Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp

Artist Information

Biography

Erin Hill is a singer, harpist, songwriter, and science fiction geek. She’s had a #1 album on the Billboard world chart, and in the Top 40 on the Independent chart. She’s played and sung with Kanye West, Enya, a-ha, Cyndi Lauper, Levon Helm, moby, Randy Newman, Joan Osborne, Sinead O’Connor, etc. and has played solo at The Royal Albert Hall. She is also known as The Pretty White Girl from Comedy Central’s "Chappelle’s Show."

USA Today premiered Erin’s sci-fi music video “Lookout, Science” as an exclusive in 2012. Both the “Lookout, Science” and the “Giant Mushrooms” videos, along with the debut Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp album "Girl Inventor," were made possible by Erin’s Kickstarter project “Erin Hill (the Sci-Fi Harp Girl) makes a Music Video Album,” which ended up #32 in the Top 40 of Kickstarter’s Most Funded music projects ever.

Erin is a nominee in the 2013 Independent Music Awards for her song "Stun," and was just featured in a "Game of Thrones" promo for HBO (2013), playing the "Game of Thrones" theme song on her harp.

Erin is known at the Ritz-Carlton on Central Park South in NYC for her rock ‘n’ roll arrangements on solo harp, playing and singing everything from Bowie, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young to Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, The Police, Prince and Lady Gaga. Another specialty of hers is Celtic music; her Celtic album "Four Leaf Clover" hit #1 on the Billboard World chart in 2009.

Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp was a Dragon*Con house band in 2012, and both of her sci-fi music videos, “Giant Mushrooms” and “Lookout, Science,” were part of the Dragon*Con Independent Film Festival 2012.

In the film "Clear Blue Tuesday" (2010), she is a composer, screenwriter, and actor. The New York Times said: “Erin Hill, as a giddy, harp-playing Trekker, is a standout… The best and funniest scene in the film is Ms. Hill’s, a first date that looks promising until the conversation turns to the relative merits of Star Trek: Voyager…..” Erin was also in the Tim Robbins film "Cradle Will Rock" (and appears on the soundtrack alongside Eddie Vedder & PJ Harvey); HBO’s "The Chris Rock Show;" Comedy Central’s "Chappelle’s Show;" and PBS’s "American Masters."

Erin toured with the Lincoln Center "South Pacific" as harpist and pianist, and is the harpist on the new soundtrack for The Fantasticks, on Martha Wainwright’s self-titled debut album, on various commercials (Dunkin’ Donuts, etc.) and on MTV2’s Wonder Showzen. As a voice-over artist she’s been heard on commercials from Coca-Cola, Comcast, and Match.com to Play-Doh, Walmart and Dunkin’ Donuts.

As a stage actor, she was in the original Broadway casts of "Titanic," Sam Mendes’ "Cabaret," and "Urinetown" and has twice been part of the Sundance Theater Lab in Utah, originating the role of Ilse in "Spring Awakening" with Duncan Sheik, and as musical director for "Lil’s 90th" (also at the Long Wharf Theater) with Jo Bonney. She was seen most recently (2012) in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" at Classic Stage Company in NYC alongside Bebe Neuwirth and Christina Ricci (Newsday called her “the dangerously enjoyable Erin Hill”).

Erin toured with and opened for a-ha in 2008 in Europe and London, where she played solo at the Royal Albert Hall (see the a-ha.com interview with Erin on a-ha’s official site). Erin is also huge Beatles fan, and performs regularly with Jimmy Vivino (of Conan O’Brien) and Will Lee in The Fab Faux. And she’s a singer, songwriter and musician on the Dream Jam Band’s major label debut on EMI.

And lastly, she also juggles and is an expert at walking on her hands (one of which can be seen in the film "Clear Blue Tuesday," and the other on "The Rosie O’Donnell Show," the "52nd Annual Tony Awards," and "Late Night with David Letterman").

Instrumentation

Erin Hill - Vocals & Electric Harp
Mike Nolan - Pedal Steel Guitar
Leigh Stuart - Cello (electric cello)
Steve Williams - Drums
Fred Cash, Jr. - Bass
Liz Holtan - Harmony Vocals

Discography

"Girl Inventor" by Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass. Gridley Records (February 2013).

