Bright Lights

Neon Hitch is ready for fame and more

British singer/songwriter Neon Hitch just wants to keep working as feverishly as she has been of late. She’s wrapped up recording her debut album, Beg, Borrow and Steal, which is scheduled to drop this summer on Warner Bros. Records and she’ll open for Adam Lambert at The F.M Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m. along with special guest The Cab. We caught up with the performer to talk about her recent success.

You’ve been on the move your whole life. Describe growing up and traveling throughout Europe.
Yes. My whole life has been traveling and now I’m traveling for all these shows. It’s been a crazy journey. We grew up on a bus where my Mom still lives in Wales. We traveled from city to city doing street performances and in the circus. We traveled from festival to festival and that’s how we made a living.

How did your traveling transform into writing songs and getting involved in music?
I started getting into music at 16. I kind of found my voice. I never knew I had a voice before; I was more of a trapeze artist and dancer, a physical performer. At 16, I found a love for music. I had a voice and started working with it.

How has the lifestyle changed from your days on the bus in Europe to now?
Honestly, it’s not that different. The difference is, traveling as a kid, you’re traveling in a community of people that are your family. The difference now is it’s more learning. You’re on your own; you have business people around, but not your family around. It’s a little more lonely, but it’s just another circus really.

It’s been a quick rise to fame along with multiple collaborations the past year.
I’m just so lucky to have been able to work with so many fantastic people. Benny Blanco (Ke$ha, Katy Perry, Britney Spears) put me in the studio to write with people for the first time. When I was working on my album, we had a bunch of different amazing artists like Imogen Heap and Bruno Mars. All these fantastic creative people; you learn a lot from them. Everybody has a different angle.

Where do you see yourself in the future?
Continue to make music. Definitely some more collaborations in the near future. Continue to tour. Performing is my favorite thing. I love being on stage. It’s the best feeling ever when you can connect with the fans personally.

What can we expect from your appearance with Adam Lambert?
I’m very excited about that. I bring the Neon Tribe, my two djembe drummers. They are amazing. It’s a very tribal style and we just have fun. We bring the party and we try to involve the crowd as much as we can. We connect with the fans. And there will be a lot of body paint.
— tom graham