Q&A: Alana Hil Releases Bold New Single “Say It” and Announces Diaries of a Common Woman, Out Nov. 7
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
ALANA HIL IS NO STRANGER TO TURNING LIFE’S CHAOS INTO CATHARSIS. With her upcoming EP Diaries of a Common Woman (out November 7), the Kentucky-raised, globe-trotting singer-songwriter continues her ascent as one of the most compelling new voices in soul and R&B. Featuring recent singles “Love and Mental Breakdowns”, “Heartbleed Over Coffee,” as well as her lest single “Say It” out today, the project captures Hil’s unique ability to transform deeply personal experiences into music that resonates universally.
Raised singing gospel in Kentucky and later studying Indian classical music in the Himalayas, Hil’s eclectic background seeps into every note she sings. Her music is a vibrant blend of soul, blues, country, and R&B, enriched by a life lived across Maui, Mexico City, Bali, and beyond. It’s this global lens that makes her songwriting so magnetic, weaving stories of heartbreak, healing, and resilience into melodies that feel both intimate and expansive.
Already championed by GRAMMY Award-winning producer Printz Board (Black Eyed Peas, Mark Ronson, Smallpools) and fresh off sharing the stage with Macy Gray, Hil is poised to step fully into her moment. Diaries of a Common Woman is a collection that feels like a diary cracked open — raw, vulnerable, and profoundly human — cementing Alana Hil as an artist to watch, and a voice you won’t soon forget.
LUNA: Diaries of a Common Woman feels deeply personal. What inspired the title, and what do you hope listeners take away from the stories within it?
HIL: Diaries of a Common Woman is deeply personal — every song reflects what I’m experiencing emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The title came while recording “Love and Mental Breakdowns,” which I wrote in 10 minutes after an argument with my boyfriend. It felt like a diary entry, a release valve. The irony in the title is that we’re all ‘common’ in our emotions but unique in how we express them. When I’m going through something, hearing a song that validates my feelings makes me feel less alone — that’s the experience I want to give my listeners.
LUNA: Your new single “Say It” arrives October 1. What does this track represent within the larger arc of the EP?
HIL: “Say It” is a pivotal track on the EP. Inspired by my journey with Borderline Personality Disorder and healing from past trauma, it’s a call to action — encouraging people to apologize, forgive, and move forward. At its heart, it’s about saying, ‘I’m sorry and I love you,’ and finding the freedom that comes as we set our pride aside.
LUNA: Songs like “Love and Mental Breakdowns” and “Heartbleed Over Coffee” tackle themes of identity and mental health with raw honesty. What was the writing process like for those tracks?
HIL: “Love and Mental Breakdowns” was completely stream of consciousness. I sang it like I was having a conversation with my boyfriend. With “Heartbleed Over Coffee,” I co-wrote it with Sam Sznd. That day I hadn’t had my coffee yet and was feeling grumpy; she joked, “Girl, I know — don’t even talk to me before I’ve had mine.” We both laughed and instantly said, “That’s the song!” From there we nerded out on metaphors and wordplay, turning that small moment into something much deeper. Both songs came from a very honest place, but one was cathartic and unfiltered, while the other was collaborative and playful, yet still rooted in real emotion.
LUNA: You’ve described your music as blending soul, blues, country, and R&B. How do you approach weaving such diverse influences into a cohesive sound?
HIL: I take my favorite elements from all of the genres you mentioned and blend them together to create my own concoction. I love the storytelling in country music, I like the groove in R&B, and I like the harmonies in soul. I naturally tend to sing soulfully, so that’s just who I am. I don’t think about genres when I create music, I just do what feels the best.
LUNA: Growing up singing gospel in Kentucky and later studying Indian classical music in the Himalayas is such a unique journey. How do those early experiences still shape your artistry today?
HIL: My mom was engaged to a Reverend and he introduced me to gospel music. I heard it everyday so naturally I took a hold of some of those elements. As I grew up my music taste expanded drastically, as well as my interest in exploring other cultures. Classical Indian is so different from western music, it took me a minute to understand it. All of that opened so many possibilities of telling my story with harmony.
LUNA: You’ve traveled and lived in so many places, from Maui to Mexico City to Bali. How have those global experiences informed your storytelling as a songwriter?
HIL: Traveling and living in so many places really helped me get to know myself and feel comfortable in my own skin. So many times I’d be by myself and didn’t speak the language, so I would just write and observe what was happening around me. I haven’t really told stories from my experiences yet, but I’m currently telling stories from my inner world that I wouldn’t be able to tell without that time.
LUNA: Printz Board, a GRAMMY-winning producer, has been an early supporter of your work. How did that connection come about, and what did you learn from working with him?
HIL: Printz Board overheard me free-styling over a band that was playing at a speakeasy in Hollywood. He later said he thought “that’s pretty good.” He asked me if I did music, so I gave him an EP I made in my bedroom over Covid. He called me the next day and asked me to come to the studio. We have been collaborating ever since. He’s strong-willed and very honest. He inspires me to work on my craft everyday so I can become the best I possibly can.
LUNA: Your visuals pull from cinematic and fashion icons like David Lynch, Thierry Mugler, and Grace Jones. How do you translate those inspirations into your music videos and performances?
HIL: It’s hard to explain the feeling I get when I look at their work, but it moves me. Fashion has always been such a big part of my life and the way I express myself. I couldn’t afford new clothes so I had to get creative. Clothing for me is another story teller, you’ll know what kind of mood I’m in by what I’m wearing. As for the videography, Surrealism is my favorite because I like the idea of being able to expand outside of what we’ve decided is reality. I want the viewer to make of it what they will and be a part of the experience.
LUNA: Sharing the stage with Macy Gray this summer must have been special. What moments stood out from that experience?
HIL: Macy is so cool, down to earth and chill. During my set I played “Love and Mental Breakdowns” and by the end of the song the whole crowd was singing it with me. That was huge because they didn’t know me or my music, but they do now. When the night was over Macy sent for me, and we got to kick it for a while. She said everyone in her band really liked my set also.
LUNA: Looking ahead, what’s next after the release of Diaries of a Common Woman? Are there dream collaborations, tours, or projects on the horizon?
HIL: I’m already in the studio working on Diaries of a Common Woman Volume 2. I may be doing a full tour with Macy, fingers crossed, and I’m doing a run in Europe in February. I have some collaborations in the works but that is to be announced later ;)