"Leave It in the Soup" by The Dream Jam Band
Erin Hill: songwriter, arranger, vocals, bass, harp, keyboards. Produced by Rick Chertoff. Dream Jam Productions. EMI (2010).

"Clear Blue Tuesday" soundtrack for the original musical movie.
Erin Hill: songwriter, composer, arranger, vocals, harp, bass.
Ghostlight/Razor & Tie (2010).

"Four Leaf Clover" by Four Celtic Voices with Celeste Ray & Erin Hill
Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass. Gridley Records (2009).

"Vapor" by Wicked Felina
Erin Hill: co-writer, vocals, harp, guitar, keyboards, hammered dulcimer. Produced by G.E. Smith. Green Mirror (2006).

"The Fantasticks" the new Off-Broadway recording
Erin Hill: harpist. Ghostlight Records/ Razor and Tie (2006)

"Martha Wainwright" by Martha Wainwright
Erin Hill: harpist. Zoe Records (2005)

"Pyjama Party" by Frederic Buchet
Erin Hill: producer, co-writer, vocals, harp, accordion, hammered dulcimer, analog synths. Gridley Records (2005)

"Frost as Desired" by Erin Hill
Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, guitars, harp, synths. Gridley Records (2002)

"I See a Great City" by Clan Chi
Erin Hill: vocals. Crisnjoco (2002)

"Pretty Flowers" by The Buddy Scott Trio
Erin Hill: vocals, executive producer. Gridley Records (2002)

"Cradle Will Rock" motion picture soundtrack, dir. by Tim Robbins
Erin Hill: vocals. RCA (1999)

"Cabaret" the new Broadway cast recording, dir. by Sam Mendes
Erin Hill: vocals, harp, flute, saxophone. RCA (1998)

"Night of the Hunter" cast recording
Erin Hill: vocals. Varese Sarabande (1998)

"Titanic" the Original Broadway Cast Recording
Erin Hill: vocals. RCA Victor (1997)

"Honkytonk Highway" original cast album recording
Erin Hill: vocals, harp, fiddle, lap steel, guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, saxophone. Original Cast (1997)

Official Website

http://www.erinhill.com

Links

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Erin's YouTube channel
• Erin on IMDb
• MUSIC VIDEO - "Lookout, Science"

Audio

• CLIP_01 I am a Lava Lamp - Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
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• CLIP2_07 Blue Slide - Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
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• CLIP_09 Lookout, Science - Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
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• CLIP_03 How on Earth - Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
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• CLIP_02 Girl Inventor - Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
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• CLIP_05 Giant Mushrooms - Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
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• CLIP_04 Meredith Moon - Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
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• CLIP2_06 Stun - Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp
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• COVER: Stevie Wonder's "If It's Magic"_clip
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• COVER: Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush"_clip
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Lyrics

• Reckless
• Melanie the Mermaid
• Blue Slide
• Girl Inventor
• Lookout, Science
• Silver Feet

Video

Giant Mushrooms-- Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp

Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp -- video reel

Photo Gallery

Press

• Variety [+ Show ]
  

  "Hill is a standout... and dauntingly versatile..." "Erin Hill is lovely... and then there's the d..."Hill is a standout... and dauntingly versatile..."
  "Erin Hill is lovely... and then there's the delicious sound of that harp!"
  "'Reckless,' penned by Erin Hill, is memorable... (it is) delivered by her character, Etta, a sci-fi soundtrack-session harpist and one of the film's few solidly intriguing personalities."

• Radio 3, BBC [+ Show ]
  

  "Beautiful! Voice exquisite; the words telling tales everyone wants to hear. The instrumental mater..."Beautiful! Voice exquisite; the words telling tales everyone wants to hear. The instrumental material melds into its required whole with quirky, painted details highlighting the surface. The totality makes a noise that cloaks the soul. Lovely... Crank it right up!"

