HILLIA PUSHES INTO DARKER ELECTRONIC TERRITORY WITH DEBUT EP ‘PAY-PER-VIEW’

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Derbyshire musician fuses funk, rock and electronic influences across a three-track release tackling attraction, financial pressure and global conflict.

Derbyshire-based musician and vocalist Hillia has unveiled his debut EP, Pay-Per-View, a three-track release that sees him push his funk-driven sound into darker, more electronic territory. Out now via APOLLO Distribution, the EP blends soaring vocals, infectious grooves and industrial textures, bringing together rock, blues, dance and electronic influences.

Leading the release is new single ‘Fool’, a late-night funk cut built around slow-dance grooves, high-pitched vocals and irresistible melodic hooks. Drawing inspiration from The Chemical Brothers and Jamiroquai’s darker moments, particularly ‘Deeper Underground’, the track explores attraction while signalling a more electronic direction for Hillia’s evolving sound.

“I wanted to take inspiration from The Chemical Brothers and the darker side of Jamiroquai, with my own personal take on the sound,” Hillia explains. “Utilising my own vocals to inject catchy hooks and melodies, the song is about attraction and leans into those themes lyrically. This song is a precursor of things to come, as I begin to experiment with more electronic themes.”

Elsewhere, the EP’s title track takes a sharper, socially conscious turn, confronting the financial pressures of life in the UK and the growing sense of economic constraint. Alongside previously released single ‘Cry Havok’, the release showcases an artist unafraid to move between personal themes and wider global issues, refusing to be confined to a single genre or sound.

With over 15 years spent fronting rock band Grand Ultra, Hillia — the project of Joseph Alan Hill — marks a bold new chapter in his musical journey. Blending the swagger of rock ’n’ roll with the energy of dance and the uplifting spirit of funk, his solo project offers a fresh creative outlet, embracing experimentation while retaining a distinctive melodic edge.

Pay-Per-View is out now on all major streaming platforms via APOLLO Distribution.