Sophomore in PFW’s School of Music draws on her strengths to grow as a musician

On a rainy Friday night in a small-town coffeehouse 15 miles from the campus of Purdue University Fort Wayne, Hailee Richmond is singing her heart out. It doesn’t matter that there’s only a handful of friends listening, because Richmond sings from her soul, belting out ballads, rock standards, and even a folk tune or two.

Some may mess around for fun in the studio trying to match note-for-note the powerful ranges of Adele or Freddie Mercury, but not too many have the confidence to attempt the feat during a live, paying performance. But Richmond isn’t daunted, artfully and gracefully covering Adele’s signature “Rolling in the Deep” to end a two-hour set that even prompts applause from the establishment’s employees.

Recently completing just her sophomore year at PFW, Richmond is already one of the top performers on campus as a solo artist and the lead singer of the student band Punching Lucky. Though having played only one solo gig before arriving in Fort Wayne, she was quickly picked to be part of two bands as a guitarist. 

“There wasn’t anybody at first who was like, `Hey, would you like to be a singer?’ because that was just a role that I was not experienced with or ready for,” Richmond said. “I was much happier to be on bass or guitar in the bands and to just learn from other people who knew more than me. Now, I love it, but it was definitely something I had to grow into.”

Part of that is developing the courage to put her ability in front of others. She received the coffeehouse opportunity by visiting and asking if there might be a chance to perform. She also had at least one gig per month during the past academic year, and has more scheduled when the fall semester begins.

Inspired by PFW artists Pamela Lovelette and Gold Top Music Group’s VEO, and Kayla Brooke in her Peoria, Illinois, hometown band Willow Strings, Richmond has traveled hundreds of miles from Fort Wayne as a performer in less than two years, and will likely double that before she graduates. Her growth this summer includes an internship at a jazz lounge in Charleston, South Carolina, where she works at the front of the house and pitches in performing when asked. Whatever is needed, Richmond said she’s ready.

During her time in Charleston, Richmond continues writing and singing. She has a performance catalog of more than 80 songs including classics by Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Styx, Elton John, and Hall and Oates. She’s also written more than 30 originals, pouring on the creativity as she works on matching her precision, presence, and personal style with her energy and charisma. She recently released “Blurry Vision Heart on Fire,” with “Eternal Optimist” set to drop in August.

The writing allows Richmond to establish her tempo and control with arranging, playing, and vocals, though performing solo requires a different emotional skillset as the focus. Her secret weapon? Eyeliner. It’s a technique she learned from watching interviews of Damiano David, lead singer of the Italian band Maneskin, who described becoming a performer as almost like putting on an alter ego.

“For me, that’s what putting on eyeliner is like—that’s my go to,” Richmond said. “So, I’m like, `Well, I have my eyeliner on. Nothing can scare me.’ That’s just how I rationalize it.”

And singing in front of a crowd requires fearlessness, Richmond said, as performing solo is harder than being part of a band where you might be situated behind the lead. Make a mistake in a band, and the others may be the only ones who notice. Make it as an individual, and everybody realizes what happened. Richmond is learning to roll with those miscues and keep going, maybe even grinning in acknowledgement before making the listeners forget quickly by impressing them with the next notes.

Richmond is becoming more comfortable with her ability as a singer and musician. She’s learning more each time out about who she is now and who she wants to become. Like her vocal range, she’s growing and getting stronger.
“I really want to keep pushing to play more,” Richmond said, “That’s where my driving force comes from.”

That now includes targeting more than one off-campus performance per month, the release of her first extended play production by the end of the year, and her first full album by the end of 2026.