Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jill Hartfield. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jill, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Since I was a toddler, I’ve been rocking to my own beat. Singin and performing has been in my blood my whole life. Granted, my first stages being my family’s kitchen table.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My daddy bought me my first guitar at a young age. It wasn’t expensive by no means, but it was priceless to me. I wanted to be just like Johnny Cash. I’d sneak into my parents closet to try and learn what I could before being gifted the guitar for Christmas. It was a cheap starter guitar, but to me, it was my ticket to a dream. The next instrument I was first introduced to was a piano at around 15 years old. A big ole acoustic piano. The kind where you can see the notes being hit as you play. My daddy would bring home old ‘junk’ all the time. It was sorta his thing. Which I absolutely loved. The piano- It was run down, missing keys, a little out of tune – but I still managed to teach myself by ear how to play Blink-182’s “Always.” It was over with from there. That same night I wrote my first songs in my parents garage. (Also learned a Johnny Cash song of course as well.)
Fast forward to my early 20s I began playing live music in a duo. It was the most terrifying yet most amazing experience of my life at that time. In my mid 20s I also helped with hosting a weekly open mic with a partner for over 2+ years on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.
As I watched musicians being presented a stage for the first time and then excelling from there , it brought me back to what this is all about. Like when my daddy gave me my first guitar. “What if he never gave me that guitar or piano?” “What if they never had this stage?” It restored my hope in humanity and it was all thanks to music and beautiful humans.
I continued to play throughout my 20s.
Gigging every weekend for a couple years.
I am now 31 and have relocated from playing music on the MS/LA Gulf Coast to living in Upstate South Carolina with my amazing husband. I play live music sets every night on livestream on the platform “TikTok” (@jillnicolemusic). Currently I am recording my first solo ep and have re-ignited that feeling music has brought me all my life.
Bob Marley said it best, “When music hits you, you feel no pain.” Music has continued to give me hope throughout my life. Making music about my life growing up in Mississippi, to dealing with addiction and real life things, I owe a lot of my sobriety today to the music community and that hope it’s given me. I thank God everyday for my ability to share a vibe with others. Most importantly, to share the love I have with the world. Life to me is all about perspective, and if I can help people see that little seed of goodness , then I feel complete.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I just want to make people feel something. More importantly I want to spread awareness around recovery and mental health. Letting others know they are not alone.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Giving back to my community and being apart of something bigger than me.
Contact Info:
- Other: TikTok @jillnicolemusic
https://www.tiktok.com/@jillnicolemusic?_r=1&_t=ZP-91YrXxdifKo
Image Credits
All images are my personal images taken and owned by me.