Email: neill@outloudculture.com
There’s a wise and eloquent spirit bouncing between moments of soulful expression, R&B energy, pop bliss, and alternative boundary-breaking, at the heart of HUNTER’s music. A storyteller packed with soul whose honesty rings out just as powerfully as her vocals do. After generating millions of views with showstopping turns on YouTube live performance series, Scary Pockets, and attracting a growing audience, she properly introduces herself on her 2022 independent debut EP, Hello:My Name is Hunter.
“When I write, I think of how my lyrics could apply to my listeners,” Hunter says. “I know I was given a voice to sing. I feel like I need to share it. When you play my music, I want you to feel a connection. I want these songs to play into your life, help you escape, or celebrate a memory.”
Born in 1992, singing came early to Hunter, beginning with performances on the baby monitor. By the age of ten, she was performing every chance she got in her small hometown of Montana. Soon after, she was attending college intensives and summer schools across the country for vocal training and starring in high school and community theatre musicals, singing in several choirs and fronting her own band. She left Montana at the age of 18 to pursue a college education in Los Angeles at Musician’s Institute and graduated with a double major in Vocal Performance and Music Production. By 2016, she was paying the bills modeling and acting on television, and held down a year-long residency as house artist at the popular Los Angeles club and celeb hotspot, The Nice Guy.
On one particular modeling trip, Hunter met none other than GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist, producer, and songwriter Lukas Nelson at the gate in the Austin, TX airport. Striking up an instant friendship, Lukas would enlist her to accompany him during various high-profile gigs such as sold out shows at The Troubadour and The Fonda, and an appearance on CONAN. His father Willie even recruited her to join him during his performances at the Hollywood Bowl and Austin City Limits.
“It was incredible to hear her music for the first time,” says Lukas. “I was struck by her soul…she’s just got so much soul.”
“I owe my ability to perform on the fly to the Nelsons,” Hunter adds. “Lukas taught me I needed just to get out and say, ‘Yes’.”
In between, singer and songwriter Joshua Radin invited her to join him for a duet of Sam Cooke’s “Bring it on Home to Me” on Scary Pockets, a YouTube performance series generating over 2.6 million views. Hunter’s voice powered covers of Bob Dylan, Adele, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Vulfpeck, and more, making her one of the go-to voices on the program and entrenching her in the community of artists. She serendipitously met producer John Alagia [Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Jason Mraz] through Lukas and wound up recording her EP with him behind the board alongside her co-producer producer Jesse Siebenberg [Lady Gaga, Kesha, Lukas Nelson and Promise of The Real, Kenny Loggins] at the Village Studios in Los Angeles.
The track “Borrowed Time,” with soft piano and a gentle hum, Hunter’s voice ebbs and flows between vulnerable verses and a soaring refrain uplifted by her dynamic range.
“We wrote “Borrowed Time” years ago. I was getting over a crush at the time,” she recalls. “It’s a beautiful song about having a moment with someone and knowing it can’t go any further. You just have to accept it. Coincidentally, on the day we released the track, I had broken up with my ex and that was the day he left. The song’s meaning became even more personal for me and took on a new story.”
Meanwhile, “Closer,” written by Hunter, John Alagia, and guitarist/songwriter phenom David Ryan Harris, unfolds as an upbeat happy love song meant to “remind you of that honeymoon butterfly feeling you get when you’re crushing on someone.” “That’s still part of the message, but it’s evolved,” she reveals. “COVID is going away, the masks are coming off, and we can get closer to our loved ones. It feels universal.”
Then, there’s the soulfully sweet “Just Can’t Tell You.” Written by Hunter and famed funk/soul producer Joe Bagale a.k.a Otis McDonald, the Motown-style song’s melody and tambourine underline flirty, fun lyrics and coy delivery. “Lots of people have a nine-to-five job and a crush at work,” she says. “I love the comedy series The Office. I was watching a slew of episodes late one evening and was inspired to write a song about office love. I pictured myself in a cubicle and what it would be like if I had a crush on somebody at work. It’s a relatable song about catching feelings for that special someone at the office.”
In the end, Hunter’s soul shines through her voice.
“Today, I am the strongest version of myself that I have yet to be in my life,” she says. “I have put in the work. I have learned so much from everything I’ve gone through in life and music, it has all brought me here, with new insight and confidence and emotional intelligence that I want to use to help others through my music. I’m an open book, I want to share my heart and experiences, and I finally feel ready to be HUNTER the artist.”
