Hill Kourkoutis

Hill Kourkoutis (born 23 January 1988^[1]) is a Canadian songwriter, producer, mixer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, director and actress.

Hill Kourkoutis
Birth name	Hillary Kourkoutis
Born	(1988-01-23)January 23, 1988 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Rock, pop, alternative, Roots
Occupation(s)	Musician, producer, songwriter, mixer, engineer, director, actor
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, bass, keys, drums
Years active	2000-present
Website	hillkourkoutis.com

Biography

Early life

Hill was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is of Greek descent.

Career

Music

Hill Kourkoutis is a producer and songwriter whose work spans multiple genres. She has produced albums and/or singles for artists such as Aysanabee, Digging Roots, Amanda Rheaume, Cassie Dasilva, SATE, Leela Gilday, Madison Violet, Jules, The Cliks and Martha and The Muffins. She has also remixed for artists July Talk, Adam Cohen, Dear Rouge, Jill Barber and Good Lovelies. As a songwriter, she has written songs for artists such as Royal Wood, Meghan Patrick, POESY, Jules and Martha and the Muffins. She primarily works out of her studio, The Lair. Kourkoutis was a part of many bands including alternative pop/rock duo "Drowning Girl" with David Paoli before starting Hill & The Sky Heroes - her collaborative solo project. As a session musician and a live side player, Hill has played and/or toured with Serena Ryder, The Weeknd, Martha and the Muffins, Danny Michel, SATE, The Cliks and Tara Slone.

Hill has also composed music for Dino Ranch, Remy & Boo and Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.^[2]

In 2018, she appeared on the CTV Series The Launch (created by Scott Borchetta) playing guitar in the show's house band for two seasons.

In 2021 'North Star Calling', the album she produced and mixed for Leela Gilday, won the Juno Award for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year and was nominated for the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. The album was also nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards including Single of the Year for "K'eintah Natse Ju".

In March 2022, Kourkoutis became the first woman to receive a Juno Award nomination for Recording Engineer of the Year.^[3] She was nominated for her work on SATE's "Howler" and Tania Joy's "The Drought". She won the award, becoming the first-ever female winner in the category.^[4] SATE's album, 'The Fool', that Kourkoutis produced, engineered, mixed and wrote on was also nominated for Alternative Album of the Year. 'The Fool' was also on the 2022 Polaris Music Prize Long List.

In 2023 the albums she produced, engineered, mixed and co-wrote on for Digging Roots ('Zhawenim') and Aysanabee ('Watin') were nominated in the Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year category.^[5] Digging Roots' 'Zhawenim' won in that category. 'Watin' by Aysanabee was also on the 2023 Polaris Prize Short List. "Nomads", a song she produced and mixed for Aysanabee, also hit #1 on the Canadian Alternative Rock charts.

In 2024 she was nominated for a Juno for Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award.

Film

At the age of 16, Hill was cast in a reoccurring role on the hit television series Radio Free Roscoe^[6] (Noggin/The Family Channel) as the strong but silent drummer Megan. This led her to her studies at Ryerson University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Film Studies. She has directed music videos for Serena Ryder, Mother Mother, Sass Jordan and Alex Cuba.

