Today we’d like to introduce you to Killian Hough
Hi Killian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the St. Louis area of Missouri. I have seven siblings and was homeschooled K-12. Deep down, I knew I wanted to be an artist from a very young age. I would sing so much that it would annoy the people around me. I was a daydreamer, often having my head in the clouds, thinking about an escape, what worlds I could live in, and who I could be. I would bounce all over the place with what I would tell the grown ups I wanted to be, anything from paleontologist to singer. I wrote my first song and acted in my first play at 12 years old. That’s when all my creative indecisiveness started to make sense. I wanted to be able to portray as many roles as possible rather than stick with just one, the one being myself, and also be a singer songwriter who shares their stories and love for this world with the world. I relocated to San Diego County in 2018, got married, had two kids, and well here I am! This is the short version of the story of course.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growing up homeschooled in the Midwest in a large family comes with its challenges. I felt pretty isolated. I never really found people who could truly relate to my personal experiences while I was there. With the social interaction outside of the home I did have, I was often the target of bullying. Even in adulthood I have similar experiences of isolation and being an outcast. There is also the remaining residue of depression and PTSD among other mental health struggles. Mental health is important guys! That’s all I’ll say. I don’t want to trauma dump right now.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One of the things that sets me apart from a lot of other artists is my dedication to challenging the confinements of genre. Genre is just a way to keep us all in boxes. It’s pretty cool that Beyoncé literally just pointed that out during her Grammys speech after her win for Country Album this year. It’s super validating to have someone with so much influence relate to a perspective you’ve had for the entirety of your time working. This transcends to the acting space as well. I don’t want to be a “type.” Whenever I’m asked what I think my type is, I say I’m not going to have one. That’s my type. I’m an individual. For those familiar with the music I have released thus far can pick up on that as well. I sing about mental health, trauma, love, you name it. My genre isn’t clear cut. My first album, Spiked Arnold Palmers, was an alternative pop piece. The one I’m rolling out now, Love + Electricity, is a full on pop love letter to 80s nostalgia. It’s premature to be talking about this right now, however one of my next albums is shaping up to have an old country western theme, which I am super excited about. I like to make concept albums, which is what I guess my “type” is becoming.
Another thing that sets me apart from some is my desire to speak out and bring attention to issues the youth are experiencing. Yes, not completely unique to be someone who speaks out, however still not as common as it should be. Lets take care of our mental health and practice basic human empathy. We really need that right now as we live in these uncertain times and I am committed to being a part of the movement that actually cares about all people.
How do you think about luck?
Hmm. Honestly, my luck is more in my personal life. I am incredibly lucky to have met my now wife and have two wonderful daughters. They are the most important part of my life and what keeps me going. I have wanted to give up many many times, however now I just look at my kids and remember that setting the example to them that you should never give up on what you love regardless of conventional “success” and the opinions of others. I want them to be happy, not miserable in the name of practicality etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://killianhough.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/killianhough
- Twitter: https://x.com/killianhough
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@killianhough
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/killianhough.bsky.social
Image Credits
AJ Pisano
