Music Publishers Canada recently announced six exceptional women and gender non-conforming participants for this year.
The Music Publishers Canada 2024 Women in the Studio Accelerator Participants:
- Alysha Brilla – Toronto, ON
- Cat Hiltz – Vancouver, BC
- Charmie – Toronto, ON
- Jinting (Jinting Zhao) – Edmonton, AB
- Samantha Selci – Toronto, ON
- JoJo Worthington – Montreal, QC
Cat Hiltz is a multifaceted producer, composer, and session musician known for performing with Tegan and Sara, Jill Barber, Rae Spoon, and Queer As Funk; and for producing and composing music for film and television projects such as CTV’s Farming For Love, and Hallmark’s A Zest For Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. As a producer and engineer, Cat brings their decades of experience as an instrumentalist and teacher into every session. Cat’s production work has charted in the Earshot Top 10 (Britt AM – Gold), and they were selected as one of eight participants in the 2023 SOCAN Screen Composers Lab.
Learn more about the Vancouver, BC-based participant now via our interview.
First off, please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi! My name is Cat Hiltz. I’m a composer, producer, and session musician living on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musquem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories in so-called Vancouver BC. I like dogs and cats equally and love old-school Nintendo games. I play a lot of stringed instruments, but mostly bass, and have been hired by Tegan and Sara, Jill Barber, Rae Spoon, and I’m a member of the event band Queer As Funk. I produce and mix folks from around BC in my home studio and at a studio called Capsule in Metro Vancouver. I also write music for films and video games.
Tell us about your most recent work (focus mainly on production).
Currently in production is a string arrangement/reimagining of a song with an artist right now, it’s off-limits for discussion but it’s huge and heartbreaking and super important. I’m also finishing up mixes for an artist named Me: she, and a vibey collab between Kristin Fung and Jacqueline Teh. Some recently completed works are the full-length record for a group called ‘Ginger Limbs’ – it’s sassy and queer and hilarious, but also sad and reflective and pulls at all your early-2000s indie rock heartstrings. There were some amazing songs recently released by EbonEmpress (‘Peace’ ft. Dawn Pemberton) and Lowkita (‘Real Friends’) on which I assisted.
How did you feel when you were selected as a participant for the Women In The Studio National Accelerator 2024?
I felt incredibly honoured to be recognized! The alumni are all incredible, skilled, and talented individuals, and I’m humbled to be included in this group. As a strong advocate for visibility, representation, and community building, I’m grateful to Music Publishers Canada and other industry organizations who work to foster and strengthen these communities. Their efforts help grow the excellence and artistic output of non-binary, trans, and women creators. See ya later, gatekeeping!
What specific skills or knowledge are you hoping to gain from this program?
I know that learning from within the community will extend far beyond the program itself, but I specifically hope to address gaps in my knowledge of the technical aspects of engineering, as well as the business and administrative side of the industry. While my background as a musician grants me an understanding of music-making itself, I’m still growing the technical and business foundations that someone with formal audio school or music business training might have.
How do you see yourself evolving in the music industry after completing the Accelerator program?
I see myself moving forward with more confidence, knowing that I will have gained considerable knowledge, and I will be supported by an incredible community of trans, non-binary, and women producers. We will have the space to discuss issues, seek advice, grapple with challenges, and celebrate successes together. I anticipate more opportunities for writing, recording, and collaborating as my network continues to grow throughout the program. This will lead to art that more fully and accurately represents our diverse cultural landscape, aligning directly with my core values as an artist and individual.
What advice would you give to other non–(cis)male individuals aspiring to succeed in the music production industry?
The industry has made significant progress since I started my work, but there are a few key points I wish I had known at the beginning stages of my career:
1) Take Up Space: Just because there isn’t someone like you in the industry doesn’t mean you don’t belong. Your unique voice and experiences are valuable. For years, I felt like I had nothing to say because I didn’t fit the archetype of ‘the person who said things’ in the industry, but that’s simply not true. You do have something meaningful to contribute.
2) Pursue Leadership Opportunities: Don’t limit yourself to support roles. My biggest regret was thinking my only viable career pathway was in supporting others (primarily cis white men, as that’s who was dominating the industry at that time). Without seeing models who represented me in creative leadership, I didn’t pursue those roles. Believe in the validity of your voice, your knowledge, and your potential for leadership and creative control.
3) Overcoming Pressure: Those of us who are not cis-het white men know the pressure to perform better than average to be regarded as equal. This can make you hesitant to admit when you don’t know something and lead to feelings of inadequacy, incapability, and exclusion. Recent years have seen a growth in communities created expressly for folks made marginal to feel safer obtaining knowledge, asking questions, and embracing learning opportunities. Seek these out!
4) Mental Health Matters: Music isn’t just a technical practice; it’s an expressive art form. To truly create, we need to have a connection with ourselves – get to know the rad human you are! Reflect on why you make music, and what it means to you. Recognizing and beginning to heal emotional blocks can significantly enhance your artistic practice.