Singer-songwriter Nikki Hill will perform music set for her upcoming fourth studio album during a show July 18 at Mauch Chunk Opera House, West Broadway, Jim Thorpe.

Hill — whose music encompasses genres such as garage rock, rock ‘n’ roll, blues and roots — plans to play new songs such as “I’m Not Discreet” and “Hate Me with a Smile.”

The independent artist’s music journey began with 2013 debut “Here’s Nikki Hill,” which she co-produced. The album houses tracks such as “Ask Yourself” and “Strapped to the Beat.”

Hill solely produced 2015’s “Heavy Hearts, Hard Fists,” featuring cuts such as the title track, “Struttin’ ” and “(Let Me Tell You ’Bout) Luv.” She also self-produced 2018’s “Feline Roots,” whose tracklist includes “Don’t Be the Sucker,” “Just Can’t Trust You” and “Holler Out Loud.”

Evolution of song

Hill’s music evolved “as the live shows became bolder and my ideas got louder. I saw a comment on Bandcamp that said ‘Here’s Nikki Hill’ sounds like ‘stumbling on a cool rare bootleg of an unknown Ikette.’” (The Ikettes backed the Ike & Tina Turner Revue from 1960 to 1976.)

As for her new music, Hill — slated to perform at Friday’s Briggs Farm Blues Festival in Nescopeck — heard a recent comment likening the songs’ sound to hard-rock band MC5 joining a soul revue. She hopes to release the new album in early 2026.

Artists motivating Hill not to limit herself or her sound include Tina Turner, Fishbone, Little Richard, Bad Brains and Otis Redding. Other influences include The Ronettes, Etta James, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, The Gories, Black Joe Lewis and Sharon Jones.

“I’m proud to carry on as an heir of the pioneers of roots music,” Hill said. “Without the Black-American experience, these genres would not exist.”

Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, Hill sang gospel as a young child in the church choir. Also a singer in the school chorus and theater, she grew up loving artists such as TLC, Outkast, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, A Tribe Called Quest and the Fugees.

Inspiration

Hill, residing in Memphis, Tennessee, also loved visual art. Music videos exposed her to artists in different genres, such as Fiona Apple, Nirvana, No Doubt, Kelis, Lenny Kravitz and Deftones.

Once she had a record player, Hill started collecting records. At around age 13, she started spending most of her free time seeing live music. That further piqued Hill’s interest in music history, leading her to older sounds from artists such as Staple Singers, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Otis Redding.

In her teens, Hill experimented with a variety of aesthetic styles, creating her own vibe and speaking up for herself. She learned about performing live and recording from musicians and artists, and by age 21, was bartending and working shows at a local venue.

At that point, Hill was not necessarily writing songs, “but a mix of that and poetry and freewriting, not sharing it with anyone.” Upon marrying musician husband Matt — who plays guitar in her band — in 2011, Hill worked two jobs and a variety of side hustles.

Continuing to write, “I tried to work my own shows, playing some of my favorite covers and getting a feel for the stage.” Once she thought she “wrote something kind of cool,” Hill shared it first with her husband and then others; “just a beautiful, organic thing that ended up making a pretty cool record.”

Challenges and goals

Hill’s challenges over the years include financial difficulties such as paying for a band and live show, plus the rise in ticket prices’ effect on the working-class crowd.

In addition, Hill would love signing to a record label “that would invest in appropriate marketing, and offer support and development, and relieve that cost on me. I have had great licensing deals, which allows me to have physical product for touring, but the rest of the costs are still astronomical.”

Another challenge arises when people listen with their eyes, particularly in the U.S. Hill sees men praised for their skills at playing roots music, “but Black women not taken seriously for the same. Internationally, there is a little more acceptance; it is easier to ignore the purists and mansplainers.”

Hill, though always learning, advises artists starting out to “build your community and ask for help. A lot more people want to see you succeed than you might think.”

A major achievement

As for career highlights, Hill has performed on every continent except for Antarctica and supported artists such as Sting, Dr. John and Los Lobos. In the future, she would love to do a supporting club tour.

In the meantime, the audience at Mauch Chunk Opera House, Hill said, should expect “a lot of joy, and if they pay attention to the words, a lot of resistance. Either way, a cathartic experience if they allow it, that will hopefully give them the energy to keep pushing.”