supersonic
Artist Information
Biography
Heatherlyn is a singer song artist with a Soul ~ Roots ~ Rock vibe from Minneapolis MN, awarded the 2010 & 2011 Midwest “People’s Choice” of NPR’s Mountain Stage NewSong Performance Contest. Her soulful, honest voice resonates with people from many various walks of life. In Concert, Heatherlyn leads participants on a refreshing journey of connection – from whimsical laughter together to deeper thoughtfulness about life and love, considering how we each are conduits of peace and hope in our world.
Becoming Heatherlyn
By Clare Kennedy. Burnsville Patch, September 20, 2011
In the midst of the worst recession since the 1930s, Heatherlyn gave up her day job in Burnsville to pursue music full time. After two years and thousands of miles on the road, the singer has a new album and a new mantra: authentic, available, audacious.
This story picks up in the beginning of 2009, when 240,000 people were out of work in Minnesota, the highest unemployment recorded since the state began keeping records in 1976. In the darkest days of the recession, Heatherlyn made what would seem to many an unthinkably perilous choice: She quit her job to pursue music full time. "I couldn’t shake this dream," said Heatherlyn, who prefers to go by her first name alone for simplicity's sake. "It was a huge risk."
Heatherlyn's journey began a long time ago, when she was just a child in Maine.
"My mother says that I was singing before I was talking. I don’t know if that’s true but I sang in front of people in churches as a little girl," Heatherlyn said. "I’ve been singing my whole life really."
During college, she taught herself to play guitar. Before long, she started writing original compositions.
By the late 2000s, Heatherlyn's passion for music became an undeniable call. The budding singer-songwriter left behind her position at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, where she was charged with youth music and art, and hit the road with her husband Jason, who manages sound and lighting for Heatherlyn. The two took gigs wherever they could be found.
The first few months were difficult.
"Our little savings dried up quickly. The first time we set out on the road beyond our region was the toughest time," Heatherlyn said. "We had a couple things lined up, but nothing even guaranteeing the cost of our gas, let alone our bills that month. I probably cried from Minneapolis to Denver and from Denver to Phoenix."
To make matters worse, Heatherlyn contracted a sinus infection on the way, an illness not covered by the private health insurance she and her husband bought. Their first trip to the southwest was off to a bleak start, but in the end the two persevered.
"It ended up working out. People did end up seeing the value (of our work) along the way and there were some unexpected supplements to the minimal compensation that we were provided," Heatherlyn recalled. "I think we broke even, which is brilliant, which is what we needed to do."
Thus began a prolonged period of fiscal austerity and personal growth which took them to Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Arizona, North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Washington state and Oregon. Heatherlyn has performed in concert halls, coffee shops, living rooms and even a tent city in Seattle.
"For about two years I didn't buy any new clothes. It takes a lot of determination and willingness to sacrifice other things but it’s worth it to us," Heatherlyn said.
The couple's hard work is starting to pay off. Just a week ago, Heatherlyn released her second album —"Storydwelling"— a soul-roots-rock record that has gotten attention from national publications. Heatherlyn's devoted fan base paid for 70 percent of the production costs, she said.
"We couldn’t do it without the community of people who believe in us and encourage us," Heatherlyn said.
To Heatherlyn, it feels as if they are entering a new season, perhaps beyond the steep, rough path and into
Instrumentation
Heatherlyn - Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocal
Ben Rosenbush - Cello, Acoustic Guitar, Vocal, Electric Guitar
Zachary Ojeda - Electric Bass
Alex Young - Drums
Matt Patrick
Tyler Burkum
Aaron Fabbrini
Zach Miller
Discography
2007 Live at the Blacksheep
2008 heatherlyn debut
Fall 2011 "Storydwelling"
Official Website
http://www.heatherlynmusic.com
Links
Photo Gallery
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Press
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"Storydwelling" - A Review of Heatherlyn's New Album
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[Put On Your Climbing Shoes...] "With a driving rock beat, Heatherlyn weaves MLK's words with her ow...
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Loving... Heatherlyn's 'Storydwelling'
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"... every-so-often an album that fits this bill comes at me from nowhere and knocks me off me my fe...
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Storydwelling
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[Heatherlyn's] "lyrics invite compassionate empathy for people who share stories we relate to, as we...
Setlist
Set list and length may vary according to venue or contracting party expectations. Heatherlyn prefers to engage a captive audience. Some venues, i.e. coffee shops may not be fitting to Heatherlyn's music unless the audience is seeking to be highly engaged.
Songs released on the 2008 Debut Album "Heatherlyn"
* Selected Songs can be viewed at www.youtube.com/heatherlynmusic
~ *Soul Nap
~ * Home with You
~ * Dreams
~ Invitation to the Unlikely
~ * Welcome to the Masquerade
~ Do What You Can
~ Irish Blessing
~ Hard to Swallow
~ Lies Die
~ Lift
Songs to be released Fall of 2011 "Storydwelling" Album
* Selected Songs can be viewed at www.youtube.com/heatherlynmusic
~ * Put on Your Climbing Shoes
~ Be the Love
~ Wayfaring Stranger
~ Rosebud
~ Peace on Earth
~ *Jack Riddle
~ * When I Dream
~ Modernity (Spoken Word w/instrumentation)
~ * When The Spirit Says Move
~ You'll Never Know
~ * Home With You... Continues
~ We Have A Dream
Original Songs Unreleased
~ Together At Christmas Time
~ We'll Have A Party
~ Good, Good Show
Covers include songs by artists with positive themes and messages that play well with Heatherlyn's originals.
* Selected songs can be viewed at www.youtube.com/heatherlynmusic
~ * Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell
~ * With A Little Help From My Friends, Beatles
~ Better Way, Ben Harper
~ * Waiting On An Angel, Ben Harper
~ * With My Own Two Hands, Ben Harper
~ * One Day, Matisyahu
~ Everyday, Dave Mathews Band
~ Wayfaring Stranger, Appalachian Traditional
~ * People Get Ready, Curtis Mayfield
~ * Redemption Song, Bob Marley
~ * Seasons of Love, Jonathan Larson
~ Come to Jesus, Mindy Smith
~ Rolling In The Deep, Adele
~ Hands, Jewel
~ A Living Prayer, Allison Krauss
~ * You're Not Alone, Mavis Staples/Jeff Tweedy
~ Peace On Earth, U2
~ * Imagine, John Legend
~ * Make You Feel My Love, Bob Dylan
Seasonal Cover Songs
~ * Let It Snow
~ * In The Bleak Midwinter
~ * Winter Wonderland
~ * Do You Hear What I Hear
