Singer-songwriter, Hillary Reynolds, debuts her first solo album, “Changing Seasons” on August 8th. The first single off of the album, “Can’t Turn Off My Mind”, sets the tone for the albums refreshing lyrical honesty, bright sounds, and soothing melodies. Beyond the music, Reynolds helps run her mother’s breast cancer foundation, The Trina Fund. To learn more about Hillary Reynolds and her upcoming album, read on.

Where are you based?
I split time between Wisconsin and LA – I’m in Wisconsin for the summer.

What inspired you to start writing songs?
My very first songs were written in an N*Sync notebook on the playground in elementary school – specifically “the man on the moon” – I still remember it. My aunt Marci is also a songwriter and was a major influence in me starting to write my own songs.

Congratulations on your upcoming debut solo album, “Changing Seasons”! What inspired you to create this album?
I think it was a slow burn of a process – I knew I wanted to record a few songs that were super precious to me and had been in a season of writing spells. I was up in Sacramento with one of my favorite collaborators, and now producer of this album, Benjamin Kopf, and we just started recording basics and never stopped!

Most of the work you have done is written for other artists like Little Big Town and Dani Rose. What made you decide to start creating your own projects?
I’ve always had my own projects and like every musician I know, its been an evolution of many hats over the years – I’ve been a voice and piano teacher, done the whole wedding band scene while I lived in Boston, writers rounds, cross-country tours, recording projects, pickup gigs etc… writing for other artists has always been in addition to my own projects in my pockets.

What can listeners expect to hear from this new album? What do you want them to take away?
I’m hoping listeners can relax while listening to this album — a sweet companion for morning rituals and easing into the day. If Beatrix Potter and Jane Austen made an album, I think it would have sonic flavors like those in this one.

“Changing Seasons” was written both before and after you became a mother. How has motherhood affected the way you approach songwriting and your writing itself?
I think what’s very interesting about motherhood, is that it makes you a time management superhero. Its amazing what I can get done in an hour now. I don’t write every single day, but when I do, it’s because life has given me enough experiences to process through pen, paper, and a guitar. And there is nothing more humbling than living with a toddler — he gives me endless inspiration.

The first single from your upcoming album, “Can’t Turn Off My Mind”, is refreshingly honest and soft. Can you tell us about what inspired this song and the story behind it?
Insomnia inspired “Can’t Turn Off My Mind.” I’m a daydreamer by day, ruminator by night – so this song was just born out of that headspace. I co-wrote it with one of my best friends, Madison Malone, before we both became mothers and since then, insomnia has taken on a whole new meaning.

For you, how is the process of songwriting different when the final product is meant for another artist versus when you are writing for yourself? How do you decide whether a song should go to another artist for recording or if it is meant more for a personal project?
When a song feels precious and personal, and often elicits tears, that’s when I know it’s my song. I have voice memos of me blubbering my way through writing songs, and those are often my form of medicine and have always been the songs I keep close. I love writing with other artists and love listening and collaborating with their voices and visions to make something honest and sparkly.

What advice do you have for young girls who want to start songwriting and aspire to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter?
Be undeniable. Study those who came before you, become proficient at an instrument, know how to run your own sessions, especially for vocals/basics and honor your commitments.

You are also an advocate for your mother’s breast cancer fund, “The Trina Fund”. Can you tell us a little bit about this fund and how you are involved?
The Trina Fund was established back in 2009 under The Women’s Fund in the Fox Valley Region. After my mom’s diagnosis, she wanted to make sure transportation was not a barrier to treatment. The heart of the fund is access to care. When she died, my aunt and I became stewards of the fund, partnering with local hospitals and cancer centers in Northeast Wisconsin, providing over $100,000 in gas cards and travel funds, as well as survivorship programs to local women going through treatment.

Why is it important to help women cover the costs of their transportation for their cancer treatments?
Especially in rural communities, these transportation costs are the deciding factor in whether they commit to going through with treatment. The financial burden adds up and travel costs are part of that burden.

With the new healthcare budget cuts potentially impacting rural areas does “The Trina Fund” have any plans to further help these women in the case of medical centers closing?
The Trina Fund will remain steadfast in continuing to support women with their travel needs to and from treatments. We are continuing to have conversations around the mission of the fund which really means: access to care. Nurse navigators in various health systems have been instrumental in connecting us to women in more rural areas. The need continues to grow.

What do you wish more people knew about breast cancer awareness?
There have been huge advancements in genetics testing and high-risk clinics that are trying to get ahead of a diagnosis. Early detection is key.

What advice do you have for a woman going through a scare/breast cancer?
I have been through a scare before at my annual appointment where my doctor said he felt a lump. An ultrasound was scheduled for both breasts — and everything turned out to be normal. My breasts were just changing due to breastfeeding. But now I had a baseline of understanding that both breasts were normal. I wish I had better answers for this question because I’m the kind of person who is a nervous wreck until I have definitive answers and in those mental spiral moments, all we can do is keep breathing.

Are there any upcoming projects you are currently working on that we should be on the lookout for?
I will be launching a children’s book on August 26 that I’ve co-authored with my dear friend, Katherine Biskupic. It is called, “Send My Love.” It explores the many faces and forms of love — how we see it, smell it, absorb it, dream, and manifest it into a lively and beautiful bedtime story. There’s a pre-sale available through our publisher, Orange Hat Publishing.

What is your motto in life?
Community is everything.

To learn more about Hillary Reynolds, please check out the links below:
Instagram: @reynolds.hillary

Hillary Reynolds' Soothing Songwriting