Hillsboro is cathartic—fusing the swirling sounds of early '90s shoegaze with an infectious rhythm section, haunting violin, and the plaintive vocals of frontman Nima Walker. The group strikes a delicate balance between nostalgic familiarity and something wholly its own. Their self-titled debut LP (Hillsboro, 2023) introduces a dark pop sound that invites listeners to confront and indulge their everyday angst. The album received critical acclaim from outlets such as Exclaim!, Under the Radar, and Cups & Cakes Network. In August 2024, Hillsboro followed up with White Trash, a noisy, unruly EP more reminiscent of Deftones or Title Fight than previous influences like The Strokes. This release delves into Walker’s adolescence, uncovering themes of self-destruction and self-resentment. While White Trash lacks the optimism that threads through Hillsboro, it compensates with unrelenting energy and tight, self-recorded production from the band’s home base in Victoria, BC. The EP was accompanied by a three-week tour across the western United States. Above all, Hillsboro offers a way out—the sound of dodging trouble by the skin of your teeth, a visceral response to the anxieties of the present day. Walker’s creative ethos is rooted in unapologetic vulnerability. Hillsboro’s music creates a world where fear and shame are not hidden but excavated in ecstatic fever, fostering a community eager to share its pain and obliterate it. As they prepare for a relentless year of shows and releases through their DIY label, Play Dead, Hillsboro continues to embody the power of raw emotion and unfiltered expression.