Hi Hunter welcome to OLC! For all our followers out there, tell us a bit about yourself and how, when and where you developed your passion for music?
I’ve loved music since I was little. Both of my parents had lots of soul and songwriter music playing in the house. When I was growing up I liked Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Carole King, Barbra Streisand. When our family moved to Montana when I was nine, I had to audition for this Christmas musical and I ended up getting the lead role. And I thought it was so much fun. That’s really kind of how I got my start in music. My mom was really supportive. She got me music books and little piano karaoke CDs to listen to and things like that. Then in high school I was in seven different choirs, I did band, I had my own band, and I started and directed my own community children’s choir, in the summer I would take college classes at the Boston Conservatory…I was fully infatuated with music. Then I went to Los Angeles to get a music degree, I did a couple of shows like The Voice and American Idol, which got me into TV and got me into songwriting and recording and making my own music…. It’s been a winding path but the point is I’ve always loved music and an endless list of people have nurtured and supported my career to help me get where I am today.
How were you discovered?
(laughs) I haven’t really been discovered yet. I’ve had plenty of moments where I got big jumps in my career. I credit extreme luck and some endlessly generous people who have been willing to help me along the way.
You also model and do acting, is that something you hope to continue to pursue along with music?
Absolutely. I love being a triple threat. I like doing all three at once. They’re all creative outlets. And yeah, I totally want to keep acting.
Let’s talk about your new single ‘Closer’, what inspired you to write it and what do you hope your fans take away from it?
I had a co-writing session at the Village Studios in Los Angeles with my producer of the album John Alagia and my friend and songwriter/guitarist David Ryan Harris. When we went into the studio, we wanted to write a feel good summer song about the butterflies you get when you have a crush on somebody. And we had so much fun writing it. We wrote that in 2020 but when we released it in 2022, the song had taken on a new meaning since 2022 was the first summer that we really all got to be out and about since the pandemic started. So the song also speaks to post-pandemic life; we can finally be together again and closer to our loved ones.
You recently announced your new EP ‘Hello:My Name is Hunter’, what can fans expect from it?
If you love pop radio and Aretha Franklin, I think you’re going to love the EP. Big soulful vocals and harmonies on every track, real instrumentation and catchy lyrics that stick in your brain!
Are they any features on the EP you can tell us about?
I was really fortunate to have a lot of really talented people work with me on this album. John Alagia, my executive producer, has produced Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Lukas Nelson. John produced all the tracks with my coproducer, Jesse Siebenberg, who has worked with Lady Gaga, Kesha, the list goes on. I also had some special co-writers like Nash Overstreet, my friend and guitar player from the band Hot Chelle Rae. We wrote “Be Mine” together. I also have David Ryan Harris, guitarist for John Mayer and singer-songwriter, write “Closer” with me. I was super lucky to be able to work with some extraordinary people on my project.
What song on the EP means most to you and why?
“Messin with My Heart” holds a special place in my heart because I just found out that it was placed in a major motion picture with Woody Harrelson. It’s been a bucket list item for me to have one of my songs be placed in a movie, so I am very excited to check that off the list!
Who is someone you’d love to work with and why?
I would love to do a featured vocal on DJ track, or get to work with one of my favorite legacy artists Dua Lipa did on ‘Cold Heart’ with Elton John. I’d love to work with Stevie Wonder. I’d love to work with Narada Michael Walden, one of my favorite people and producers, because I really admire his work.
Most memorable moment of your career so far?
Playing the Hollywood Bowl with Lukas and Willie Nelson. It was super special because the Hollywood Bowl is such an amazing venue and was at the top of my list, but also because my mom and dad got to come and watch. It was a classic dream come true scenario.
I read your favourite sports team is the Lakers? I’m guessing your a huge basketball fan?
I love basketball. It’s my favorite sport of all time. I played when I was little. I love it so much that I seriously considered going into sports management to become a stats keeper for professional basketball instead of music! I’ve been a fan of the Lakers since my grade school crush told me that his favorite team was the Lakers. Growing up, my dad and I would watch March Madness every year and do brackets. Anytime I have a free moment to go watch a Lakers game, I always go.
What’s next for Hunter in 2022?
Lots of touring and a second album!
