[SEVEN QUESTIONS IN HEAVEN] Charlie Hilton

I don’t pay too much attention to genre classifications in music anymore, partly because I am old and out of touch (I stopped trying to keep up somewhere around “Witch House”…or was it “Witch Haus”? Not sure don’t care) and partly because I have my own system of classification that actually serves me pretty well. All the music I listen to can be easily put into several broad categories: Music That Helps Me Not Want TO Die At The Gym (see: Slayer, Fetty Wap, various Pussycat Dolls tracks), Alt Rock Music Of The 90s ft. Tasteful Harmonica (see: Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms), and of course, Music To Lay Down On The Floor And Think About The Decisions Of Your Past To, which is where fits snugly in.

The former singer of Portland dream-pop outfit Blouse, Hilton has gone out on her own, but she definitely filled her hobo bag with plenty of that dream and pop stuff before she left. Her new album Palana has Hilton getting her Nico on, drizzling her honeyed voice over sweet acoustic guitar tracks as well as lush, languid synth songs for an album that coyly plays with genre in a way that’s subtle yet nuanced. Subtler than my “Songs For Crying” playlist, anyway.

We asked Hilton our seven questions:

1. What is your life motto?

Don’t add to the confusion.

2. Who is your muse?

My husband, Toddy.

3. What is your idea of abject misery?

Waiting in a long line.

4. What is your idea of total happiness?

Clean, soft sheets.

5. What is the best quality in a woman?

Class.

6. What is the best quality in a man?