We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Harlen Hill. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Harlen below.
Alright, Harlen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a creative individual from the first time I ever picked up a pencil to draw to now producing, writing, and recording music that has reached 105 countries, 350,000+ streams, and 20,000+ unique listeners (or as I like to say, supporters) in less than one year (late December 2021 to now, September 2022) of distributing my music to major platforms. I always knew deep down inside that I had something to offer to the world artistically and I’ve always felt that I had a message to not only be heard, but felt.
Fast forward to the beginning of 2020, I decided to take a risk and bet on myself. I began investing in studio equipment; slowly but surely accumulating all of the tools necessary for building my own in-house music production and recording studio. Ironically, growing up, I was (and still am) very observant. I was never one to talk much and found early on that the less I talk, the better I can listen and hear all that the world has to offer. Looking back now, I realize that I’ve always been preparing myself for this journey working with sound as I have a very sensitive sense of hearing.
From May 2020 to September 2021, I went all in on learning how to produce music, but at this point I was not yet distributing music to platforms. Instead, I took yet another risk by making a YouTube channel and live streaming my music production process to share to the world. As I gained more and more support from artists around the world, this quickly expanded into me offering a listening-session live stream that I named “The Kick-Back”; a place where musical creatives can meet live, submit their music to be heard around the world, and network/collaborate with other artists in the growing community as we “kick-back” and appreciate one another’s creations.
From the day I dipped my toes into music, I always knew the journey was going to be bigger than me and I can proudly say that through my YouTube channel and creating “The Kick-Back”, I’ve established a platform where many artists (including myself) have now collaborated/built strong connections with other artists from around the world that possibly would have never happened without the platform.
Through the risks I’ve taken on an individual level, to the risks taken to establish and build a strong community; I’ve received many comments and direct messages from people around the world thanking me for all that I do. From people telling me that my music has helped them through tough times even to having been told that my offerings to the world have saved their lives, I am seeing more and more each day not only the powerful effect of myself creating and sharing my music, but the responsibility I have undertaken to help change the world. Fast forward to now, there are other creatives in the community who have found inspiration and motivation to go on and start their own live streams, further extending the ripple effect of positive change.
From the beginning of this journey back in May 2020, I never thought or expected to be where I am now and to have the reach and effect on the world that I have; which lead me to one of my favorite sayings, “Don’t think, just do.”, meaning be organic in all endeavors and trust that what is meant to come to fruition will come in due time as long as passion, positive energy and intent, time, patience, and consistency are put in, the possibilities are endless for what will come back to you tenfold.
Harlen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Born and raised in New Jersey, USA, I, Harlen Hill, Jr. (known professionally as RichAvePreme), have been producing music since May 2020 and writing/recording lyrics since January 2021. To start, allow me to explain the meaning behind the name RichAvePreme. RichAve is short for Richardson Avenue; the street on which I was raised and through all of my experiences there, helped mold me into who I am today. Preme is short for Supreme, the chosen name I have undertaken, not from ego as a way to say I am above/better than anyone else, but instead to constantly remind myself each day to live up to my full potential and always strive to be a better version of myself with each new sunrise.
I’ve always had a strong love for music. For as far back as I can remember growing up on Richardson Avenue in Eatontown. NJ, there was always music from House, to R&B, and Boom Bap Hip-Hop playing somewhere at some time. Always having been highly observant, I noticed early on the powerful effects of music. House music would always bring about high energy, dancing, fun and laughter. R&B would bring about chill energy and vibes for easy listening. Hip-Hop would bring about learning of different lifestyles from artist’s experiences in a highly creative form through storytelling with unique metaphors and wordplay.
By observing the power of music and reading the book The Alchemist back when I was younger, I realized that music itself is a form of alchemy as it has the power to instantly change the mood and thoughts of not only a person, but an entire room. Born in 1989, I was fortunate to grow up during what many would call the “Golden Era” of Hip-Hop. Early on I was introduced to the likes of Eric B & Rakim, The Wu-Tang Clan, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, KRS-ONE, and many other legends. Rakim, in particular, sparked my interest in the lyrical aspect of Hip-Hop due to the fact that he was able to put his stories together seamlessly without the use of profanity. I always found this to be an art in and of itself and can proudly say that his work from the 90’s has influenced me to do the same when it comes to my originally written lyrics today, almost three decades later, showing and proving the power and timeless impact of music.
Through the many musical inspirations I’ve come across since my youth and taking a leap of faith betting on myself, since I began to distribute my music to major platforms back in late December 2021, I can proudly say that my unique sound and messages have reached 105 countries, 350,000+ streams, and 20,000+ unique listeners (or as I like to say, supporters) in less than one year of distribution through: 3 instrumental albums, a meditation/yoga album, a lyrical EP, and many singles.
Along this journey I’ve also established a YouTube channel where I live stream my music production process for others to see my workflow and engage with my supporters through both entertainment and helping other aspiring artists whether it’s from them learning something new from watching me or finding inspiration and motivation to put into their own work.
Before my journey into music and working with sound, for as far back as I can remember, I’ve been a visual artist. Since the first time I was able to hold and control a pencil to paper, to painting portraits and learning the ins and outs of software on my own time such as Adobe Photoshop for graphic design, I’ve always been a visual artist first in the realm of creation. This has grown to me finding interest in and always wanting to start my own clothing brand, and further, a culture. I can proudly say that this interest has manifested into reality in the name of Fly State of Mind, which is currently in the works at the time of this interview and getting closer to full production/launch each day on top of all that I do in music on my personal time and on YouTube through my live streams.
Having found my purpose in life to be a multifaceted creative, I’ve realized early on in this journey of music that my path is much bigger than just me making music and releasing music. I am on a mission with the focus and intent to help change the world from the positive light within me and strive each day to bring what I see and think of positive change to reality.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal and mission as a creative, in both visual and audio, is to inspire a positive shift in society, particularly in music where I have witnessed a change from artists being true to their craft doing what they love, to now an industry heavily weighted towards pushing brands, sexualizing and demeaning women, and glorifying violence. Through my observation of this change, I realized that a shift back to the essence of creation is well overdue and I am actively doing my part to help bring about the change to promote positive thinking and messages that everyone from the babies to the elders can listen to and enjoy.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being a creative is seeing the direct, positive impact my music and visuals have on people from around the world. Having received many comments and direct messages in the form of gratitude for what I am doing as a creative, people have told me that my work has inspired and motivated them, helped them through tough times, and even saved their life, which has been the most fulfilling thing I could ever imagine. What I do goes far beyond me making money. The currency I focus on above all else is energy; a currency that a number can not be placed on because it is infinite. A currency that we are all born with and carry throughout our lives, but at the same time, a currency that many take for granted in this materialistic society we live in today. I can say with pride and confidence that my exchanges through the currency of energy with people from around the world, from different backgrounds and cultures, have brought about some of the most rewarding experiences in my life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RichAvePreme/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichAvePreme
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichAvePreme
- Other: https://linktr.ee/RichAvePreme