Story & Lesson Highlights with Hurst of Summerhill

We recently had the chance to connect with Hurst and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Hurst, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Songwriting and recording music. When I’m in the zone and getting to create music, it’s like nothing else matters and no one else is in the room, truly. Every time I pick up a pen to write or step in the booth, I just feel so lucky that I get to spend my life doing this.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi there! I’m Hurst, an Atlanta-based indie artist making cozy, emotionally charged pop with a playful edge. I’d say my music is like reading someone’s diary — messy love, big feelings, and the kind of details that stick with you. I’m queer, a little awkward, and I love to embrace the vulnerable conversations that people are scared to have. I’ve been quietly working to record a ton of music, and let’s just say there’s a lot of “firsts” for me coming in the next year that I’m so excited to share.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a kid, I believed life had to follow a set of rules — the ones handed to me by the church, my community, and the people I wanted so badly to please. I thought if I stuck to the script, I’d “win” somehow. Turns out, life doesn’t work like that. Sometimes it’s game over for the path you thought you’d take, and you have to build a new one. Now I know life’s better when you stop playing someone else’s game and start living by your own rules.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that’s held me back the most is the fear of not being enough — not talented enough, not brave enough, not lovable enough, not “good” enough, etc. For a long time, I measured myself against everyone else’s scoreboard and always came up short in my head. It made me second-guess opportunities, relationships, even my own dreams. Sometimes I’d get stuck daydreaming about the person I thought I “should” be or leave parts of myself behind to fit in. Learning to let go of that fear (while a journey still) has been the real win because it turns out, I don’t have to measure up to anyone’s standards but my own.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think they’d say that what matters most to me is being truly seen and known. I crave depth in my connections, like the kind where you can skip the small talk and dive right into the real, unfiltered parts of who we are. I value the people who notice the details, remember the little things, and are willing to sit with both the beautiful and the messy parts of life. I want to kiki and cry at different times, you know?

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I think I feel most at peace when I’m in nature. I love to go for long runs in the morning or spend hours laying in my hammock between two trees. It gives me time to clear my head and just…be. There’s no expectation to be productive or be someone specific – just an invitation to return to simplicity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/musichurst?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaehWNSy60OddBYeK3TS3KNLOyptvfIarWKWyDdf8dOJTX__fSg2VCWlnttkcQ_aem_G1V9i06kgmdiABewVHK_2g
• Instagram: @musichurst
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musichurst/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hurst1?si=hJRINZ067TH62wUU