In 2011, rock band Gym Class Heroes released their single “Ass Back Home.” Featured on the chorus was a new voice, which was pop in style but had a depth and tone that was modern and refreshing. It was on that single that the world was introduced to Neon Hitch. Hitch is now proving she is not only a pop star but also a creative force in her own right.
Hitch is gearing up to release her new album Eleutheromaniac and explained that is only a small sample of the music she has been creating in the studio. “It’s been crazy, I have been like a music machine, I have this album ready to go and with these studio sessions, I have more like three more albums ready to go. I have a lot of music,” said Hitch.
Hitch is proud of the fact that she is different and doesn’t want to be a traditional pop star. She wants to explore different creative outlets and let her music be more raw and honest. “I think everything I do is different because that is who I am, I feel like I’ve never been good at doing any one genre or for that matter being one kind of human being. I think I have many sides to me; I’m like a rainbow. Music wise, generally everything is pop and it fits under that umbrella but this side of me I think is more vulnerable and raw,” explained Hitch.
She is taking that creative energy, rawness and honesty and has channeled that into her music video for “Sparks.” Hitch teamed up with The Paradise Collective to bring her vision to life. “I love drama and like to tell a story and I wanted to make it a bit more serious. This video is more like an inkblot test, and I really wanted the option to be open to what the concept of the video is. I want the viewers to make up their minds about what the story is.”
The Paradise Collective took that vision and created a music video that feels more like a short film. Director Ryan Gregory Phillips explained that this creative collaboration was a perfect match. “Working with Neon has been a true blessing, having an artist give you full creative control is every director's dream. Creating a story through visuals from scratch to show a different side of Neon Hitch, which no one has ever seen before, has been one of my greatest challenges to date. I feel that this video translates who Neon is and what Sparks stands for, this project was about reimagining who Neon is and I wanted that to be super obvious,” explained Phillips.
With a new album, new music video and a career that continues to grow, Hitch is looking forward to getting out on the road and connecting with her fans, who to her feels more like family. When asked about what was next for her career, Hitch explained that big things are happening and a lot of news will be coming soon but for now fans can look forward to Eleutheromaniac and ponder the fact that when asked about a dream collaboration, Hitch’s response was a mash up between Madonna, The Spice Girls and herself. That would be a musical match made for the charts.
The following is the complete interview with Chelsea Lewis from TheCelebrityCafe.com and Neon Hitch.
C: What have you been working on lately?
N: It’s been crazy, I have been like a music machine, I have this album ready to go and I’ve been in these studio sessions, I have three more albums ready to go. I have a lot of music it’s overwhelming I will be releasing.
C: I have to say, I have been a fan since “F U Betta” and when you collaborated with Gym Class Heroes, how would you say your latest music is different from your previous hits?
N: I think everything I do is different because that is who I am, I feel like I’ve never been good at doing any one genre or for that matter being one kind of human being. I think I have many sides to me; I’m like a rainbow. Music wise, generally everything is pop and it fits under that umbrella but this side of me I think is more vulnerable and raw. I think I’ve evolved a lot since my release before this. I’ve been through a lot in this past year and I feel a bit more grown up.
C: What was it like working on the music video for Sparks? Was it different than previous shoots you have had?
N: I love drama and like to tell a story and I wanted to make it a bit more serious. This video is more like an inkblot test, and I really wanted the option to be open to what the concept of the video is. I want the viewers to make up their minds about what the story is. This video really shows love and it also shows heartbreak.
My personal favorite part is the crying and the fighting. I just got let loose I looked into the camera and I’m actually crying.
C: Could you talk about working on your latest album Eleutheromaniac?
N: There is a whole thing with being a pop star that you have to be perfect, it’s all about the smoke and mirrors and how big your hair is but I think this is something that you can’t learn and you can’t fake, this is raw and this is my story. These are the shows I’m growing into, it’s that moment when Eminem said “could the Real Slim Shady please stand up.’ Confident in my own.
I’m always telling my friends to be strong and to be themselves but sometimes I need to take some of my own lessons.
C: What do you have coming up next? Plans for a tour?
N: This summer my dreams have come true and I will be able to say more about that later on. I also have another single coming out and I have the album coming out. So much music. I’m also attending and performing at some gay pride events. Busy summer.
C: If you could cover any song on tour which one would it be?
N: Covered a lot of songs and I mean it’s tricky because where there are songs I just love “Like A Virgin,” I like to cover songs that are so far from where I’m from, Snoop Dogg or Walka Falka. I really want fans to tweet at me and tell me what kind of covers they would like to hear me do during shows.
C: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with?
I think the best would be with The Spice Girls; they need to get back together. Or maybe even a Neon Hitch, Madonna and Spice Girls collaboration.
C: How do you feel about having such a strong fan base that supports you both through your music and online?
N: My fans are my family. I never feel alone because I’ve got a family. It’s natural and it makes me happy, it is a win-win.
I really just want fans to enjoy the video and I’m excited. I hope everyone will follow me on my social accounts because there is a lot coming up from me.
Image courtesy of Kristin Callahan/ACE/INFphoto.com