Norwegian Filipino R&B/soul and contemporary pop artist HILLARI started entertaining at a very young age.
HILLARI, an Adult Third Culture Kid, grew up in the Philippines from ages 3 to 8. It was then that her thirst for performing was first fostered, through entertaining relatives and neighbors that would gather in her family’s house.
In an interview with joysauce.com, HILLARI says her favorite thing about being Filipino is “the community.”
“I love how Filipinos show up for each other, especially in this age of just hyper-independence,” she says. “Especially also coming from a Norwegian background. We’re so family oriented in the Philippines, while in Norway we’re very hyper-independent. The more I grew up, the more I see my dependence on having people I love around me.”
In a separate interview with Mixtape Madness, HILLARI says she is “really trying my best to maximize being the Norwegian Filipina artist I am.”
Additionally, HILLARI is working hard on cracking the U.S. market, using the “originality” of her background.
“Without my Norwegian and Filipina background, I don’t think I would have had the same originality in my sound, or would carry myself in the same way,” she says. “So I’m happy that I get to be in this position because it makes people raise their eyebrows a little bit like — ‘Oh OK, this is a different sound, and this is a different approach.'”
Without my Norwegian and Filipina background, I don’t think I would have had the same originality in my sound, or would carry myself in the same way.
BREAKING INTO THE U.S. MARKET
Having spent her teens in Norway, trying to establish herself in the Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.A. music scene “is pretty interesting,” she says.
“In Norwegian culture, we’re very calm and collected, we’re not used to asserting ourselves,” according to HILLARI. “We have a societal norm that we call ‘Janteloven’ — it means you shouldn’t get too caught up thinking you’re too original, or better than anyone else because everybody is the same.
“I somewhat agree with that — and it’s a very interesting mindset to bring with me to L.A., because people can see the difference,” she continues. “When I’m in rooms in L.A., sometimes I’m encouraged to own what I’m doing more, but I like having this mindset because it keeps me quietly confident.”
You can check out her “New Beginnings” album on Spotify or watch her music video below.
