Who is Kenisha Hill?
I was born in St. Maarten on June 29, 1984, to amazing God-fearing parents Abdue and Zelma Hill, who did food catering in a Space Wagon vehicle back in the day. I try my best to live my life with a pure heart. I make no room for negativity. I grew up in Nevis after my parents moved the family there when I was 8 years old, to pursue their restaurant dreams.
How would you describe yourself?
Love plays a very important role in the way I live and treat others. I grew up around a lot of love and positive energy. It is what I have within me to offer and it flows naturally. I have a strong, imaginative mind and a very competitive spirit so any challenge that I am faced with, I give it my all.
Education?
I attended MAC in St. Maarten and St. John’s Primary and Charlestown Secondary in Nevis. I studied Fashion Designing in England, then moved back to Nevis to pursue my career in fashion. I then moved back to St. Maarten and signed up for the recruitment at St. Maarten Justice Academy in 2013. It turned out to be a great choice because it is my current career and totally different to my dream, which is doing music fulltime.
How long have you been working in the Justice sector?
I am an Immigration Officer based at the Immigration Border Protection Service Headquarters on A.Th. Illidge Road. I’ve been working for the Justice sector since October 1, 2013. My responsibility for my job is very sensitive and extremely important. It plays an impacting role in controlling the growing problem of illegal immigration.
Why did you decide to enter the Justice Song Festival?
I’m always singing even if it is just a quick chant or a simple line that just happens to be in my mind or my heart. My colleague heard me singing to myself and asked me to represent the Immigration Justice Department… I jokingly said I’ll think about it, but right after said “of course I will. On October 9, 2015, I competed and won the competition as well as the Most Popular Contestant.
What do you think gave you the edge to win this year?
When you’re born with a God-given talent, that’s something within you that He placed there and only He as the Creator Himself can replace it… I grew up singing in church. Music is my passion. My family is musically oriented and it runs within my veins, it’s in the blood. I have done a bit of performing here and there along with some “Karry-your-own-key” [laughing] which gives me the platform to practice when I get the chance and work also on my stage presence.”
What song did you win with?
The intro and the outro of my song was the first part of the original version of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” but I sang “Let’s Marvin Gaye and Get It On” which is a pop duet song, sang by “Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor.”
How did you prepare?
Singing in front of a mirror every day is more than enough practice, but thinking about what would grab the audience’s attention and win the judges’ hearts is what influenced my choice of song. You don’t want to bore an audience out of their mind and also your judges… I began brainstorming for a song to perform and did the necessary practices with the Control Band that performed with me that evening. Wardrobe was the easiest thing because fashion is also a part of my passion.
What are your plans now that you have won?
I now have some preparations to do for the Justice Song Festival in Aruba on August 19. Head Judge Esther Roach is my coach in preparing for this competition… I’m mentally ready to represent my country.
How do you think the Justice Song Festival can be enhanced even further?
I think it can be enhanced further in the future if competitors are more encouraged and supported by their departments and department heads. Competition that involves the near countries should be arranged to give others with the same passion for singing, the chance to showcase their passion for the art.
What’s your advice to others who also want to enter and win this title?
My advice is to think of using material that the crowd would be captivated by. Choose a selection that would be fun to perform to. Nothing puts a smile on the judges’ faces more when they see you enjoying the song you’re singing. The moment you begin to practice a celebrity’s material, you are now making that number your own. You’re making their baby come to life to a number of critics who haven’t seen the original artist perform that song live. It becomes your song. When you are given an opportunity to perform live on stage, you should fly to the stars with it, became a star.
Future goals?
Professionally, I would love to be in the music industry on a fulltime scale.
Hobbies?
Singing, rapping, running, tennis, basketball, cricket, reading, shopping and movies.
What is your favourite type of music? What artistes do you listen to?
Lately, I listen to a lot of African Music. I have a serious love and passion for Mother Africa and the music that comes from there, the blending and harmonizing of music and voices from their souls when they sing, the rhythm in their music, the beats that bring life, I love it all. I love Tiwa Savage, Iyanya, Jorede Bello, Patoranking, the group P Square and, outside of Africa, Rihanna, Beyonce, Kanye West, O.T. Genesis, *Disiigner* Future and Charlie Puth, amongst others.
If you could invite three famous people (dead or alive) for dinner, who would they be and what would you cook for them?
I’d invite Aaliyah, Whitney Houston and Marvin Gaye. I think I’ll have my dad do the cooking while we collaborate in the studio as we wait for the meal to be prepared.
