Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Kate Bush, Chopin, Steve Reich, Astor Piazzolla
Sounds Like
Songs from the Heart; Poems from the Head; Silence from the Soul
and a Body making Music with ultrasound technology. Heather’s work is touching and thought provoking, embracing a vast range of different themes and threads. It has been described as "moving, a joy to listen to, delicious, fascinating, witty, dramatic and funny".
I'm a composer, singer/songwriter, keyboard player, recorder player, poet & and animateur, based in the Midlands. I regularly gives performances of my own material, from melancholy ballads and humorous songs, to poetry and voice/movement soundscapes using Soundbeam and sampled voices.
My work with Soundbeam, an ultrasonic device which converts movement into sound, includes workshops and performances with people with disabilities.
As a singer and recorder player, I have toured in Russia, performed for Prague Television and recorded for BBC1 and Radio2 as well as performing at St James's Palace for Prince Charles.
I am a published and prize-winning poet, including 2 small collections "Until I Saw Your Foot" and "Poems of the Head in Dynamic Relation to F M Alexander".
I am inspired by other people, the natural world and silence.
Breaking Silence by Heather Wastie
– an environmentally friendly piece which uses recycled sound
Breaking Silence is shaped by the presence, thoughts and voices of 10 people. It is the beginning of an exploration of silence through attempting to define it and make audio recordings of it, both in isolation and as a backdrop to speech. One of the people interviewed said she couldn’t talk about silence, only about noise - and after all, without noise we would not appreciate silence. So the piece includes a busy loud section which recalls a visit to see and hear Victoria, a steam engine which is only allowed a voice twice a year. This part also layers and loops several musical spoken phrases including an archive recording of Heather’s uncle describing the family-owned cooperage, and some snippets in Dutch. (Since these were incomprehensible to her, she chose them purely for their musicality.)
Heather has used photography, both her own and that of her husband Geoff, to provide a visual dimension. The whole piece is controlled using Soundbeam: two ultrasonic beams which when broken activate both sounds and visuals. In order to break the beams she begins by using an exaggerated form of sign language for “Talking about silence”, a combination which of course is rarely used. The piece ends with images by visual artist Sharon Read and the sound of children listening.
Breaking Silence was created for performance at TalkShow in Birmingham on 9th October 2005 alongside Dutch sound-poet Jaap Blonk. Since it was just the beginning of a creative process, Silence could be Breaking anywhere in the future.
Available on DVD with additional material.
Iron: Men by Heather Wastie - an informal performance using Soundbeam at Birmingham ArtsFest 2007
Heather Wastie performs her poem Wolf in the Wardrobe and Vocalupus, an a capella piece for the voices of 4 women, 3 sampled and one live. This was an informal performance using Soundbeam at Birmingham ArtsFest 2007.
****** UNTIL I SAW YOUR FOOT - poetry and tales from behind the music stand, with illustrations by John Greaves Smith published by Lapal Publications in November 1997, reprinted 2009. Available price £6.00 plus p+p from lapalbooks@aol.co.uk.
“Fresh, honest, funny and tender, and with John Greaves Smith’s illustrations brimming with life, Heather Wastie’s poetry and tales from behind the music stand will strike a chord not only with musicians, but with anyone who has a heart.”
Christopher Morley, Birmingham Post
“ … a collection of well-observed, witty and excellently illustrated poems and notes transcribed from life as a professional musician, a book clearly demonstrating that it is music makes the word go round.”
Dave Reeves, Editor, Raw Edge Magazine
Hi, thank you for your friendship here on MySpace! It means such a lot and any support you can give is gratefully received. There are 8 songs on my profile, all different and I would be honoured if you could give them a listen sometime and maybe write a comment and add some of my music to your profile......maybe watch the You Tube vids......maybe check the official website out......maybe become a fan.....maybe get the album from itunes/amazon or somewhere...........mmmmmm.....just a comment would be awesome. Thanks. Peace & Love x Click here for the official Tony King website
Hey! How are you? Just a quick note to say that my new song - 'Found My Way' - is now up on my page, so when you have a moment it would be great if you could have a listen and leave me your thoughts. Many thanks and I look forward to hearing from you. Gwil :-)
Hi, Thanks for joining my "Myspace Friends, always nice to make new friends. Please be sure to visit my Profile, any comments are most welcome. Always happy to chat....
