Hillsburn (band)
| Company type | Indie pop band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Halifax , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Hillsburn was an indie pop ensemble originating from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, known as one of the promising new talents on the East Coast. The group produced three studio albums and received numerous accolades at both national and regional levels.
Musical career
The band was established in 2014 as a four-piece at Paul Aarntzen's residence in Hillsburn, Nova Scotia. The original lineup featured siblings Rosanna and Clayton Burrill alongside Jackson Fairfax-Perry. Aarntzen later relocated to Halifax to dedicate himself fully to the band. Their debut EP, titled Hillsburn, was released in October 2014, with one track reaching the finals in CBC’s Searchlight contest.
Following this, their first full-length album, In The Battle Years (2016), was issued, shortly before drummer Clare Macdonald joined the group. This album earned them the 2016 Canadian Folk Music Award for New/Emerging Artist of the Year and received multiple nominations at the 2017 East Coast Music Awards, including a win for Fans' Choice Video.
Hillsburn extensively toured throughout North America. Their sophomore album, The Wilder Beyond (2018), attracted six nominations at the Nova Scotia Music Awards and four nods at the 2019 East Coast Music Awards. It also achieved significant airplay on Canadian campus and community radio stations. A deluxe version was subsequently released in February 2019.
In 2020, Hillsburn collaborated with producer Howard Redekopp. After completing their third album, Slipping Away, released on May 28, 2021, Paul Aarntzen departed from the band. Redekopp is noted for his work with prominent Canadian artists such as Tegan and Sara and The New Pornographers. Prior to the album launch, singles including "Waking Up," "Husha," and "Get High" were unveiled.
Slipping Away led the 2022 East Coast Music Awards with six nominations, among them Album of the Year. Aarntzen earned recognition for Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year.
The group declared their disbandment in early 2024 and held a final sold-out performance on April 26, 2024, at Dalhousie University’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, featuring accompaniment by Symphony Nova Scotia.
Band members
- Rosanna Burrill – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, violin
- Clayton Burrill – vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Jackson Fairfax-Perry – keyboards, synthesizers
- Clare Macdonald – drums, percussion, vocals
- Paul Aarntzen (2014–2020) – songwriter, vocals, guitar, bass
Discography
- Hillsburn EP – 2015
- In the Battle Years – 2016
- The Wilder Beyond – 2018
- The Wilder Beyond (Deluxe Edition) – 2019
- Slipping Away – 2021
- Stories – 2023
Documentary
Hillsburn: A Band Becomes (2016)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Album of the Year | Hillsburn / Slipping Away | Template:Won |
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Songwriter of the Year | Paul Aarntzen | Template:Nom |
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Song of the Year | Paul Aarntzen / Hillsburn - "Get High" | Template:Nom |
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn / Slipping Away | Template:Won |
| 2022 | East Coast Music Awards | Pop Recording of the Year | Hillsburn / Slipping Away | Template:Won |
| 2019 | East Coast Music Awards | Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
| 2019 | East Coast Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn / The Wilder Beyond | Template:Nom |
| 2019 | East Coast Music Awards | Fans' Choice Video of the Year | Hillsburn / Paul Aarntzen | Template:Nom |
| 2019 | East Coast Music Awards | Video of the Year | Hillsburn / Paul Aarntzen | Template:Nom |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Won |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Pop Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | SOCAN Songwriter of the Year | Paul Aarntzen "Time of Life" | Template:Nom |
| 2018 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Digital Artist of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
| 2017 | East Coast Music Awards | Fan's Choice Video of the Year | Hillsburn "Run Down" | Template:Won |
| 2017 | East Coast Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
| 2017 | East Coast Music Awards | Rising Star Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
| 2016 | Canadian Folk Music Awards | New/Emerging Artists of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Won |
| 2016 | Canadian Folk Music Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
| 2016 | Atlantic Film Festival | Best Atlantic Original Score | Hillsburn: A Band Becomes | Template:Won |
| 2016 | Nova Scotia Music Awards | Group Recording of the Year | Hillsburn | Template:Nom |
External links
- 2014 establishments in Nova Scotia
- 2024 disestablishments in Nova Scotia
- Musical groups formed in 2014
- Musical groups that disbanded in 2024
- Musical acts from Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Canadian folk rock ensembles
- Recipients of Canadian Folk Music Awards
- Sibling music groups
- Musical groups disestablished in 2024