Singer, gypsy and hula-hooper Neon Hitch ( her actual name ) grew up traveling in a circus of a family in Britain.
Although she has released many singles in the past, such as "Fuck U Better" and the radio hit with Gym Class Heroes "Ass Back Home," this fall she is slated to release her debut album, Eleutheromaniac. The single "Yard Sale" debuts Aug. 5 with an eclectic video. This independent woman is releasing music without the help of a major label this time; she talked freedom with Windy City Times after a performance at WorldPride in Canada.
Windy City Times: Hey, Neon. So good to see you and we haven't chatted since Pride Fest in Chicago.
Neon Hitch: Oh, it's been a while.
WCT: You have to let me know when you are back in town.
Neon Hitch: Absolutely. I love Chicago!
WCT: "Some Like It Hot" is the new song?
Neon Hitch: It is the latest viral song. I like to keep music out there for my fans. Keeping content out there is really important to me. I am always making music so I have to be sharing it. "Some Like It Hot" was my take on the Marilyn Monroe song. I love Marilyn Monroe.
This is just to fill the gap before I put my album out. A lot has changed since then. I am now ready for what is next.
WCT: What is next for you?
Neon Hitch: That is "Yard Sale," and then a lot more music is to follow.
WCT: "Yard Sale" is a song about letting go of the past.
Neon Hitch: Yes. I am in a beautiful transition.
WCT: The name of the new album, Eleutheromaniac, means "freedom," I read somewhere.
Neon Hitch: It is a creature that needs freedom and that's me. I was raised on a bus so obviously I need freedom—hello!
WCT: I see a tattoo on you that says, "freedom."
Neon Hitch: Yes and I also got a tattoo of the bus I grew up in.
WCT: I love that.
Neon Hitch: I am finally so proud of who I am, how I grew up and how I was raised. Everybody should embrace their roots. It is a beautiful thing to finally be in this space.
WCT: I'm so happy for you. There are some whiskey lyrics in the songs, and we have knocked back a few in the past.
Neon Hitch: It's very on-brand. Funnily enough, I have been on a cleanse and I have just been drinking smoothies and all vegetables. I'm on a very healthy trip right now. I still have a party soul but I don't always need whiskey.
WCT: Maybe you could make your own whiskey one day.
Neon Hitch: Right, made out of vinegar. I've been drinking apple cider vinegar.
WCT: I've tried that before.
Neon Hitch: It's really good.
WCT: Not when it spills in your car!
Neon Hitch: Apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice is my new health thing. I'm like a health guru now!
WCT: Tell me about Kinetics, who you have worked with a few times.
Neon Hitch: Kinetics and One Love are two people that I have worked with as a team. Kinetics is a great lyricist, melody guy and rapper; One Love is the producer. That is where the whole gypsy-pop thing started. I've always had it in my head but I needed to meet the right people to really find the sound. I went in with those boys and told them I wanted a gypsy pop sound with a vintage world vibe. "Red Lights" was the first song and I thought it was perfect.
We have done a lot of music together—"Yard Sale" and "301 To Paradise," along with several others.
WCT: Any special guests on the new album?
Neon Hitch: There is and one of my favorites is Jon Bellion. We have a song together called "London." DJ Chuckie has already done a remix with an amazing crew in Jamaica that is so fantastic. I've been working hard. I've been in hibernation mode. People have been asking what I have been doing but I have been killing the game in silence! [Laughs]
WCT: I'm glad you are at the LGBT festivals.
Neon Hitch: Hellooo. If I weren't doing my show I would be wearing this rainbow flag right now representing. Freedom!
WCT: You were in Chicago and did our Pride Fest but it was raining. You never know with Chicago weather.
Neon Hitch: I brought that English weather with me.
WCT: You just performed a Spice Girls song.
Neon Hitch: That was my first time performing it today. It is the craziest thing, I was renting this apartment and it turned out to be my friend's apartment. He turned out to be a producer. I wanted to do another cover so we decided on the Spice Girls' "Wannabe." I wound up performing it today. We are going to put it out in the next few days virally to once again put content out there.
I will put music out for free all day long.
WCT: You just did a clean break with the record label and are out on your own.
Neon Hitch: Yes. I am actually a very savvy businesswoman. I am starting my own label and putting everything out on it. I'm taking control of things. I feel like I have enough wisdom now and have been to the music school of life. I've learned what I need to know so I am ready to do this alone.
WCT: I was researching your songs like "Time Machine," and these are some pretty deep lyrics for dance numbers.
Neon Hitch: I've started digging a little deeper but I still have a pop sensibility and I like to party. It still has energy. I am just not afraid anymore. I went through the same problem when I was a child. I went through a phase where I tried to fit in and that is when nothing worked for me. I've been trying to do the same thing in the music business and now it's like, "Fuck that! Who needs to fit in?" I love who I am.
WCT: With the track "Gypsy Star," there are lots of old movie clips in the video.
Neon Hitch: I used a lot of old footage. Everywhere I go I'm getting footage of everything. I want to share it all and iPhones are great by the way. I compile it into a video and I think it was a good idea.
WCT: What is your favorite old movie?
Neon Hitch: Some Like It Hot, but my number-one favorite movie of all time is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I have such a crush on the cross-dresser Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
WCT: Where do people keep up with you?
Neon Hitch: Everything is in transition and we are building the empire of Neon. The best ways to keep in touch is Twitter, and Instagram. They are the two places where I have complete control. I will be informing all of the my fans and the tribe through that. Stay in touch—a lot of stuff is about to come out!
