This year, Scotty Hills made a pilgrimage, not religious one, but more spiritual, to a place that is part of his own musical journey – Detroit.
Hills said he was awarded a FACTOR grant to make his upcoming album that is slated for an April 2015 release, Great Regression. The date that he found out about the grant is one that is of particular significance to the influences on his album.
It was April 1, the anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s death.
“I went crazy that day just looking at all videos and listening to his music all day,” said Hills via Skype, who said R&B and Motown have been a huge part of his life.
Hill said he called up his friend who lives in Detroit, legendary bassist Tony Green, who had worked with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Warren G. and The Dramatics. Hill asked if he could visit him and if he would be able to call up some of his Motown friends to record on his album.
“That is exactly what happened,” said Hills, with a big smile.
Hills took a train from Seattle to Detroit and it is clear by his vivid descriptions of the trip that it had a profound affect on the artist. He described staying across the street from Marvin Gaye’s house, seeing the famous United Sound Studio that was established in 1933 and recording with legendary Motown artists right in their homes.
“Living on the West Coast for a few years now, I really have this sense of roots and acoustic and nature, the trees, the forest and the water. That tied me into my city mouse again,” said Hills.
That reconnection with the city also allowed Hills to view some of the stark realities of economic and social issues in the Motor City.
“There is a ton of pictures and video footage that I took that will be released that is really colourful and kind of awkward almost, because of the racial divide. A lot of these guys didn’t know who the hell I was or what I wanted from them,” he said.
Culturally, Hills said Detroit is incredible and inspired the name of the record Great Regression, an album that is about going back to the roots.
“That was the whole premise of the record, is that Detroit is sort of ahead of its time as far as being resilient enough to handle an economic hardship like that,” said Hills. “It’s always about trying to unify. It is always about trying to put things that are apart together for humanity.”
You can see Hills perform at Legacy Guitar and Coffee House Dec. 5.
