When Clayton Burrill (JD鈥�11) heard that he and his fellow Hillsburn bandmates had scored five 2022 East Coast Music Awards (ECMA) nominations, it was a wonderful but surreal moment. After all, the COVID-19 pandemic essentially shut down live performances, making life as working musician challenging.
鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to keep sight of what you鈥檙e doing because you鈥檙e not doing what you would be normally,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e were lucky in that we were working in the studio when the pandemic started and didn鈥檛 have to cancel a slew of tour dates. But figuring out how to release the music we were making and promoting it in that context was a strange exercise.鈥�
Returning to the road
Things are getting a bit easier for Clayton and his bandmates鈥擱osanna Burrill (BM鈥�14), who is also his sister, Jackson Fairfax-Perry (BM鈥�14) and Clare Macdonald (BSc鈥�11). Pandemic-related restrictions are relaxing, which has enabled them to get back on the road and perform songs from that album, the ECMA-nominated Slipping Away, including EMCA-nominated . In some regards, they compare the return to live performances to riding a bicycle. But it has also been surreal in its own way, not to mention challenging.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like running a marathon after two years of being on the couch,鈥� says Rosanna. 鈥淭he adrenaline helps. Without that, we鈥檇 be lost.鈥�
Even so, each performance is helping the indie-pop quartet prepare for what may be their biggest gig in quite a while. On May 27, Hillsburn will join artists such as the Keifer Sutherland Band and Polaris-prize winning performer and composer Jeremy Dutcher (BA鈥� 12) for . Taking place during Dalhousie Alumni Days, the event will usher in a new era for the enhanced and expanded Dalhousie Arts Centre, which includes the new 300-seat Joseph Strug Concert Hall, as well as new and improved studio, performance, rehearsal and classroom spaces.
鈥淲e were excited when we were invited to be part of it,鈥� says Clayton. 鈥淲e were even more excited to discover that Jeremy was on the bill, too.鈥�
A kind of homecoming
The event is a kind of homecoming for the band. All four members are Dalhousie alumni, and three of them 鈥� Rosanna, Clare, and Jackson 鈥� are graduates of the music program. 鈥淭hat is where I met most of the amazing musicians that I know,鈥� Rosanna says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 safe to say that the band would not have existed without that program. It is an important shared experience that binds us together in a really cool way.鈥�
Clare agrees, adding, 鈥淚 think the renovation project is really going to enhance the whole educational experience.鈥�
Just as the Arts Centre has changed, so has Hillsburn. Formed in 2014, the band has released three albums of anthemic songs, each one reflecting a growing sophistication in their sound. The songs also reflect a wide array of influences, from singer songwriters to modern pop.
鈥淲e all have different music tastes and that is reflected in what each of us contributes to our songs,鈥� Rosanna says. 鈥淚 think every song we do is different and that is partly because we are kind of influenced by everything.鈥�
Strong bonds
Fans will be delighted to know that the band has recorded a new EP that will be released later this year. It will be the first release featuring Clayton as songwriter. 鈥淭hat has really been our main focus, along with playing a few shows, which has been nice,鈥� Rosanna says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e taking things one day at a time right now because you never know what is going to happen.鈥�
Whatever may come, it is clear that the family, musical, and academic ties that brought the band together nearly a decade ago remain as strong as ever. As Clayton says, 鈥淲e all enjoy spending time together. Our connections give us a good base to work from.鈥�
Tickets for聽Resounding: a celebration of the arts聽can be purchased through the聽.