Finding Her Voice Between Norway & the Philippines

What happens when a Filipino heart and a Norwegian soul collide through music?

In this intimate episode of Future Ancestors, hosts Jason “Encite" and Kathryn Serrano sit down with Hillari Alison, the 20-year-old Filipino-Norwegian singer-songwriter behind “Desperate Soul” and the "New Beginnings" EP, to explore how identity, artistry, and faith intertwine across continents.

Born in Oslo and raised in the Philippines, Hillari’s genre-bending sound, which she calls “Soul-Stress,” fuses R&B, soul, and spirit. After performing live for a year before releasing any music, her debut EP, "How Is Your Soul," launched her career and earned her Norway’s NRK P3 “Untouched” Artist of 2023. Hillari opens up about navigating two homelands, finding peace through journaling, and creating music that heals.

Throughout the conversation, we unpack what it means to be a young creative from the diaspora: bridging ancestral memory with modern rhythm. Hillari’s journey reminds us that authenticity and vulnerability are powerful instruments of representation.

👉 Join the conversation: How do your own cultural roots influence your creativity?

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Chapters
0:00 – Opening Moments
1:56 – Meet Hillari Alison: The Filipino-Norwegian R&B Soulstress
3:09 – From Oslo to Billboard: Hillari’s Global Rise
4:07 – “Only God Could’ve Planned This” — The Power of Faith
4:50 – Growing Up Filipino in Norway
6:37 – Family, Bacolod Roots & Filipino Pride
8:00 – Writing Desperate Soul at 17: Her Breakout Story
9:52 – Church Beginnings & First Song “Fight My Battles”
11:07 – Journaling Before Music: Lessons from Her Mom
12:44 – From Poems to Lyrics: Hillari’s Songwriting Process
14:09 – New Beginnings: “Bloom Wherever You’re Planted”
16:22 – Faith, Flow & Finding Purpose at 20
17:23 – Kyrie Irving Reposted My Song “Only God”
20:19 – A Fan Tattooed My Name — Realizing Music’s Power
23:37 – If Not Music: Dream Careers & Creative Vision
24:23 – Norwegian Grammy Nominations & Global Recognition
25:31 – Staying Grounded in Family & Faith
26:47 – 10-Year Vision: Becoming a Filipino Household Name
28:39 – Legacy & Music for the Soul
30:00 – Rapid Fire: Fun Facts & Favorite Things
34:16 – Dream Venue: Madison Square Garden
36:47 – Closing Reflections & Shout-outs

ABOUT THE FUTURE ANCESTORS PODCAST:
FutureAncestors.tv is a multimedia platform and podcast that explores the Filipino American experience through the voices of those who live it.

The history of the Philippines and the United States is both parallel and intertwined. A story of migration, resilience, and identity that continues to evolve. From farm fields to film sets, from nurses to next-gen creatives, artists, and innovators, generations of Filipinos have always built something bigger than themselves.
Our history runs deep, across islands, oceans, and generations. Every story adds another line to the blueprint we’re leaving behind. Through storytelling, conversation, and cultural reflection, Future Ancestors preserves the wisdom of the past while leaving a blueprint for the next generation. We’re here to honor our past, celebrate our present, and inspire the next generation by shaping a more rooted, connected, and liberated future.

For more content from FutureAncestors.tv or hosts Jason "Encite" or Kathryn Serrano, follow their journey here:

FutureAncestors.tv:   / futureancestors.tv   or their website: https://www.futureancestors.tv/
Jason "Encite":   / jasonencite  
Kathryn Serrano:   / thekatosphere  

For more on Hillari, follow her journey here:   / hillarialison  
Music can be found on all streaming platforms


#HillariAlison #FutureAncestors #FilipinoMusic #FilipinoNorwegian #RNB #SoulStress #FilipinoDiaspora #FilipinoCreatives