Catherine Hill makes music that feels real, not polished. The Brisbane artist has spent years finding a sound that is both raw and powerful. Her new single, Tell Me Lies, has been a long time coming. It started ten years ago as a quiet ballad, but it eventually grew into a heavy rock track that looks at the messy truth of the human heart.
Most artists use February 14 to celebrate perfect love, but Catherine used it to look at the cracks. Tell Me Lies is about the "quiet bargains" we make when we aren't ready to face the truth. "Love is often shown as perfect," Catherine says. "But real connection is layered. There’s desire, denial, and fear all at once. I wanted to offer something that showed the complexity beneath the celebration. It’s not anti-love; it’s just honest." The song is about that internal conflict of staying in a situation even when you know it's over.
The track has been a work in progress since 2013. It was inspired by watching a friend stay in an unhealthy relationship, constantly making excuses to stay. For years, the song was sad and soft, but Catherine felt it needed more grit to be truthful. "The emotion in the song isn’t helpless," she explains. "Turning it into a rock track wasn’t about being angry; it was about being honest. It’s the sound of someone finally seeing the truth."
Catherine’s work is deeply tied to the Brisbane community. Outside of her own music, she works as a support worker, helping a talented client record his own album. This role has kept her grounded. While her music is available online, her work happens on the ground in Brisbane and North Queensland, filming videos and helping others find their voice.
"What stands out to me about the Brisbane scene is that it’s community driven. There’s a generosity here. People show up, they share skills, and they help each other. It’s genuine."
In a world obsessed with social media numbers and "going viral," Catherine is happy to move at her own pace. To her, being an independent artist is about building something that lasts. "I’m building something sustainable rather than immediate," she says. "Algorithms change and trends shift, but human connection doesn’t. That’s what I’m investing in." Whether she’s writing lyrics while doing the dishes or helping a friend in the studio, she sees music as a way to connect people over time.
While Tell Me Lies reaches new listeners, Catherine is busy helping her client finish his album. She isn't in a rush to churn out content for the sake of it. "I don’t force songs into existence," she says. "When something arrives, I record it and release it with purpose. The next release will come when it feels right."
Listen to "Tell Me Lies" by Catherine Hill here;
https://localsounds.com.au/song/catherine-hill/tell-me-lies-rock
SoundVerge Editorial
Independent music journalism
