Tropical-pop band HIRIE will be taking listeners on their most collaborative, emotionally vigorous journey yet with their new album Dreamer, coming out this Friday (September 13) on Megaforce Records. You can pre-save it here! Dreamer will feature the previously released single “She Go”.
Dreamer was the first true songwriting collaboration for frontwoman/vocalist Trish Jetton. She penned most of the tracks with The Drive – aka songwriters Mark Merthe and Nate Evans. Trish says, “This was my first time writing with professional top liners and it was truly an incredible feat. I was trying to attract different genres even though the basis of this album is reggae.”
“This album is about raw honesty. I feel like I was braver with exploring my emotional state and how that swings back and forth—allowing myself to be brutally honest,” explains Trish. Dreamer is full of tracks that celebrate the bold, joyful, and even messy impulses that drive the female experience.
Trish mostly resides in San Diego, but has lived in different parts of the world. With her English father working for the U.N., she was raised in the Philippines, Italy, then Hawaii. The name “Hirie” is a mix of “Hawaii” and “irie”, the Jamaican term for one’s state of mind.
I was able to catch up with Trish and get some insight on what has influenced her music, as well as some of the cool collaborations we can expect on Dreamer!
Your new album Dreamer highlights many aspects of the female experience. What is one piece of advice you can offer for girls of the current generation?
If I could offer one piece of advice to the girls of the current generation, I would tell them that the most important person to please is yourself. Do nothing for others, without thinking about the health of your well-being. We were all born with that internal “gut” instinct. The problem with today’s culture and media influence, is we believe what we hear and see when everything mainstream we are being fed is used to solely sell a product and lifestyle. Don’t go getting botox because you think it will help you fit in; don’t listen to a certain style of music to fit in, don’t do anything in that sense for anybody else’s amusement. The only person that matters is you. You have to live with you FOREVER!
Having resided in many different parts of the world, how would you say your upbringing and traveling has influenced your music?
Having resided in many parts of the world and traveling as a child influenced my love for music tremendously. I was exposed to so many different music genres and cultures as a child that I grew to embrace change. I can listen to just about anything and enjoy it, unless its trying to influence me in a direction I don’t want to be headed towards.
You started making music when you were younger. Was it something that you saw yourself doing as a career?
I think I always knew I would be a performer. I enjoy people too much. I enjoy being the butt of a joke, or just affecting people in a positive way. I’m so glad I get to be a musician now in the way I had always hoped I would be as a young girl looking up to musicians like Whitney Houston (RIP!) and Celine Dion. There were such highly revered entertainers and that’s all I ever wanted to be.
You have some cool collaborations coming up on Dreamer! How does making music with others compare to doing it solo?
Collaborating on music with other artists is gratifying! You learn how others navigate and evolve within a confine, like a song. “Put It Down” featuring Chali2na is a perfect example. I had sent Chali2na the song, and what came back blew my socks off! Here’s a guy who’s spent his lifetime rapping, and here I was with my experimental song and now his amazingly syncopated words and melody was on it! Working with others is always more fun.
Focusing on your art can definitely be therapeutic! What are some of your other favorite forms of self care?
I am the worst at self-care but im working on it! I enjoy running lately, drinking wine and eating cheese with friends and the occasional vacation! Of course jumping in the ocean is my go-to de-stressor and I would consider that an act of self love!
What is something you want everyone to know when they listen to Dreamer?
When people listen to Dreamer, I hope they feel a sense of pride knowing there are artists out there dancing with the same highs and lows of life as they are. Dreamer highlights the human experience. I hope our listeners feel the vulnerability and realness it takes to create such a record.
Follow HIRIE on Twitter and Instagram @hiriemusic, and catch HIRIE on tour this fall! Check out the full list of tour dates below.
HIRIE DREAMER TOUR ’19
(*) with RDGDGRN and Kash’d Out
(~) with RDGDGRN and Tunnel Vsion
October 18 – Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock (*)
October 23 – Orlando, FL @ The Abbey (*)
October 24 – Stuart, FL @ Terra Fermata (*)
October 25 – Melbourne, FL @ Florida Institute of Tech (*)
October 26 – Jacksonville Beach FL @ Surfer the Bar (*)
October 27 – Greensboro, NC @ Blind Tiger (*)
October 29 – Virginia Beach, CA @ Elevation 27 (*)
October 30 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage (*)
November 1 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory (*)
November 3 – Somerville, MA @ ONCE Ballroom (*)
November 6 –Detroit, MI @ El Club (*)
November 9 – St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill (*)
November 10 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown (Front Room) (*)
November 14 – Garden City, ID @ Visual Arts Collective (~)
November 15 – Spokane, WA @ The Big Dipper (~)
November 16 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile (~)
November 17 – Portland, OR @ Holocene (~)
November 20 – Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver (~)
November 21 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst (~)
November 23 – San Diego CA @ The Observatory (~)
