Hemant Rao
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Hemant Rao

Vancouver, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 1985

Vancouver, Canada
Established on Jan, 1985
Solo Pop Singer/Songwriter

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"Lavender Album Review"

Montreal based singer songwriter Hemant Rao’s latest CD is a collection of original songs that brings to mind a variety of influences. There’s a few shades of David Gray, perhaps a hint of Mark Knopfler and maybe a pinch of Sting (when he was a good Police-man) detectable here. Rao has a lightness of touch that helps the material to skip along and a way with gently catchy hooks that subtly worm their way into your ears. There’s some tasty playing too-notably the man himself on slide guitar, as well as tight ensemble playing from the band. His singing is unforced and pleasantly smooth and floats over the instrumental tracks effortlessly. It’s deceptively simple, attractively sweet and surprisingly deep. - Tim Readman (Edmonton music magazine Penguin Eggs)


"Lavender Album Review"

HEMANT RAO: Lavender (Independent)
Now based in Montreal, Rao once played Vancouver's coffee shops and bars, where he revealed a songwriting talent that favoured the simple and direct. His Lavender debut features a light, lilting voice and some colourful, attractive guitar. There is a detectable rhythm and blues root to a song such as Love Can Become while Mother is a complex swirl of melody and expression. By contrast, Have Fun is the kind of rock The Police might have done at the trio's most straightforward. B TH - Tom Harrison (The Vancouver Province Newspaper)


"Lavender Album Review"

Hemant Rao ( bio ) is a Montreal based singer/song writer who just released his new album “Lavender”. His inspiration stems from growing up ethnically different from his peers, while listening to Blue Oyster Cult, Yes, and Neil Young. His music is strikingly deep and his song Lavender reminds me of Dinosaur Junior with his unique riffs of electric guitar and a catchy rhythmic backdrop of intricately placed acoustic and bass.
Where?

Hemant Rao frequently makes the trek to New York where he performs in such venues as The Lion’s Den in Greenwich Village and Arlene’s Grocery in the Lower East Side. He also appeared at The Skylark Cafe and the Rendezvous Jewelbox Theatre in Seattle two years ago before returning to New York and having the opportunity to play at Rockwood Music Hall and Googie’s Lounge Above the Living Room, two venues that are widely reputed for their singer/song writer talent that has appeared over the years. Often compared to George Harrison, Rao’s music has modern aspects, while not forgetting his roots of studying classical music and violin in his hometown of Vancouver. Intricately arranged string sections and sweet sounding guitar make this artist a can’t miss! - Serenat (Blackonthecanvas)


"Lavender Album Review"

Hemant Rao, a singer/songwriter based in Montreal, looked South and West for inspiration for his Lavender album, a mix of Californian melodic pop with George Harrison's guitar tone. The keyword for his songs is gentle. His vocal delivery is almost shy - he tries to blend in with the music, putting his guitar in the spotlight.

Lavender flows like a meandering brook, sparkling in late afternoon sunlight. There are some twists and turns and it picks up speeds every now and then (Greater Good comes close to rock). Hemant Rao is the kind of musician who deserves an intimate audience honoring the noble art of shutting up while he is playing. - Hans Werksman (Here Comes the Flood)


"Lavender Album Review"

Lavender is the third album from songsmith Hemant Rao. He has a lovely melodic voice and writes mellow yet seductive material. George Harrison is a reference point with merit, and he cites Crowded House as an influence (never a bad thing) . Rao has already toured the U.S. and fared well at singer/songwriter clubs in NYC. One to keep an eye (and ears) upon.

Kerry Doole - Kerry Doole (www.newcanadianmusic.ca)


"CD review (Sunshine Runaway)"

This second record is a smash with this reviewer, boasting smooth vocals and guitar playing, which is in many ways understated while being captivating. In his simplicity he has captured the moment.
Hemant Rao, born and raised in Montreal, has been a professional musician and songwriter for the last 15 years. A classically trained violinist, he developed an infatuation for Pop and Rock music in his early teens and aptly migrated to playing acoustic and electric guitar, developing a versatile repertoire of styles while playing with numerous bands. In 1990, he moved to Vancouver, choosing to develop his own songwriting and arrangement signature, rather than playing other musicians composition.
Hemant's music draws on his own harmonious vocals and earnest lyrics. Sunshine Runaway is an eclectic pastiche of guitar laden pop songs, which are delivered in a forceful way that captures the listener.
The first track “Confidence” was superb, followed by “seashell” and “loner.” My favorite was “sunshine runaway.”  - Vickie Auckland/Lipstik Indie


