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After a brief hiatus, pop and R'n'B artist Hinda Hicks is gearing up for a major comeback with the forthcoming release of her long awaited third album, 'Where You Belong', later this year.
Many UK urban based talents have had a tough time trying to break through the manufactured world of modern pop and the path to success is littered by a number of obstacles – diminishing singles sales, one hit wonders, music piracy and downloads – which first need to be overcome if they are to achieve critical as well as commercial recognition.
Hinda has already proved herself as one of the countries leading female vocalists and following the critically acclaimed release of her first album on Island Records back in 1998, she achieved 3 top 40 hit singles as well as 3 Mobo Awards and 2 Brit Awards as recognition of her stunning debut.
Her second album – "Still Doin My Thing" - came out in 2004 and proved to be an edgy, genre pushing production, which demonstrated to her fans and critics alike that she was more than just a 2 dimensional musician. What her public and the media got to experience was another layer of versatility Hinda's talents.
Hinda was born in Tunisia but moved to England when she was a young child. Growing up on the South Coast, her musical influences were a marriage of the great soul singers of the 60s and 70s, fused together with the dynamic sound her own Tunisian heritage.
"I grew up listening to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder and Billy Holiday and they all paved the way for my introduction into music. This is what led me to join my first outfit, The Fabulous Fug Band".
Pretty soon record companies got wind of her ability and the commitment and determination of Island Records finally saw her signing. And the rest – as the well-worn cliché goes – is history.
However, things could have been very different if this multi-talented musician had decided to pursue one of her other interests because Hinda is also a passionate and committed basketball player (she was offered a scholarship to the US and is also a certified coach) as well as being an able artist with a penchant for ceramics!
As well as her music, Hinda has an interest in film that she intends to develop over time.
"I've had a long-term love affair with the cinema since I was a child. I've been in a couple of movies – mainly in small, supporting roles – but I would like to pursue a more substantial career in the future."
For enthusiasts, Hinda has been involved with two cinematic projects – 1998's Greenwich Meantime, working alongside Hollywood A-Lister Taylor Hackford and funded by Mel Gibson and the British production, Circus that came out in 2000.
She also took an un-credited part in the well received US movie Love and Basketball, which featured the song Our Destiny, her own original composition.
Never afraid of switching between genres, her upcoming album sees Hinda moving to a more mainstream, jazz-fusion sound and is set to put her back among the big players.
It oozes integrity and depth, utilizing a sharp lyrical content and clever concepts, whilst all the time managing to retain a fresh but accessible soulful, jazz feel.
As the young artists succinctly confirms: "I've found the balance between my love of hip-hop, my love of jazz and my love of soul and fused them together to make a sound – my sound. I hope it will appeal to my fan base but also to a completely new audience who may be discovering Hinda Hicks for the first time".
