Singer and Songwriter
(Rolling Stone Magazine, January
'03)
charlton hill
age: 25
hometown: elanora heights, sydney
the first cut: hill's first self-penned tune was a song called "higher". and, no, he hadn't started smoking just yet. "it was about escapism. i did some recordings of it, but i don't think it'll ever see the light of day. i think it showed some elements of where i went with my writing."
life on mars?: jeff buckley's grace, radiohead's ok computer and home, by spearhead, are all hill essentials. but bowie's hunky dory is the album he wishes he'd written. "it's a fantastic album and one i'll still revisit. if i'm stuck while songwriting i'll ask, 'what would david do?'"
diamond on forever: glitter king, neil diamond, was a big favourite in the hill household as he grew up, likewise middle-aged slacker jimmy buffett. then his two older sisters stepped in. "the cure, head on the door, was a big one for me," he says.
surf's up: not only does hill have a commerce degree ("just in case"), he's also a surfer. so what happens when a tune pops into his head when he's out there? "i'll go, 'fuck'. then i'll paddle in, race past my friends, get to my car and scribble something down. it's happened."
out soon: hill's solo debut, waterline, is out on sony early 2003.
- jeff apter