I want to be a beacon of light to the darkness.- HIL ST. SOUL
In a market overcrowded with vanishing one hit wonders, Hil St. Soul delivers the kind of music that promises to stand the test of time. Her 2000 recording debut, Soul Organic, was pegged as one of Blues & Soul Magazine’s ‘best albums of the year’ and featured a cover of the Aretha Franklin classic “Until You Come Back To Me” which received considerable airplay on American Smooth Jazz and R&B stations; her cover of the Isley Brothers’ hit “For The Love of You” from 2002’s Copasetik & Cool hit Top 20 at Urban AC Radio. Blessed with an intensely rich, soul-drenched and honey-toned alto and armed with serious lyrical and compositional sensibilities, Hil St. Soul’s 2006 SOULidified showcased her powerful chops and soul stirring vocals and highlighted the steamy and sexy duo with Dwele, “Baby Come Over,” and the endearing “Sweet On You.” Black Rose followed in 2008 featuring the catchy anthem “Don’t Forget The Ghetto” and the dreamy “Sweetest Days.” Her anticipated Back in Love followed in 2022 prompted Soulbounce to declare, “Hil St. Soul sounds incredible from start to finish.” The album featured “Heaven Must Be Like This,” a vibey reinvention of an Ohio Players ballad and “One Life,” which hit #1 on Sirius Radio’s Heart & Soul chart and two duets with Noel Gourdin (“Blessed” and “Amazing”).
USA Today says Hil St. Soul’s “vocals are always enticing” while Vibe Magazine exclaims “her rich, velvety voice warms the inside like a spot of tea.” Hil St. Soul will drop her new album Nasalifya late March on Shanachie Entertainment. She shares, “I hope my gift brings enlightenment, joy, upliftment, escapism, healing and spirituality. Not only is there so much upheaval in the world, but there seems to be a mood where technology is now really challenging humanity. Technology is great but let’s not forget we are spiritual beings. Let’s remember that the message has to be lifting your spirit as well as your physical being. I hope that this album will do that. I want to be a beacon of light to the darkness. What technology such as AI can’t do is replace the human spirit. My music is all about lifting people’s spirits.”
The gorgeous title track of the album is a dedication to the ancestors as well as Hil St. Soul’s parents. It was filmed in Zambia as Hilary moved home for a while to be with family after the passing of her father in 2024. “It’s a spiritual song about divine reflection, full of humanity, gratitude, hope and the deepest ‘thank you’, to those who have lived to inspire us all to follow in the footprints of their achievements,” shares the singer. At the end of the video the video there is a black and white photo of her parents when they married. “There’s a line in the second verse of the song that says, ‘With the spirit of my ancestors to guide me.’ This is in reference to my dad who is no longer with us, but his spirit lives on through me and my music. My dad was the one that introduced me to the music that’s woven into the songs that I create for others to enjoy.”
Hilary started writing the song “Nasalifya” halfway through making the album. When her father passed, she admits that it was a challenge to finish. “I parked the song to one side and completed it right at the end of the project. It ended up being the last song I finished on the album. It has deep meaning for me.” Returning back to Zambia and having the ability to make the video there was healing for Hilary. “Life is so simple yet so rewarding,” she confides, “Being back home in Zambia has been therapeutic and cathartic for me as it’s where dad was laid to rest. It’s allowed me to deal with his loss a lot better even though it is an ongoing process. Spending time in the family home makes me feel closer to him.”
Some Background on Hil St. Soul
The striking Zambian-born, London raised Hilary Mwelwa (Hil St. Soul) burst onto the UK music scene in the early 2000s and has not looked back. She has shared the stage with D’Angelo, Kelis, Macy Gray and Angie Stone, among others. Hil St.Soul’s recording debut, Soul Organic, was pegged as one of Blues & Soul Magazine’s ‘best albums of the year’ and featured a cover of the Aretha Franklin classic “Until You Come Back To Me” which received considerable airplay on American Smooth Jazz and R&B stations. Her cover of the Isley Brothers’ hit “For The Love of You” from 2002’s Copasetik & Cool hit Top 20 at Urban AC Radio.
Blessed with an intensely rich, soul-drenched and honey-toned alto and armed with serious lyrical and compositional sensibilities, Mwelwa’s 2006 SOULidified showcased her powerful chops and soul stirring vocals and highlighted the steamy and sexy duo with Dwele, “Baby Come Over,” and the endearing “Sweet On You.” Black Rose followed two years alter featuring the catchy anthem “Don’t Forget The Ghetto” and the dreamy “Sweetest Days.” After a recording hiatus, Hil St. Soul returned with her anticipated Back In Love (2022) which featured a cover of a well-loved Ohio Players “Heaven Must Feel Like This,” “One Life,” which hit #1 on Sirius Radio’s Heart & Soul chart and two duets with Noel Gourdin (“Blessed” and “Amazing”).
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