Jessie Hillel, also known professionally as JHM, is a singer, songwriter, and producer based in Melbourne, Australia.[2][3]

Jessie Hillel
Hillel in 2021
Background information
Birth nameJessie Hillel
Also known asJHM
BornWellington, New Zealand
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter and producer
Years active2008–present
LabelsPush Records, Sony Music New Zealand[1]
Websitewww.jhmsmusic.com

She is known for her runner-up placement in series 2 of New Zealand's Got Talent and her win at the first Fed Live music competition held by Melbourne's Federation Square in association with MTV Australia, Mushroom Records, Melbourne Music Week and Ditto Music to promote upcoming artists in Melbourne.[4][5]

Early years

edit

As a child, Hillel performed in local shows and contests.[6] She appeared on New Zealand TV2's What Now performing Time to Say Goodbye and on TV1's Find A Star performing "O Mio Babbino Caro".[7][8] She is featured on the album Kids Sing Bob Dylan, covering popular Bob Dylan songs such as "Mr. Tambourine Man".[9]

Career

edit

New Zealand's Got Talent

edit

Hillel auditioned for New Zealand's Got Talent series 2 at the age of 10. Her rendition of "Pie Jesu" earned the praise from judges, with Rachel Hunter commenting "You are absolutely stunning."[8] She advanced to the semi-finals and her performance of "O Mio Babbino Caro" earned her a spot in the grand finals on judges' vote.[10][11] Hillel performed Schubert's version of "Ave Maria" in the finals and ultimately placed second through public vote.[12][13] "You are mesmerizing, you are enchanting, what you do is enduring" said Jason Kerrison of Hillel's performance in the finals.[citation needed]

Following her success on the show, she performed in shows both in New Zealand and overseas.[14] In 2012, Hillel was invited to Beijing to appear on International Children's Music Festival and her performance of Memory was broadcast by CCTV-1 on New Year's Eve.[8][15][16][17]

In 2013, Hillel was a guest artist at TEDxChristchurch where she performed "Non So Piu" and "Serenade".[18]

Recording

edit

Hillel's solo debut album With Love was released on April 26, 2014 through Sony Music New Zealand.[19] The album is a collection of classical and opera songs.[15] It peaked at #3 on the NZ Top 20 album chart[20] and at #16 on the NZ Top 40 album chart.[21] The song "Pie Jesu" off the album peaked at #15 on the NZ Top 20 Singles chart.[22]

 
Hillel performing at Southside Live, Melbourne (2022)

She moved to Melbourne, Australia to continue her music aspirations and to take up a scholarship to study music at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.[when?] She along with her college mates formed the soul-funk band Jakal, which in 2019 won the Battle of the Bands at the St. Kilda Music Festival.[3] Hillel was the band's lead vocalist and composer.[23]

She was a principal vocalist of Victorian State School Spectacular in 2016 and 2017.[24]

 
Hillel is performing with the soul/ funk band JAKAL (2018)[25]

In 2020, she was won the first Fed Live music competition for her song "The Rain".[4][5]

In 2020, Hillel formed the pop band JHM. The group released the single "Santorini" through Push Records in 2021.[26] The song contains a mix of classical, hip hop rhythms, and orchestral elements.[27][28]

JHM, working with multi-instrumentalist and producer Fractures, released the song "Fever Dream" in 2023.[29][30]

Discography

edit

Albums

edit
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Peak chart positions Album details
NZ 20 NZ 40
With Love[31] 3 16

Singles

edit
Year Title Details
2023 Fever Dream[30]
  • Single, Released: 23 June, 2023
  • JHM, Fractures
  • Label: Acts Music Group
2021 Santorini[26]
  • Single, Released: 9 July, 2021
  • Label: Push Records
2020 Good Grades[32]
  • Single, Released: 3 July, 2020
2018 JAKAL[23]
  • EP, Released: 18 February, 2018
  • Lead vocalist, composer, Jakal
2013 With Love[19]
2011 Starbugs - Kids Sing Bob Dylan[9]
  • EP, Released 10, September 2011
  • Label: Universal Children's Audio
  • Vocalist

References

edit
  1. ^ "Jessie Hillel". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  2. ^ Laisram, Indira (23 September 2024). "The exuberance of Indian origin singer Jessie Hillel". The Indian Sun. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Artists & Bands > JHM". St Kilda Festival. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Martin, Matt (27 October 2020). "Fed Square announces 'Fed Live' competition for Victorian musicians". Forte.
  5. ^ a b "Fed Live Winner - Jessie Hillel". Fed Square.
  6. ^ "Little Jessie shows off her giant talent". Stuff. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  7. ^ Rawson, Emma (21 November 2012). "NZGT's Jessie Hillel faces the music". Now To Love. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Jessie Hillel | NZ Artist Directory | NZ Music Commission". New Zealand Music Commission. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b Dallas, Matthew; Tuckey, Karoline (24 October 2011). "Child singers tackle Dylan songbook". Stuff. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  10. ^ Wannan, Olivia (28 October 2012). "All fun and no fear for talented Jessie". Stuff. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Kottayam girl in New Zealand TV music reality show final". The Times of India. 24 November 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  12. ^ Hunt, Tom (2 December 2012). "Wellington schoolgirl second in New Zealand's Got Talent". Stuff. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  13. ^ Nair, Jaikrishnan (3 December 2012). "Kerala girl wows New Zealand". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  14. ^ Lenin, Amrita (28 December 2023). "Jessie's Got Talent !: Journey of Indian-Australian singer Jessie Hillel". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b Wannan, Olivia (17 April 2013). "First album excites young singer". Stuff. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  16. ^ Elias, Esther (24 January 2014). "A slice of soul: New Zealand's young singing sensation Jessie Hillel has her heart in the classical". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  17. ^ Field, Michael (3 December 2012). "NZGT's Jessie celebrated in India". Stuff. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  18. ^ Harvie, Will (31 October 2014). "Top five moments at TEDx ChCh 2013". Stuff. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Jessie Hillel Releases Her Debut Album "With Love"". Scoop. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  20. ^ a b "The Official New Zealand Music Chart NZ Top 20". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  21. ^ a b "The Official New Zealand Music Chart NZ Top 40". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART NZ TOP 40. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Official Top 20 NZ Singles". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Jakal | triple j Unearthed". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Victorian State Schools Spectacular 2017". www.girl.com.au. Retrieved 28 February 2024.[failed verification]
  25. ^ "Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues 2018". PBS 106.7FM. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  26. ^ a b Kaur, Dilpreet (1 October 2021). "Malayalee-Australian singer, Jessie Hillel, releases 'Santorini'". South Asian Today. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  27. ^ "Santorini". Australian Music Radio Airplay Project. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  28. ^ van Montfort, Gwen. "Jhm Santorini Interview". www.female.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  29. ^ "JHM | triple j Unearthed". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Melbourne's JHM and Fractures team up and set temperatures soaring with new disco-fuelled single, 'Fever Dream'". The Point Music News. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  31. ^ "With Love Jessie Hillel". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Jessie Hillel Good Grades". www.female.com.au. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
edit