“Rocky Hills” is the first single from our new trio album Wood & Wire!
I wrote “Rocky Hills” on my ukulele when I was 9 years old. Among all the songs I have ever written and still perform, this is the oldest. I made up the story about a young girl who meets a mysterious singing bird who lives in a graveyard in Rocky Hills.
As the second oldest of five siblings, we grew up in the country surrounded by fields of wildflowers, tree-covered hills, and the scenic Hammond River. As kids, we sang and played folk songs in school and Sunday school and listened to my parents' folk music collection, like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Gordon Lightfoot, and Anne Murray. The environment we grew up in was full of fresh air and imagination.
I remember singing “Rocky Hills” to my elementary school music teacher, who was so amazing and supportive. She taught the song to the entire ukulele school choir and we performed it on stage at the Spring Ukulele Extravaganza in 1987, which received a standing ovation. As a young girl, this song and this defining moment ignited the fire inside me that continues to drive me to write songs, sing and perform.
"Reflections" was a local TV show hosted by historic preservationist Harold Wright during the late 1980s. Having heard about my song "Rocky Hills" through my grade 5 teacher, he invited me on his show for an interview and live performance in the studio. I was so very shy, it was a painful interview. Fortunately, my parents taped the program on VHS when it aired and I have a copy of it to cherish.
As early as this song was written in my repertoire, "Rocky Hills" never lost its bones and soul. I am so grateful to Bill and Sandy for helping me bring it to life with the perfect harmonies and instrumental arrangement that gives it a timeless folk feel and that takes me back to my wild and carefree childhood perspective on the influences of music, nature and my surroundings.
The animated music video for Rocky Hills was created by Montreal-based artist/illustrator Nicole Aline Legault. Nicole has worked as a freelance illustrator and artist in print, film, and music. Raised on the east coast of Canada and deeply inspired by dreams of whales, the ocean, and the environment, her work often examines our need to reconnect with the natural world. I instantly became a fan of Nicole and her watercolour texture art and illustrations after working together on recent album layouts and designs. I reached out to her once I discovered that she was incorporating animation with her illustrations. Her art and vision beautifully captured the song's dark, folkloric spirit and takes us on a dreamy journey to Rocky Hills.
>> Stream on all platforms HERE
“Rocky Hills” written by Jessica Rhaye
Produced by Dale Murray with Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper and Sandy MacKay
Mixed by Dale Murray
Mastered by John McLaggan (Parachute Mastering)
Video Artwork & Animation by Nicole Aline Legault
Thanks for the support of Music·Musique NB in the making of this project!