Kacy Hill Pens a Love Letter to Music Itself in “You Know I Love You Still”
Photo: Chuck Grant
Kacy Hill has been growing for a long time, using her magical voice and sonic landscape to convey life’s complexities, but today she is fully blooming. The road to success looks different for everyone, and for an artist that differentiation can take a toll on the relationship you have with your work. In the latest single off her upcoming LP, BUG, Hill is freeing herself of the burden of making art and focusing on having fun. “You Know I Love You Still” is a breezy summertime Americana pop-bop, laced with her signature glittery effect and ethereal vocals. It explores the pressures that come with showcasing vulnerability for a living, while ultimately knowing deep down that being an artist is part of who you are.
The best part about “You Know I Love You Still” is its universality. Not everyone is an artist grappling with these anxieties, but everyone has something or someone in their life worth keeping because the love runs deeper than the problems they cause. On the inspiration behind the track, Kacy shares, “‘You Know I Love You Still' is a love song to music. I’ve spent a number of years in this industry now and in my most vulnerable moments, I wish I could just let it go and move away and start a new, simpler life. But I also know that wherever I go, it will follow me.”
One of the more subtle themes explored in “You Know I Love You Still” is how marketing your art can feel dehumanizing at times. Hill sings, “I don’t want to beg for your affection, question your intention,” a sentiment shared by anyone who struggles with feeling misunderstood. The idea of convincing people to pre-save your single, buy your album, or come to your show is a draining but crucial reality of what it takes to cut through the constant stream of competition, especially on the internet. Although the lyrics speak to a sense of burden, the happy-go-lucky production and vocal performance symbolize the power of accepting the uncertainty of embracing who you are.
The release of “You Know I Love You Still” comes with a couple of announcements, one being the release of Hill's fourth record, BUG, out May 3 via Nettwerk. Additionally, the rising songstress will be embarking on a headlining tour this summer, with stops in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and more.
Watch the “You Know I Love You Still” visualizer below:
