Richard Hilton thankyou for agreeing to talk to us!
How are you?
I’m very well, thanks. I’m very much enjoying the touring we’re doing.
You are currently in Chic with Nile Rodgers, how’s it all going?
It’s going fantastically well. The band is really firing on all cylinders, and the audiences have been incredibly responsive to us. It’s like living a dream.
You have played festivals and arenas all over the world, do you get the chance to do much sightseeing on your down time?
Occasionally we get some downtime in a far off gorgeous land, but mostly we’re traveling pretty intensely between shows. I’ve had some amazing times during the occasions where we do stay somewhere and get to be tourists.
What are your favourite songs to play live?
Right now, my favourite songs to play live in the CHIC show are “Thinking Of You” and “My feet Keep Dancin’”, which occur in the middle of our show. If you’d asked me a year ago, I’d probably have given you a different answer.
You keep up to date with musical technology, what’s in your current studio set up?
My home studio is based around an iMac from 2011 – i7 processor, 32gb RAM. I have a MOTU interface, some Presonus monitors that I really like, a weighted AKAI controller that I’d like to replace with something that doesn’t rattle like a percussion instrument, and my ROLI seaboard, which has really captured my imagination. I mostly use software synths and sound sources these days, though there are plenty of guitars and percussion instruments here that I can use when the need arises. I use all kinds of software for music creation – Pro Tools, Studio One, Ableton Live, Melodyne… Whatever stimulates creativity is cool with me.
You are also a music producer, what’s your favourite piece of vintage gear gear?
I guess if I had to pick one thing only, it would be an 80-series Neve console from the 1970s.
What music are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve recently been revisiting the music of “The Band”. I read Levon Helm’s book, and that got me into going back through the recordings and remembering what I loved so much about them. I’m about to read Robbie Robertson’s book to get the “other side” of the story.
If you could put together a supergroup, who would be in it?
JS Bach, and whoever he wanted.
What’s next for you in the next 18 months?
I’m hoping to stay healthy and keep sharing music and love with people, every chance I get. I really can’t think of a better way to spend my life.
Chic’s new album “It’s About Time” is available on all formats now.

