Who is Aardvark Hill and where did we come from?
Bruce and Jennifer, Aardvark Hill Music
Aardvark Hill was born in 1987 when a newly married couple, Bruce & Jennifer Searl, started writing music for children’s choirs and churches. They wrote for themselves and those they cared for and loved. They dreamed of having some of their songs published, and were even contacted by large publishers. They were very excited about the possibilities… until they made a simple discovery.
A Different Goal
After talking with several large publishers, Bruce & Jennifer discovered something about the publishing industry. It was and is highly motivated by money (no big news there!). It fuels this thirst by using songs as a means to feed its own massive monetary needs. Not that making money was an undesirable goal, but having songs that were meant to touch hearts and give life and getting them out to everyone possible seemed like a better first priority. Bruce & Jennifer realized that although they had publishers interested in signing them and publishing their music, these big publishers had little real concern for the uniqueness and flavor of their work. Neither did they possess any commitment to the ultimate success of their music, or have any sort of plan to actually help it become successful. It was more of a “fire off enough songs and you’re sure to find a hit” sort of method (used by most publishers in all areas of the music industry).
So, after much soul searching, and a very small amount of name searching, they decided to become publishers themselves. They believed that it was more important to focus on their unique strengths, even if that meant staying small (and probably poor), so that they could do what they believed was most important and to shape and nurture their dream toward a different goal. In truth, it was at first an adventure in slowness and delayed gratification! But it has also allowed them to do two very unique things in the publishing industry. Aardvark Hill strives to publish only the best songs they can, and they do it with a unheard of company sales policy!
Truly great songs!
Aardvark Hill only publishes songs it truly believes are great songs! We don’t publish thousands of songs, offer a huge catalogue to get lost in, or lose you in 200 arrangements of the same song. We don’t have thousands of composers that you’ve never heard of and probably never will hear of. Instead, we work with a small but growing number of composers who are able to create musical magic. We carefully listen to and try songs out with real choirs and in real churches of various sizes and with a range of age levels. Then the songs that are loved by singers are the songs we publish! This means that each song we offer is much more likely to be something our customers will want to use. This will save you time, because you can find lots of really great songs without having to weed through the chaff. You can audition selections right on the web and purchase them instantly!
If you or your organization can afford to purchase our music, then please do so. If you cannot truly afford it, then ask and you shall receive! We would like to put our music in as many hands, voices, and hearts as time and God allow. Making money will be our secondary goal.
Our Hope
We hope that you will fall in love with Aardvark Hill music, as many others have. And that as you go about your daily activities, you will occasionally take a moment to introduce someone you care about to the magic of Aardvark Hill Music.
So, welcome to Aardvark Hill! We believe your musical experience is about to change for the better!
Bruce Searl
Ant Rancher
Aardvark Hill
Ant Rancher
Aardvark Hill
