Jim Croce, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Tori Amos, Tracy Chapman, Paul Simon, Michelle Shocked, Leonard Cohen, Neil Gaiman and many many more
Sounds Like
'Hera has a strong, confident voice, with a sound that melds folk, pop, and hints of jazz. The songs are often gentle and wistful, with down-to-earth lyrics that eschew the esoterically poetic for the way people really talk.'' -Artsforum magazine
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NEW: the Devil and me Music video: (read bio below)
Christchurch based singer/songwriter HERA has been living, writing and performing in New Zealand for 12 years now whilst carving out a very successful career in her native country of Iceland. Not an easy task given the global separation, but one that was richly rewarded in 2003 when she was named Best Female Artist at that year’s Icelandic Music Awards, a category dominated for the previous 10 years by global superstar Bjork! Hera’s Icelandic debut album also delivered her a Gold Record there being backed up by 37 live concerts in two months, the most extensive Icelandic tour ever undertaken by a solo female artist...
A prodigious talent from an early age, Hera began playing classical guitar in Reykjavik at the age of 8 building an impressive collection of her own self-penned songs by 13… In 1994 her family moved to New Zealand where she started playing her own shows in and around Christchurch, grabbing some key support slots on visiting tours including Goldenhorse & Glenn Tilbrook. Hera’s first two albums were independently produced, published and distributed in New Zealand, slowly helping to build her a small but very dedicated fan base.
In 2002 aged just 18, one of Hera’s tracks from those early recordings, “Itchy Palms”, was performed as part of a live-to-air phone interview on Icelandic radio and fortunately spotted by the producer of a planned Icelandic film production “Hafid (The Sea)”. He tracked Hera down in NZ and “Itchy Palms” was chosen as the film’s title song with Hera being invited to perform it live at the Icelandic Premiere. The film eventually went on to win eight Edda Awards (Iceland’s Oscar equivalent) being distributed in over 30 countries worldwide.The music video with clips from the movie was also featured on the global DVD release. With the track appearing at a very poignant part in the film, it quickly gained strong radio and TV support propelling Hera into the Icelandic media limelight. With all this media activity, relocation to her native Iceland became essential, so at the end of 2002 Hera moved back to Reykjavik…A recording deal was secured with Skifan Records and her career was launched!
Live shows continued through 2004 & 2005 with supporting slots for both Nick Cave and Joe Cocker in Reykjavik’s biggest concert arena. Her next album “Don’t Play This” released mid 2005 was supported by another multi-date national tour with the Icelandic music website - www.tonlist.is - featuring 8 of Hera’s songs on their Top 10 Most Played List simultaneously! She also performed shows in Belgium, Holland, Italy and UK including a slot at the famous (and rain-soaked) Glastonbury Festival. Hera ended off that year with a concert in one of the most remote places on the planet, Ammassalik in Greenland, creating yet another unique milestone for this talented and adventurous performer.
In 2007, after her return from the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin USA. Hera was awarded a New Recording Artist Grant from NZ On Air. Last September Hera teamed up in the Roundhouse studio with Wellington producer David Long (Fur Patrol, Lucid 3) to record a brand new song “Feels So Good”. The result is a delightful uplifting debut NZ single! She then teamed up with Director Andie Spargo making the music video, which was a huge success on the internet, and has been featured on one of the worlds most popular blogs ‘Cute Overload’
Now 25, Hera has returned to her her “other home”, after an extensive tour of Iceland, and playing once again at the Glastonbury festival 08, and two shows in Denmark, promoting her new Live album ‘Live at AL’s’ which was recorded May 16th this year at AL’s in Christchurch.
Iceland has given the musical world some diverse and wonderful musical success stories in Bjork, Mezzaforte and Sigur Ros to name a few. HERA is the next in a very talented and uniquely gifted line of artists from the Opposite Side of the World.
That’s the story so far. In 2008 it seems there is a lot more to come… If this is your first time, be prepared to be charmed, intrigued, moved & occasionally shocked by the music of HERA!
Good to have you as a friend! So great to see the internet in action this way, shortening distances between people.
