Film grad Hill Kourkoutis returns as Professional Music lecturer at TMU
Hill Kourkoutis, graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)’s Film program, JUNO award-winning artist and music extraordinaire, has returned to TMU as a lecturer for the Bachelor of Professional Music program.
We talk to her about what she’s been up to since she graduated from the School of Image Arts’ Film program, what brought her back to TMU and what she’s hoping to teach her students.
This interview was edited for clarity.
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Why did you decide to pursue Film at TMU? When did you graduate from the school?
I knew I didn’t want to go to University to study music. I was unfortunately a terrible piano and voice student—I didn’t practice enough to qualify for a classical or jazz performance program. Around the time I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for my post-secondary education, I found myself on several film sets and got cast in a television series. It was there that I fell in love with the creative process of filmmaking. I also fell in love with films and watched every film I could get my hands on growing up.
When the time came to apply to a school, I applied to a few general arts programs, but I knew I wanted to attend the Film program more than anything. It was my number one choice because you didn’t just read about making films, you got to actually make them. That was very enticing to me. I have always loved the technical aspects of the art of filmmaking. When I got the offer to attend, I immediately, quite excitedly, accepted!
When did you realize your calling as a musician?
I realized I wanted to be in a band when I was three years old. I remember it distinctly. My family was at a Greek cultural event in Toronto, and I saw a band on stage. While my dad was giving a speech, I got up on stage, grabbed a tambourine, sat on the drum riser and thought, “I want to be here.”
From then on, I begged my parents for guitar lessons. Piano and voice lessons followed, but my true passion was rock n’ roll. I started my first band when I was 12 with some girls from homeroom, started playing clubs in Toronto when I was 13 and by the time I graduated high school at 17, I was already touring, writing songs and producing for myself and other artists. I suppose that is also why I didn’t attend a music program for my post-secondary education. I already felt like I was working in the music industry by the time university came along.
What have been some of the highlights of your career as a producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer, artist, multi-instrumentalist, and filmmaker? It's a tough ask, but could you narrow it down to two or three?
This is hard! I’ve been privileged to experience a lot of amazing things in my life so far.
Working on Aysanabee’s record ‘Watin’ and SATE’s ‘The Fool’ were very profound experiences. Touring as a multi-instrumentalist with Serena Ryder for many years, who also happens to be my best friend, will always be a time period I look upon fondly. Working on ‘The Launch’ was also a wonderful experience.
You produced the Toronto theme for this year’s FIFA World Cup (external link) . How was that experience?
Coming from a family of avid football fans, being asked to create the theme song that will represent my city and hometown for the upcoming World Cup was an honour and privilege. FIFA and the City of Toronto gave me complete trust and freedom in the creation of the remix. It was truly a wonderful experience.
You've been recognized in the industry as a JUNO award-winning artist. How does it feel to get that recognition?
It is always a shock and an honour to be recognized for your work, especially by your peers. It meant a lot to me.
What brings you back to TMU to teach for the Professional Music program?
I was asked by the marvelous visionary Dr. Charlie Wall-Andrews to come back to TMU and co-teach the new songwriting course they’re offering.
I’m a few weeks in, and I cannot express how wonderful it is to be back at the University. The students are incredibly talented, collaborative and creative. It has also been a lot of fun designing the course with Charlie. I really wanted it to reflect what drew me to TMU in the first place—the focus on technical skill and execution balanced with theoretical practices.
TMU gave me the skills to be a filmmaker in the real world, and I hope to impart that on the students taking the songwriting course. That is what is so wonderful about the Professional Music program. I truly believe it prepares students for the real world so they are ready to hit the ground running in their careers upon graduating.
What is a lesson you've kept since you were a student here?
I came from a small high school environment to this massive institution. I was also directing music videos and touring while I was a student at TMU, so I quickly learned about time management, self-discipline and accountability.
Another skill-set I developed was critical thinking and problem solving, which I think is more important than ever. It was also a time of self-discovery and independence for me. I not only learned skill-sets that I apply to my work in music and film, but my time at TMU was truly a stepping stone, a time of coming of age and growing into myself and my truth.
What are some lessons you learned and are hoping to impart to your students?
The greatest lessons I have learned are that relationships are the most important thing in life, be kind, embrace imperfection and ‘mistakes’ are where happy accidents are born, health is wealth, life is short, so enjoy it (have a work/life balance), always continue to learn and most importantly—trust your gut.
The music industry can be a challenge to navigate, but it is also a great gift. It brings you together with incredible people that you will learn from, and it can be a wonderful parallel in your growth as a human being.
We are also in the business of creation based on our real-life experiences, truths and emotions, so as much as I can teach them about technical tools and theory to implement in their craft, it is their intuition, compassion and empathy that will ultimately guide them in their creations and career. I really want them to remember that when they trust their intuition and let truth, compassion and empathy guide them, they will always find their way through any situation or creation.