Discography

Select Discography

Year	Artist	Title	Album	Credits
2024	Emi Jeen	Over You	Over You - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Sebastian Gaskin	Ghost	Ghost - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Emi Jeen	Should We	Should We - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2023	Tafari Anthony	”5:20am (Just Text Me Back)“	When I Met Your Girlfriend	Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Whiskey Bar“		Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
2022	Aysanabee	”Seeseepano”	Watin	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Bringing The Fire“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Long Gone“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”War Cry“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Here I Am“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Bones“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”River“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”We Were Here“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Ego Death“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		"Nomads"		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Digging Roots	”She Calls Me”	Zhawenim	Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Tall Grass“		Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”The Healer“		Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”SKODEN“		Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Light Me Up“		Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Cut My Hair“		Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”No Breaking“		Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”AK47“		Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Sweetwater“		Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Amanda Rheaume	”Supposed To Be”	The Spaces in Between	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Interlude 1“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”100 Years“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Death Of The American Dream“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Interlude 2“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Do About Her“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Maybe You Do“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”This Love“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Interlude 3“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Right By Your Side“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Supposed To Be“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Interlude 4“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”All Sides Of Me“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Magnolia	”Donna”	Confluencer	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Interstate“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Short Fall“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Have You Always“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Orchard“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2021	Amanda Rheaume	”100 Years”	100 Years - Single	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Martha and the Muffins	”Act Like A Woman“	Marthology: In and Outtakes	Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Big Day“		Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Musician
		”Echo Beach 30th Anniversary Version“		Co-Producer, Musician
	SATE	”0: Loofeht“	The Fool	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Dirty Little Lie“		Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Howler“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”I: Call.Her“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Nobody“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”II: Guardian Angel (feat. Salome Bey)“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Famous“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”III: dreamstream“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Weight On Me“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”The World“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”IV: #sfc (feat. Ursula Rucker)“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”The Fool“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Andrea Ramolo	”Free feat. Kinnie Starr”	Quarantine Dream	Co-Writer
	Anna Cyzon	”Losing You”	Losing You - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Digging Roots	”Cut My Hair”	Cut My Hair - Single	Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Tania Joy	All Songs	I Will Stand	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Saint Idiot	All Songs	Alternate Utopias from a Nostalgic Future	Additional Production, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Digging Roots	”The Healer”	The Healer - Single	Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
	Cassie Dasilva	”Unsolicited Contact“	Enough	Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”I Don’t Trust Anyone Anymore“		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Darkside“		Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
	Royal Wood	”Say You Will”	Say You Will - Single	Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
	Rachel Beck	”Dizzy”	Dizzy - Single	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Andee	”Your Last Kiss (feat. Stacey Kay)“	One Plus One Equals Us	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Les idées immenses“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Bigger Dreams (Les idées immenses)“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2020	Leela Gilday	”Giants”	Giants - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Sandra Bouza	”Almost Love”	Falling Away From Me	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Stone Junction“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Not Like Me“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Turn It Up“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Losing You“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Human Connection“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”East Side Woman“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Wrong Songs“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2019	LeRiche	”Connected”	Connected - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
	POESY	”Strange Little Girl”	Glass Box Confessional	Co-Writer
	Loviet	”Symbol Of Love”	Symbol Of Love - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Leela Gilday	All Songs	North Star Calling	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Pavlo	”Crazy For You Love”	Together	Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
	Madison Violet	All Songs	Everything’s Shifting	Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	SATE	”Dirty Little Lie”	Dirty Little Lie - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
2018	Jules	”Fools Gold (Alternate Version”	People Watching	Additional Production, mixer, engineer, Musician
		”Before You Picked Her“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Prey“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Dessert First”		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Dakota“		Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Girl Feel Right“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Where Does That Leave Me“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Sirens“		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Derek Spill	”Melancholy (feat. Hayden Scott)”	Melancholy feat. Hayden Scott - Single	Co-Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Sandra Bouza	All Songs	Three Years	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Dave McEathron	”The Other Side”	Abandoned Companions & The Abandoned Companions Companion Piece	Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Background Vocalist
		”Luck”		Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Background Vocalist
	Serena Ryder	”Christmas Kisses”	Christmas Kisses	Vocal Arranger, Background Vocals
		”Blue Christmas”		Vocal Arranger, Background Vocals
		”I’ll Be Home For Christmas”		Vocal Arranger, Background Vocals
		”Jingle Bell Rock”		Vocal Arranger, Background Vocals
	Stacey Kay	”I’m Not Adele”	11 O’Clock Number	Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
2017	Shawnee	”Warrior Heart	Warrior Heart - Single	Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
	Elle De Luna	”Gaslight"	Gaslight - Single	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2016	SATE	”Know My Name”	RedBlack&Blue	Co-Writer
	Meghan Patrick	”Nothing’ But A Song”	Grace & Grit	Co-Writer
	Graph	”Bad Behaviour”	Lipstick Graphiti	Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Animal”		Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Father Father”		Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Eyes Are Like Windows”		Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
2015	Hill & The Sky Heroes	All Songs	Electric Matter	Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Hill & The Sky Heroes	”The Flame (Radio Version)”	The Flame (Radio Version) - Single	Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Hill & The Sky Heroes	All Songs	Dark Days	Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2013	Martha Johnson (singer)	”No Man’s Land”	Solo.One	Co-Writer
		”My Reverie		Background Vocals
	The Cliks	”Savanna”	Black Tie Elevator	Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Stop Drinking My Wine”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Dark Passenger”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Sleeping Alone”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Still”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”1000 Violins”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”4 Letter Words”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Cerise”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”No Good Do’er”		Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”She Was The One”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Gone”		Co-Writer, Producer, Engineer, Musician
		”Walking In A Graveyard”		Producer, Engineer, Musician
2012	Hunter Valentine	”The Pulse”	Collide & Conquer	Co-Writer, Background Vocals
	Andrea England	”Hothouse Flower”	Hope & Other Sins	Co-Writer
	Hill & The Sky Heroes	All Songs	11:11	Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
2011	Saidah Baba Talibah	”Revolution”	Revolution - Single	Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
	Hill & The Sky Heroes	All Songs	11EP	Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Engineer, Musician
2010	Mookie & The Loyalists	”Took Me By Surprise”	Mookie & The Loyalists	Co-Writer, Background Vocals

