Click here for the podcast interviev @ the voice Booth 1st March..
Icelandic singer/songwriter HERA has been living in New Zealand for about 10 years whilst cultivating and carving out a very successful career in her native land on the opposite side of the world. Not an easy task but one that was deservedly rewarded in 2002 when HERA was named Best Female Singer at that year’s Icelandic Music Awards, a major achievement for the young artist given that for the previous 10 years that category had been almost completely dominated by Bjork… Nominated in two categories a delighted HERA claimed the coveted Female Singer Award at the ceremony in Reykjavik on 23rd January 2003.
2002 had been a good year for the talented young lady. Just 18 years of age HERA’s song “Itchy Palms†was chosen as the title track in the Icelandic produced film “Hafio (The Sea)†and she performed the song live at the film’s premiere in September. “The Sea†went onto win 8 Edda Awards that year (the Icelandic film industry version of the Oscars) and has since been distributed in over 30 different countries. The music video with clips from the movie features on the DVD film release of “The Seaâ€.
2003 continued where the previous year had ended off with her song “Makebelieve†becoming the 3rd most played track on Icelandic National Radio, another major achievement as the station has a very strong and varied international play-list. “Makebelieve also became a finalist in the USA song writing competition that year. The release in summer 2003 of HERA’s Icelandic album “Hafio pennan dag†went on to achieve Gold sales status through Iceland’s major record company, Skifan (now Sena Records).
Taking her talent on the road, HERA played 37 dates around Iceland in 2 months with local hero Buddi Morthens becoming the first ever woman to tour Iceland as a solo musician. A European Roadworks music project concert tour followed (featuring UK musician Adam Masterton and Fiamma from Italy) visiting Italy, UK, Iceland and Holland. She also played an independent solo show in Belgium.
The live shows continued both at home and away in 2004 & 2005 supporting Australian music legend NICK CAVE on 2 sell-out concerts and then as support for worldwide superstar JOE COCKER in Iceland’s biggest concert arena. In summer of 2005 HERA played at the famous (but rain-drenched) Glastonbury Festival in UK and ended off the year with a concert event in one of the most remote places on the planet – Ammassalik in Greenland creating yet another unique milestone for the adventurous performer!
Her latest album “Don’t Play This†was released in Iceland in summer 2005 supported by her first national solo tour. By the end of the year the Icelandic music website (www.tonlist.is) had 8 of her songs on their Top 10 Most Played List simultaneously.
Now 22, HERA has returned to her “other home†once again to spread her beautiful musical wings over the southern lands. She has been taking part in the New Zealand Music Industry Commission Mentoring Program, helping children gets started in music to hopefully map out their musical careers to other parts of the world in between performing solo club shows.
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.
Be prepared to be charmed, intrigued, moved & occasionally shocked by the music of HERA
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