I hope all's well with you and that you enjoy checking out my web site some time.
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You might enjoy watching some of my films (use the on screen controls to skip between them):
There is currently a search for two types of bands for record label consideration.
*** Note: PLEASE IDENTIFY IF YOU ARE IN GROUP 1 OR 2 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR RESPONSE. Emails are being reviewed by different representatives.
1. A Pop/Rock/Commercial band with female lead. Band must consist of 2 guitars (Prefer both guitar players to be of lead caliber. However, one lead and one rhythm is acceptable), keyboard/piano, bass, and drums. Lead vocal, followed by backing vocals, in that order, is a plus as it relates to other members of the group. Average age of the band cannot exceed 28 years of age.
* Group must have an outstanding lead vocalist. ** Musicianship throughout the entire band must be very strong. *** Group cannot currently be under any contract of any type that is related to the music industry.
2. A Modern Rock band with male lead. Must be a complete band but there are no prerequisites as it relates to the make up of the band. Average age of the band cannot exceed 23 years of age.
* Group must have an outstanding lead vocalist. ** Musicianship throughout the entire band must be very strong. *** Group cannot currently be under any contract of any type that is related to the music industry.
XXX - If you meet the minimum qualifications as described above. Email a link for your MySpace Page and if applicable, a link for your website to: recordingartistsearch@gmail.com
Only send one email with your links. Due to the volume of responses normally received for these types of opportunities. After review of your material, you will only be contacted if there is an interest in attending one of your shows by a label representative. As such please to not send any follow up emails regarding selections. If you were not contacted back, there was not an interest.
Thank You.
PS: Before You Enter Any MySpace Contests You Might Want To Also Review The Website At: www.st
Yeah, you got some really great tunes going on there!!! An of course!!! A humble thank for add and friendship!! Much-appreciated!!! Keep the flame burning!
So many of our friends have such great pics on their pages, and we want to give you a chance to show off your favorite non-human friend,related tattoo, or just share a success story with everyone! We have added a couple of albums in our pics section just for our friends... If you want to add your favorite picture or ink of you and yours, message us, or if you or have a story you want to share with us, please feel free to post it in our blog or comment section... We would love to hear it... While there is so much more to animal rights than companion animals, it is always nice to hear more pleasant stories than we generally hear.
We have a very diverse group of friends and we appreciate and welcome everyone!
Thanks for showing your support, have a great weekend!!!
Kia Ora chika! I remember you from the early cosmic corner days, when it was just a lil corner store. Congrats on your successes! hope it's been fun. Let me know if you wana do a "cyber collaboration" sometime... Aroha from Marahau. BOOMshanti
wow suck i fully missed your show at the loons (sigh) i bet it was awesum lyelton is the coolest lil place in chch... hope your show went super rad again sorry i missed it (sigh) wudof been a great birthday present for tomorow. . . neways enuf of my ranting take care make belive girl
thanks for your support! most people already know about the animal rescue site, but if you don't, please visit it, especially on the weekends, their numbers drop by thousands fri-sun. with 1 simple and free click you can know that you helped feed shelter animals! just think of all those furry, feathery, and sometimes scaly happy faces after a nice tasty bowl! :) much love, bre
your music is such a great inspiration for my drawings, how is life on your side of the planet ? I wish we can chat soon, your a fantastic artist... take care xoxo
You can now listen to new K-Jell songs at our myspace site. The songs are taken from the new K-Jell cd “refreshing power” which will be out in about 2 weeks time in China and Europe sometime during April 2009 on October Party Records.
Hope you will take 3-4 min to listen and let us know what you think, leave a comment in the comment section.
good songs, good voice..good vids...really enjoyed my visit to your page. Come by for some soup theres only a few toxic chemicals and not much nuclear waste in the ingredients. Kitchens open 24/7 cheers
my daughter and i love your voice and especially the "Feels so good" video. Please tell me, are your lyrics listed anywhere? I want the lyrics for "angel by her side" which is speaking very clearly to me right now. thank you! keep rockin'!
I make drawing of a tattoo here at home and your music is such a great inspiration !! send me a message sometime on msn please... your art is the best Mmmuah