Remixes

Year	Artist	Title
2019	Rachel Beck	”Hearts On Fire (Hill Kourkoutis Remix)”
2018	Jill Barber	”Girl’s Gotta Do (Hill Kourkoutis Remix)”
	Good Lovelies	”I See Gold - Radio Remix”
2017	Madison Violet	”We Are Famous (When We’re Breaking) [Remix]”
2015	Hill & The Sky Heroes	”Who Am I (feat. Tree)”
	SATE	”Warrior (The Sky Heroes Remix)”
	Graph	”The Light’s Out (The Sky Heroes Remix)”
	July Talk	”Paper Girl (The Sky Heroes Remix)”
	Dear Rouge	”Black To Gold (The Sky Heroes Remix)”
	Adam Cohen	”We Go Home (The Sky Heroes Remix)”

Composing

Year	Project	Title	Credits
2024	Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go - Season 3	”Worth Doing Right“ (Ep. 01 - What's The Buzz)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go - Season 3	”Make Things Right“ (Ep. 6 - Cake It Easy)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2023	Armadillo Avalanche	”I Got You“	Songwriter, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go: The Mystery of Lookout Mountain	”Warning: Biggest Adventure Ahead“	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go - Season 2	”What I Can Do and What I Can't“ (Ep. 23 - Bring It On Beresford)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2022	Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go - Season 2	”This Was Unexpected“ (Ep. 8 - Hot Air Percy)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go - Season 1	”The Number One Engine“ (Ep. 33 - A Light Delivery)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Between You and Me“ (Ep. 29 - Thomas and Percy’s Eggsellent Adventure)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”A Partner On The Rails“ (Ep. 11 - A Wide Delivery)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2021	Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go: Race For The Sodor Cup	”Look It’s Us“	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	Dino Ranch	Theme Song	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2020	Remy & Boo	”Better With You“ (Theme Song)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Heartbeat“ (End Credits Song)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2018	Blowback (Film)	Score	Composer, producer, mixer, engineer, Musician
	Gasha Go (Online Game)	Theme Song	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2017	Paper Girls	Theme Song	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
	The Adventures of Napkin Man! - Season 3	”Find The Fun“ (Episode: Go With The Flow)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”A Whole Lotta Love“ (Episode: Familysaurus)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Share One Thing At A Time“ (Episode: New Classmate Pt. 1)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”Join In“ (Episode: To Paint Or Not To Paint)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
		”You Can Do It“ (Episode: Carnival King)	Co-Writer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Musician
2016	Cadillac (Commercial)	Song	Composer, producer, mixer, engineer, Musician
2012	Grimey (Short Film)	Score	Composer, producer, mixer, engineer, Musician
	ACTRA: Get Women Working PSA (Short Film)	Score	Composer, producer, mixer, engineer, Musician

