Getting a Facebook Memory or stumbling upon an old diary is like mining a gold nugget from a time we hadn’t realized has passed us by. How life changes right under our very noses–often without warning or explanation but always with the promise of a greater horizon and a beautiful sunrise.
Reconciling an ever-changing reality with our personhood–our desire to know how we fit in the world and amongst the people in it with us–is the greatest thrill and privilege of our lifetime. I know I will spend all of mine learning how to do this, which both excites and terrifies me. Last Tuesday, I had the chance to sit down with Indy-based musician and songwriter, Remington Hill (they/he), who understands this feeling well. And captures it beautifully in their lyrics.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Sting and Sade, Hill creates music that blends the infectious allure of rock beats with the soul-stirring charisma of classic jazz and R&B. But listening to Hill is more than enjoying the music–it is immersing yourself in the story of the lyrics.
Here is some of that story, from their heart and hopes to yours:
Kate Nevers: Death of the American Mall is the title of your 2024 debut album and is described as “a sudden understanding that everything changes without us even realizing it.” How did you find this name and in what ways does it represent you as an artist?
Remington Hill: Death of the American Mall is a connection to a broader narrative. It’s a realization I had while driving one day: I saw this mall, and it was dead. And I realized that, Man, malls are gone. And our connection to one another is disappearing, too. What’s going to restore it?
The death of the American mall isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s a sudden understanding that we are in a specific time and place in our generation where we don’t have connection. Creativity is the way we overcome those social boundaries
KN: Creativity is certainly powerful. You are currently focusing on bringing together a creative local community here in Indy. Why is this important to you?
RH: Anything worth doing is worth doing with a team. DOTAM is about overcoming the social boundaries we’re told we have to live within as artists. We are the only ones who can say, “How is my creativity going to look for me?”
Throughout this project, we worked with Brandon Steel for Ill Creations, Tusk and Temperance for these earrings, Notorious Vintage for clothing. We worked with lots of different artists that have helped us to craft this vision. I couldn’t have done it alone.
KN: That kind of community is the foundation of any big undertaking. The DOTAM Lyric Book has garnered the support–through partnerships and sponsorships–of creatives, businesses, and nonprofits from across Indy. How do you see, and utilize, music as a tool for creating business and supporting the Indy economy?
RH: Music, itself, can create a myriad of things–I don’t want to say products. That’s why the book, the earrings, the stickers have been so important. Everything has been an extension of the musical project we’ve brought forth to people.
We want you to connect with the music, but we also want to take you farther than that. We want to bring you into this community. One of the ways we’re doing that is through creating this book. Every book that we sell goes to support the business and our music movement. It’s a different way to set up the economy, to support the local businesses supporting us.
KN: How did you decide on a book? I love it, but it’s definitely not your typical way of launching an album.
RH: I wanted people to connect with the lyrics before the album is even out, to really hear the DOTAM story. I wanted it to be something meaningful for them, allowing them to get a glimpse into what all these people have been working on.
These lyrics matter. I’m working on them continuously because I know they can bring a positive change–not just to the people I work with but also specifically to Indy. Since I moved here, I’ve been so supported by local musicians and artists, and I want to give back. I’m not an Indy native, but I am somebody who sees the potential here for amazing talent and courage and beauty. And I want to help unearth it.
KN: I couldn’t have said it better. Nashville and Atlanta are recognized as the “Music Cities” of the nation, but Indy really does have so much talent and potential, and it is rising. What changes would you like to see to the Indy music scene in the years to come?
RH: I’ve always loved Nashville–it’s where everybody wants to go–but when you’re in Indianapolis, the music is just different. Because we are “Naptown,” people sometimes automatically push us aside. But Naptown has so much more to it. I think people are taking that angst from wanting to be heard and pushing it into their music. You can go to Fountain Square or Broad Ripple, and there are shows going on every night of the week. There is a passion behind it that makes our city different.
As for changes to Indy, there have been a couple of music studios that have been a big part of my time here: Postal Recording and Naptime Recordings. I would love to see their involvement in the city’s music scene amplified.
Another thing: having more spaces where music is at the forefront rather than a part of the environment. I want my lyrics to be heard and felt. It’s a conversation between yourself and the audience, and I want spaces where performers are able to have that conversation.
KN: Your passion for lyricism is evident. What is your favorite aspect of songwriting and music-making? What inspires your lyrics?
RH: The listening aspect is my favorite. Listening to the people around me is what fuels my music–what do I hear in the things that people talk about that inspire me? How can I help share that again in a new light or from my own perspective? Sharing those perspectives has been a big part of my songwriting.
As far as what inspires my lyrics, it has been a long journey. I went to a Christian college. I am currently in a place where I question my faith every day. And that’s okay. It’s a good thing to question, to grow, to allow yourself to live into who you are. That’s what you’ll find in my lyrics.
KN: Absolutely. You can’t rush the journey; art is about owning and leaning into it. So how do you grow as an artist? How does the creative community push and inspire you?
RH: I grow as an artist mostly by spending time with other artists. I have found people that have come to this city and stayed here because the music movement is different. That’s what grows and pushes me. It’s the passionate people coming into the city but also what the city is saying for the people here. I’m seeing grants and so many opportunities available–Indy wants to see what artists have.
KN: For all us melophiles, I have to ask: What is your current favorite song?
RH: Bottleneck by Katalina.
And there you have it, folks.
Through their lyrics, Hill walks us through the story of our time, the questions that plague our generation, the changes we undergo in both personhood and ambition–and the connection that binds us through it all.
To connect further, be sure to head over to dotam.xyz, the official site for the Death of the American Mall Experience, as well as their Instagram, @remington.hill.
