Hilary Woods facts for kids

Hilary Woods is a talented musician from Dublin, Ireland. She is known for her solo music, but she also used to play bass guitar in a band called JJ72. She was with JJ72 from 1996 until 2003.

JJ72 was quite successful in the early 2000s. They had two albums that made it into the Top 20 charts. After leaving the band, Hilary took a break from music for about ten years. She returned in 2013 with her first solo album, The River Cry. The next year, she released an EP called Night.

Hilary Woods' solo music has a calm and gentle sound. It often features "nocturnal keyboard-based songs." She gets ideas for her music from filmmakers, electronic artists, and traditional folk music. Today, she records her music with Sacred Bones Records.

About Hilary Woods

Early Life and Music

Hilary Woods grew up in Dublin, where her parents loved music. They often played classical, folk, and rock records at home. Her parents encouraged her and her brother to learn instruments. Hilary started playing the piano, which became her main instrument.

When she was 18, Hilary joined the band JJ72. She played bass guitar alongside singer and guitarist Mark Greaney and drummer Fergal Matthews. She was a member of the band from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

Success with JJ72

JJ72 signed with a record label called Lakota Records. They released their first album, JJ72, in 2000. Their second album came out in 2002. Both albums were very popular and reached the Top 20 charts in the UK and Ireland. The band toured for four years, playing many shows. After this, Hilary decided to leave the band. She stepped away from the music world for over a decade.

Returning to Music

After leaving JJ72, Hilary focused on her family and raising her daughter. Later, she took college courses that helped her feel creative again. These classes made her want to make music once more. She found inspiration from filmmakers like Wong Kar-wai and Chris Marker. She also listened to new electronic artists, which broadened her musical tastes.

After studying fine art, literature, and film in college, Hilary returned to music. In 2013, she released a self-titled album under the name The River Cry. Then, she started releasing EPs under her own name. These included Night in 2014 and Heartbox in 2016. Her first official solo album, Colt, was released in 2018. This album was released through Sacred Bones Records. After her EP Night, Hilary also started touring again. Her most recent album, Acts of Light, was released in 2023.

Music Albums and EPs

Albums with JJ72

• JJ72 (2000)
• I to Sky (2002)

Solo Albums

• The River Cry (2013)
• Colt (2018)
• Birthmarks (2020)
• Acts of Light (2023)

EPs

• Night (2014)
• Heartbox (2016)
• Feral Hymns (2021)

Singles

• "N.I.B." (2021)
• "In Heaven" (2022)