We were lucky to catch up with Phero Hill recently and have shared our conversation below.
Phero, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Growing up I was always a soft spoken individual. I never had confidence in using my voice because I always felt like what I had to say wasn’t important and I had a fear of rejection. This is actually one of the main reasons I started writing music. It was a outlet for me to use my voice and outwardly express everything that was inside of me. I didn’t need anyone to listen. I just needed a release. Eventually I gained enough confidence to publicly release my music, prepared for any negative feedback I would receive.
As my artistry developed and a career came into view, I still held a lot of doubt in myself. I doubted my ability and creativity. As a Japanese American stepping into an industry where nobody looked like me, I wondered if what I had to offer had any merit. I questioned if anybody would take me seriously or even give me a chance.
These doubts took me inside, to a deep and dark place. It was there that I faced questions about my decision, the loudness of regret and the depletion of confidence. I struggled with managing the emotions that came with these battles so I used the only outlet I knew – music. Through writing and expression I was able to embrace these things and better understand my spiritual self. It forced me to explore myself on a deeper level and I found out things about myself that would’ve never been possible otherwise. Music took me to this place but it was also music that got me out. It showed me just how important music is to my existence and that trumps any doubt, hesitation or negativity that I face, both internally and externally.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Phero Hill. I’m a Japanese American rapper based out of Los Angeles. Music is more than a career to me. It’s my outlet of expression, a way to discover my true self and a part of my identity. I write about everything going on in and around my life – everything, from love to social issues to my Japanese American identity. I pride myself on the lyrical aspect such as rhyme schemes, wordplay and storytelling. I’m currently in the process of wrapping up a new EP which I plan to release at the end of summer.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When I look back throughout my career as an artist, there are so many things I wished I had realized early on. Most of them fit into these 3 areas of understanding. The first being to remember that it’s a journey. My patience has been tested, time and time again, but I always remind myself that nothing happens overnight. Every time I work on my craft I’m taking a step in the right direction even if sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. There’s been times where I would spend a day recording vocals just for me to scrap them all the next day. This used to discourage me but now I see it as a day of trial and error that helped me hone in on my vision and process. With this mindset, I’ve learned that no attempt should be considered failure and this has helped shed any fear of failure.
The second thing is to always stay humble. When you’re humble, you’ll always have an open mind because you know there’s always ways to get better. This will strengthen your creativity and commitment because it means that you’re willing to learn and grow. Staying humble also means welcoming any critique or criticism. This used to be difficult for me because with all the time, energy and emotion I put into my work, I felt like it was exactly what it was supposed to be and since I couldn’t change it, I refused to listen to how it could be better. But the beauty of art is that it’s open to interpretation and sometimes even the harshest of criticism can broaden your horizon and inspire new ideas. You take what resonates with you and use it to fuel your next project. I like to remind myself, “I’m not that dope.” It keeps me grounded and eager to listen.
The last thing, and maybe the most important, is to never lose the joy. Sometimes I can get so lost in the hunger for success or the idea that I’m not where I thought I’d be that I lose the excitement that I had when I first started. That excitement helps keep me motivated and serves as a reminder of why art is important to me on a personal level. In times that I need to recapture this joy I’ll do small projects, like short verses or freestyles, with no real intent or expectations. It’s just me enjoying my craft. I’ll also, sometimes, go back and listen to my old music as a reminder to just how far I’ve come even if my measurable success doesn’t support it.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I get overwhelmed A LOT. Whether it’s balancing the challenges of life or starting a new song, I can never seem to prevent myself from being overwhelmed. What I’ve found is important is to not fight it or give into it but rather figure out how to navigate it. For me, that’s been writing. When overwhelmed with the challenges of life I just write down everything that’s going on in my head. It doesn’t even need to make sense or have structure. I just need a way to release. The same is true when I’m overwhelmed when starting a new song or project. I have all these ideas bouncing around in my head and by putting them on paper I’m able to free my mind and think clearly. That way I’m able to put all my energy into moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hyperfollow.com/pherohill
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pherohill
- Twitter: https://x.com/pherohill
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PheroHill
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/pherohill
Image Credits
Willy Song
Bryce Ikemura
Darrell Miho
Sebastian Garcia
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