Filmography

Music videos (as director)

• Hill & The Sky Heroes - “Doctor, Doctor” (2012)
• Serena Ryder & The Beauties - “Ramblin’ Man” (2010)
• Serena Ryder & The Beauties - “No Air” (2010)
• Serena Ryder & The Beauties - “The Funeral” (2010)
• Serena Ryder & The Beauties - “Ramblin’ Man” (2010)
• Modern Superstitions - “Visions Of You” (2010)
• San Sebastian - “Young Youth” (2010)
• Diego Gomes - “My Best Friend’s Girl” - YTV/The Next Star (2010)
• Madi Amyotte - “Front Row” - YTV/The Next Star (2010)
• Delhi2Dublin - “Tommy” (2010)
• KAY - “M.A.J.O.R” (2010)
• Michou - “Eavesdropping” (2010)
• San Sebastian - “Wake Up” (2010)
• You Say Party! - “There is XXXX (Within My Heart)” (2010)
• Alex Cuba - “If You Give Me Love” (2009)
• Crystal Shawanda - “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” (2009)
• Sass Jordan - “Why Did You?” (2009)
• Mother Mother - “Hayloft” (2009)
• Theo Tams - “Lazy Lovers” (2009)
• Serena Ryder - “All For Love” (2009)
• Drowning Girl - “Tragic Romantic” (2008)
• Tara Slone - “My Little Secret” (2006)

Shorts/PSA’s

• ACTRA: TAWC Toolkit PSA (2012)…Director
• Electric Red (2010)…Director
• The Flock (2010)…Director, Writer
• …And The Planets Conspire (2008)…Director, Writer
• Star Maker Machinery (2008)…Director, Writer
• Go Pomo! (2008)…Director, Writer
• Thousand Pound Eyelids (2006)…Director, Writer

Television

• 2018-2019 - The Launch - Herself, 14 episodes, House Band (Guitarist)
• 2014 - The 43rd Annual Juno Awards - Herself, Musician for Serena Ryder, “What I Wouldn’t Do/“, “For You”
• 2013 - 2013 Much Music Video Awards - Herself, Musician for Serena Ryder, “Stompa/What I Wouldn’t Do”
• 2013 - The 42nd Annual Juno Awards - Herself, Musician for Serena Ryder, “Stompa”
• 2013 - The Tonight Show With Jay Leno - Herself, Episode #21.182 (Musician for Serena Ryder, “Stompa”)
• 2011 - Serena Ryder Set List - Herself, Musician for Serena Ryder, “The Funeral”
• 2010 - The Next Star - Herself, 1 Episode, Director
• 2004-2015 - Radio Free Roscoe - Megan, 10 episodes

External links

hillkourkoutis.com

instagram.com/hillkourkoutis

twitter.com/hillkourkoutis

imdb.com/name/nm2244086

hillandtheskyheroes.com

References

1. "Official Site".
2. "IMDB Credits".
3. Grein, Paul (March 8, 2022). "Hill Kourkoutis Becomes First Woman to Receive a Juno Awards Nomination for Recording Engineer of the Year". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
4. Holly Gordon, "Here are all the 2022 Juno Award winners". CBC Music, May 14, 2022.
5. https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/news/here-are-all-the-2023-juno-nominees-1.6724343
6. "Radio Free Roscoe".