Hi Heather ... How are you? I've just finished a project with Chitraleka and her dance company in Worcester which went well .... a bit tired now! Off To Wales soon ... Love Jane xxx
HELLO FROM Q2 JAM BAR……….WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY NIGHT . WEDNESDAY BEING OPEN MIC NIGHT ALL ARE WELCOME. THIS FRIDAY WE HAVE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE Q2 JAM BAR GREEN ST KIDDERMINSTER DY10 1AL TEL NO:01562823428 WWW.MYSPACE.COM/Q2JAMBAR WEDNESDAY Every wedneday we hold an . Open Mic session. All you need to do is turn up at the venue @ 8.00pm to reserve your slot with Dan. We will also use this session as a showcase for anyone who wants to be considered for a gig on a friday , so come down and show use you wares! Free drink for all performers :-) LINE UP FOR MAY’S BANDS
HELLO FROM Q2 JAM BAR……….WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY NIGHT . WEDNESDAY BEING OPEN MIC NIGHT ALL ARE WELCOME. THIS FRIDAY WE HAVE #Sons Of Beaches# Sons of Beaches are an original rock outfit from Kidderminster
www.myspace.com/sonsofbeaches HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE Q2 JAM BAR GREEN ST KIDDERMINSTER DY10 1AL TEL NO:01562823428 WWW.MYSPACE.COM/Q2JAMBAR
WEDNESDAY
Every wedneday we hold an . Open Mic session. All you need to do is turn up at the venue @ 8.00pm to reserve your slot with Dan. We will also use this session as a showcase for anyone who wants to be considered for a gig on a friday , so come down and show use you wares! Free drink for all performers :-)
LINE UP FOR APRIL’S BANDS
FRI 10th Sons Of Beaches
Sons of Beaches are an original rock outfit from Kidderminster www.myspace.com/sonsofbeaches
FRI 17th GOITY
GOLTY IS AN ESTABLISHED SOLO ARTIST FROM THE SEYCHELLES, BRINGING HIS FRESH SEYCHELLES ROOTS REGGAE TO THE UK…. ..
www.myspace.com/goltyfarabeau
FRI24th FIRST DEGREE BURNS
First Degree Burns (FDB) are an eight piece band whose influences stem from the concrete roots of Bristol, via France, Jamaica and much in between. Channelling a plethora of musical styles and influences, be it Dub, Skank driven Ska, Roots Reggae, Two Tone, Rock, Metal through the all inclusive umbrella of Hip Hop, they’ve created a fusion which they proclaim as “Skip Hopp”
Thanks for coming along on Friday - Glad that you enjoyed it! Sorry not to have more time to chat ...there were so many people in that space it seemed and people kept on talking and talking to me. Hope to see you soon.... Love Jane xxx
Hiya Heather,
Thanx for the friend add..... liking your songs!!!....Hoping to play in Kidderminster soon! Check out our new video if you have a spare moment.... comments MUCH appreciated.... it's being shown on Sky TV, but it's also at http://www.vimeo.com/840978 www.shebangg.co.uk Love and Peace from SheBangg
HELLO FROM Q2 JAM BAR……….WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY NIGHT . WEDNESDAY BEING OPEN MIC NIGHT ALL ARE WELCOME. THIS FRIDAY WE HAVE ------ Naked Remedy-------
A new wave of British Garage Rock, a late 60’s to early 70’s vibe with infectious modern hooks. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE Q2 JAM BAR GREEN ST KIDDERMINSTER DY10 1AL TEL NO:01562823428
HELLO FROM Q2 JAM BAR……….WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY NIGHT . WEDNESDAY BEING OPEN MIC NIGHT ALL ARE WELCUME. THIS FRIDAY WE HAVE ------ Naked Remedy-------
A new wave of British Garage Rock, a late 60’s to early 70’s vibe with infectious modern hooks. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE Q2 JAM BAR GREEN ST KIDDERMINSTER DY10 1AL TEL NO:01562823428
Online Now!
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