For recording artist, songwriter, and recovery advocate Hilary Roberts, music is more than a creative outlet. It is a means of confronting painful experiences, reclaiming personal power, and reaching others who may still be struggling to find their own voices.
In a deeply personal conversation with The Hollywood Times, Roberts discussed her single “Cutting Ties,” a song born from the difficult decision to separate herself from harmful family relationships. After years of attempting to establish healthy boundaries, she reached a point where protecting her emotional well-being meant letting go of relationships she had spent much of her life trying to preserve.
Working with longtime producer Damon Sharp, Roberts transformed that experience into music. The accompanying video uses powerful imagery, including a glass dome, restrictive cables, and a butterfly, to illustrate the gradual movement from emotional confinement toward freedom and self-acceptance.
Throughout our conversation, Roberts reflected on childhood trauma,
Throughout our conversation, Roberts reflected on childhood trauma, addiction recovery, the importance of supportive relationships, and the unexpected ways healing continues to unfold. She spoke with particular tenderness about learning to see her younger self with compassion and discovering the possibility of a loving, emotionally safe marriage.
Her advocacy extends beyond her music. Through the Red Songbird Foundation, Roberts helps individuals access trauma treatment and mental health services, including opportunities for creative and alternative therapeutic approaches. Our discussion explored the role of music, art, and other forms of expression in helping people process experiences that words alone may struggle to communicate.
What emerged was a conversation about much more than one song. Roberts spoke about the courage required to pursue dreams later in life, the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who recognize our worth, and the ongoing work of learning to live beyond painful experiences.
Her message is not that healing is easy
Her message is not that healing is easy or that the past simply disappears. Rather, it is that our experiences do not have to determine the entirety of our future.
Watch my full interview with Hilary Roberts, as we explore the stories behind her music, her commitment to helping others, and the extraordinary possibilities that can emerge when someone begins to reclaim their own voice.
