In a sunlit studio on the Gold Coast, emerging artist ALBII (aka Bianca Hinton) sits down to discuss her journey from award-winning visual artist to upcoming artist. Her debut single ‘Hold On (PSYCHO)’ is set to release on February 7, 2025, but the path to this moment has been anything but conventional.
“Like most, I grew up listening to the albums my parents would introduce me to,” ALBII reflects, smiling as she recalls her earliest musical influences. “The Forest Gump movie soundtrack was one of my absolute favourites. I feel like it really shaped who I am as an artist today, which is so specific and random.”
But it wasn’t a straight path to musical performance. Despite early piano lessons with her uncle Jamie at age six, debilitating shyness led her initially toward other creative pursuits. “I started exploring other creative mediums like filmmaking and cinematography,” she explains. This detour proved valuable – she would go on to win the Gold Coast Music Award for Visual Artist of the Year under her birth name, Bianca Hinton.
Everything changed last year when ALBII received an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis. The 18-month battle that followed – including chemotherapy, radiation, a mastectomy, and immunotherapy – became a transformative period that ultimately pushed her toward her true passion.
“This experience solidified my relationship with music,” she says, her voice carrying both strength and vulnerability. “Because if not today, then when? We’re not guaranteed tomorrow.”
When asked to describe her sound, ALBII laughs. “If dreamy pop had an affair with the grim reaper, you’d get me. We love experimenting with darker tones and synths that you’d probably expect to hear from artists like Lana Del Rey or Billie Eilish, but then we pair that with 90s/early 2000s pop influences.”
The upcoming single ‘Hold On (PSYCHO)’ promises to showcase this unique blend. “It’s more playful and cheeky with a dash of humour,” she reveals. “Not every song I write comes from a serious place, but I really pour my heart into everything I do.”
Now producing music alongside her uncle Jamie – a full-circle moment she describes as “loving every minute” – ALBII has ambitious plans for 2025. Her presence extends beyond music to various social media platforms, particularly Instagram, where she combines artistic content with breast cancer awareness advocacy.
As our conversation wraps up, ALBII shares what she hopes listeners will take away from her music: “I want them to feel alive when they put on one of my songs. Whether they laugh, cry, or dance – I just want them to feel connected in some way.” She pauses thoughtfully before adding, “Strength and vulnerability can coexist. Life is unpredictable, but through music we can create something meaningful out of the chaos.”
[Note: Fans can follow ALBII’s journey on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads]