"CD review (Sunshine Runaway)"

I listened to your CD twice today, to and from Ladner. Loved cut 3 "Seashell" and cut 4 "Sunshine Runaway"...great pop music. - Gerry O'Day/Program Director, Music Director 650 CISL Radio Vancouver BC


"CD Review (Sunshine Runaway)"

On his second record, the guitarist-songwriter smooths his vocals and playing style, although there is urgency in the arrangement of lead track "Confidence". For the most part, though, this is a modest, simple offering that in odd ways recalls George Harrison. - Tom Harrison, Vancouver Province Newspaper


"Sunshine Runaway Album Review"

Name: Hemant Rao
Album: Sunshine Runaway
Released: 2004
Members:
Hemant Rao – Vocals, guitars, violin
Lindsay Belloc, Ron Roach – drums
Doug Brown, Ken Gilbert – bass guitar
Anthony Kerr – bsas guitar, organ, piano

Website: www.hemantrao.com
Record Label: Music Minnow Records
Favourite Song: Loner (track 5)
I’ll be honest. I don’t like secret tracks that don’t really add any music to an album. And I was severely disappointed the first time I popped this in and realized the second track was 51 seconds of ocean noises. The rest of the album makes up for it though, so I guess it isn’t TOO bad. It just will force me to rip the CD, and burn it minus track 2. I hope the the singer isn’t offended that I would likely do that.
Pop, Powerpop, Rock. I’ve completely sucommed to having Myspace dictate what music genres the band should be labeled under. That and the fact the band picks what they are going to display. What’s the difference between pop and powerpop anyways? I feel like I’m watching Home Improvement with Tim Allen’s whole “More Power!” thing as the electric-power-crazed father we all grew to love over the span of too many years on sitcom TV. Whatever powerpop is, I like it. It’s fun and catchy, and hopeful and uplifting.
For being self-proclaimed pop music, each song is different enough to know that you’re listening to music written by a musician working on diversity, rather than a musician working towards a formula striving for 100% success. Oh commercial radio, when will you learn that formulas only work for so long and that’s what creates so many one/no-hit wonders. I hear sometimes common elements between songs, but it’s still refreshing to hear that each track is an individual.
I could chill out listening to Hemant Rao. Currently the idea of chillin’ out on the back patio with a girlie fruit-filled alcoholic drink and hanging out with some of my best friends while this gets blasted through the house just loud enough to be able to make it a good audio backdrop sounds extremely pleasing. It’s also boiling hot right now when I’m writing this. Non-offensive music rocks because you can play it anywhere. And this is the supreme of non-offensive. - Angela Poon/ Big Rock Finish


"Miller's Lane Review"

Hemant found two other people to help him play his personal songs. These are emotional sounds with a melodic edge. There is a lot of acoustic guitar playing that gives it a real gentle feel and moves into more of a folk territory. Nice stuff, Hemant! - Cory Waxmahn, Terminal City (Vancouver)


"Miller's Lane review"

Sympathetically accompanied by bass and drums, singer-guitarist Rao presents an appealing, low-keyed, sparely produced 11-song set that clearly has the directness and power of a rock trio (such as the Jam on Because) but which comes from the singer-writer tradition of folk. It's not folk-rock, though, but one step removed in a way similar to how a group such as Gin Blossoms is a generation of rock apart from such West Coast influences as The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. - Tom Harrison, The Vancouver Province


"Miller's Lane review"

In his bio, this Vancouver based artist says that his transition from guitar player to singer/songwriter "has been like teaching a squid to crochet a doily" whatever that means. Fortunately Rao's songwriting is much more accessible than his surreal self-descriptions. With a quavering tenor, he delivers a delightful mix of thoughtful and emotive pop numbers that are much more interesting than any doily that I have known. Rao's judicious use of his own violin playing and some totally cheesy keyboard lines enhance the proceedings nicely. The bass riff in "Timebomb" sounds a bit too much like "Billy Jean" but I am sure that was unintentional. - Jtes, Chart Magazine


Discography

The fourth album is currently in the works!

Previous albums are available on CD Baby

Photos

Bio

Hemant Rao is a Canadian Singer/Songwriter.



Band Members