fans' Choice Video.[12]
Hillsburn toured extensively across North America.[13][14][15]
Hillsburn released its sophomore record, The Wilder Beyond, on February 2, 2018.[16] The album was nominated for six awards at the 2018 Nova Scotia Music Awards—including Group Recording of the Year, Recording of the Year, and Pop Recording of the Year—while Aarntzen was nominated for SOCAN songwriter of the year.[17] Hillsburn also received four nominations for the 2019 East Coast Music Awards, including Group Recording of the Year and Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year.[18] The Wilder Beyond has charted extensively on the Earshot national campus and community radio charts in Canada.[19] A deluxe edition of the album was released in February 2019.[20]
The band announced in January 2020 that it was working on a new album with producer Howard Redekopp.[21]
Paul Aarntzen left Hillsburn in 2020 after the band finished work on its third album, Slipping Away.[22] Released on May 28, 2021, Slipping Away was produced by Howard Redekopp, who has worked with other notable Canadian acts including Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers, and Mother Mother.
Hillsburn released a first single from Slipping Away, 'Waking Up,' in October 2020. 'Husha' and 'Get High' followed in February and March 2021.
The band and Slipping Away led the field of nominees at the 2022 East Coast Music Awards, with a total of six nominations, including for Album of the Year. Paul Aarntzen was nominated for both Songwriter and Song of the Year for his work on the album.[23]
Hillsburn announced it was disbanding in early 2024. Backed by Symphony Nova Scotia, the band played its final show on April 26, 2024, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium at Dalhousie University.[24]
Band members
[edit]- Rosanna Burrill – vocals, bass, guitar, violin
- Clayton Burrill – vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Jackson Fairfax-Perry – keyboards, synthesizers
- Clare Macdonald – drums, percussion, vocals
- Paul Aarntzen (2014 - 2020) - songwriter, vocals, guitar, bass
Discography
[edit]- Hillsburn EP – 2015
- In the Battle Years – 2016
- The Wilder Beyond – 2018
- The Wilder Beyond (Deluxe Edition) – 2019
- Slipping Away – 2021
- Stories – 2023
Documentary
[edit]Hillsburn: A Band Becomes (2016)[25]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominated | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Album of the Year | Hillsburn / Slipping Away | Won | [23] |
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Songwriter of the Year | Paul Aarntzen | Nominated | [23] |
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Song of the Year | Paul Aarntzen / Hillsburn - "Get High" | Nominated | [23] |
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn / Slipping Away | Won | [23] |
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Pop Recording of the Year | Hillsburn / Slipping Away | Won | [23] |
| 2019 | East Coast Music Awards | Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [18] |
| 2019 | East Coast Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn / The Wilder Beyond | Nominated | [18] |
| 2019 | East Coast Music Awards | Fans' Choice Video of the Year | Hillsburn / Paul Aarntzen | Nominated | [18] |
| 2019 | East Coast Music Awards | Video of the Year | Hillsburn / Paul Aarntzen | Nominated | [18] |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [26] |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [26] |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Won | [26] |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Pop Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [26] |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | SOCAN Songwriter of the Year | Paul Aarntzen "Time of Life" | Nominated | [26] |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Digital Artist of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [26] |
| 2017 | East Coast Music Awards | Fan's Choice Video of the Year | Hillsburn "Run Down" | Won | [11] |
| 2017 | East Coast Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [11] |
| 2017 | East Coast Music Awards | Rising Star Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [11] |
| 2016 | Canadian Folk Music Awards | New/Emerging Artists of the Year | Hillsburn | Won | [10] |
| 2016 | Canadian Folk Music Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [27] |
| 2016 | Atlantic Film Festival | Best Atlantic Original Score | Hillsburn: A Band Becomes | Won | [28] |
| 2016 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [29] |
| 2016 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Music Video of the Year | Hillsburn "Run Down" | Nominated | [29] |
| 2016 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [29] |
| 2016 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Digital Artist of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [29] |
| 2015 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [29] |
| 2015 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | New Artist Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [29] |
| 2015 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Nominated | [29] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Hillsburn could be the East Coast's' next "Big Thing"". View 902. 17 April 2016.
- ^ "21 Canadian albums we can't wait to hear in 2021".
- ^ "Hillsburn circles Nova Scotia Music Week | The Chronicle Herald". www.thechronicleherald.ca. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
- ^ Thorne, Tara. "Hillsburn's wilder heart". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
- ^ "Hillsburn Biography". Hillsburn. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Halifax band Hillsburn CBC Music's Searchlight regional champs". cbc.ca. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Halifax band HIllsburn CBC Music's Searchlight regional champs". YahooNews.
- ^ "Battle, Struggle and Victory of Hillsburn". TheNewfoundlandHerald.
- ^ "Battling their way to the top". Halifax Curated Magazine.
- ^ a b "2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards recipients announced". folkawards.ca. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d "ECMA Announces the 2017 East Coast Music Awards Nominees and Showcasing Artists!". East Coast Music Awards. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Festival - Winners & Nominees". East Coast Music Associal.
- ^ "Talking to Paul Aarntzen of Canadian band Hillsburn". Tribute.ca.
- ^ "Hillsburn Interview". CTV news Atlantic.
- ^ "Hillsburn live in studio". GlobalNews.
- ^ Thorne, Tara. "Hillsburn's wilder heart". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
- ^ Thorne, Tara. "Here are your 2018 Music Nova Scotia Award winners". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- ^ a b c d e "East Coast Music Awards Unveil 2019 Nominees". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
- ^ "charts : February 2018". Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "Single: Hillsburn Announces Deluxe Version Of 'The Wilder Beyond' With Acoustic Rendition Of 'Everywhere'". The East. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- ^ "Hillsburn's new full-length album!". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ Cook, Alex (2020-07-21). "Hillsburn Becomes a Quartet With Departure of Songwriter Paul Aarntzen". The East. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
- ^ a b c d e f Cooke, Stephen. "Hillsburn, Town Heroes lead 2022 East Coast Music Awards nominations | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ "Hillsburn Call It Quits, Announce Farewell Show with Symphony Nova Scotia | Exclaim!". Hillsburn Call It Quits, Announce Farewell Show with Symphony Nova Scotia | Exclaim!. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Hillsburn: A Band Becomes (2016)". IMDb.
- ^ a b c d e f "Hillsburn Receives Six Music Nova Scotia Award Nominations Garrett Mason, Jodi Guthro, Port Cities and POSTDATA Added to Festival Lineup". musicnovascotia.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
- ^ "Nominees – 2016". folkawards.ca. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Atlantic Film Festival hands out 2016 festival awards". CBC. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Music Nominees". Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on 2017-03-29. Retrieved 27 February 2017.