• New York Times [+ Show ]
  

  "Erin Hill, as a giddy, harp-playing Trekker, stands out.... The best and funniest scene in the film..."Erin Hill, as a giddy, harp-playing Trekker, stands out.... The best and funniest scene in the film is Ms. Hill’s, a first date that looks promising until the conversation turns to the relative merits of “Star Trek Voyager.”
  "The best part of the show was the moment when... Erin Hill, a fine harpist, raised her voice in solo..." "Erin Hill is lovely..."

• Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) [+ Show ]
  

  Hill is a songwriting angel, carved from the mold of greats like Joni Mitchell. With electric harp a...Hill is a songwriting angel, carved from the mold of greats like Joni Mitchell. With electric harp as the main instrument, the Kentucky-born, New York-based Hill and her band produce tracks that fascinate and mesmerize an audience, falling somewhere in between indie rock and psychedelic pop... Her lyrical sensibility is unique, bolstered by her fascination with science fiction...

• Amplifier Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "Erin Hill may be indie pop's renaissance grrl... Hill offers up a pop palette from a quirky/bluesy ..."Erin Hill may be indie pop's renaissance grrl... Hill offers up a pop palette from a quirky/bluesy Aimee Mann... to a more grounded/less ethereal Kate Bush... to a pop-gilded Chrissie Hynde... Hill's success is the result of her ability to balance her pop sweetness with a tart sonic aftertaste by means of her edgy arranging skills or her brittle lyrical insights."

• New York Newsday [+ Show ]
  

  "The invincible Hill... breaks into a fiery physical abandon when she's at the mike." "Erin is enor..."The invincible Hill... breaks into a fiery physical abandon when she's at the mike."
  "Erin is enormously talented -- an exceptional singer, a fantastic musician, and... she has the beauty to go with it." (Marni Nixon/New York Newsday)

• The Chicago Tribune [+ Show ]
  

  "Erin Hill... is not only a wonderfully engaging performer but versatile as well, playing five instr..."Erin Hill... is not only a wonderfully engaging performer but versatile as well, playing five instruments..."

• Billboard
  

  "The best performances are turned in by the versatile Erin Hill..."

• The Post-Standard, Syracuse [+ Show ]
  

  "Hill hits the heights with great songs" (Headline) "Hill let the songs speak for themselves... He..."Hill hits the heights with great songs" (Headline)
  "Hill let the songs speak for themselves... Her voice is lovely, fluid, and expressive... These original songs herald a major musical talent."

• The Daily News, NYC
  

  "Erin Hill lights up the stage..."

• Women Who Rock Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "This redhead... delivers a much-needed dose of marvelous pop ditties with her simply beautiful and ..."This redhead... delivers a much-needed dose of marvelous pop ditties with her simply beautiful and honest voice, witty lyrics, and excellent musicianship."
  
  

Setlist

ERIN HILL & HER PSYCHEDELIC HARP -- my original psychedelic sci-fi pop tunes with band. Can also do this solo (just me & my electric harp & loops), or as a duo or trio, 4- or 5-piece, or complete 6-piece band (me on harp & vocals, pedal steel, cello, bass drums, and backup singer).

I often will do a cover or two amongst the originals (like David Bowie's "Space Oddity" or Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush"), and sometimes I throw in an aria, just for kicks; it depends on the audience and what I think they might go for.
I played and sang at The Ritz-Carlton for several years and was known for my harp-based arrangements of everything from Bowie and The Beatles to Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga.


I also do CELTIC GIGS -- I sing & play the harp, Irish/Celtic tunes. My Celtic album hit #1 on the Billboard world chart in 2009. I can do this solo gigs just me & my harp, or as a duo, trio, or full group with bass & drums. Songs include: Molly Malone, Danny Boy, The Foggy Dew, The Minstrel Boy, The Blackbird, How Are Things in Glocca Mora, Patapan, My Lagan Love, The Isle of Innisfree, Kathleen Mavourneen, The Fields of Athenry... and most any Irish tune you might request.


All my harps are fully electric and have quarter-inch outs.

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Rider/Tech requirements -- Erin Hill & her Psychedelic Harp

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