Heather Masse - Beautiful Dreamer

New York-based singer-songwriter Heather Masse is a member of the acclaimed Juno Award-winning Canadian band The Wailin' Jennys, and she has performed at hundreds of venues across Europe, Canada, and the states. She appeared regularly on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion," where she shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Arlo Guthrie, and Tom Rush. She has performed with the bluegrass band The Wayfaring Strangers on NPR's World Cafe, and at Boston's Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Heather also performs locally with a Brooklyn-based collaboration, "Heather & the Barbarians." Heather grew up in rural Maine and began singing at an early age. With a degree in Jazz Voice from the New England Conservatory of Music, the jazz tradition informs her distinct approach to singing music of all sorts. Heather's rich, soulful voice elegantly moves through numerous styles organically and with sincerity — a quality learned from some of her early influences including Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, and Chet Baker. Recently, she took the time to answer some questions about her musical background, appearing on APHC, and her new album.

What can you tell me about ‘Hold On’?  It's your second full-length solo project.

I recorded my new album 'Hold On' with Jed Wilson this winter when I was 8 months pregnant with my little girl.  We have been playing music together for almost 20 years and had never made a full-length album together. We had the songs, and a little window of time before Ida Rose arrived so we went for it! The album is mostly originals of mine. I wrote the title track ‘Hold On’ about trusting humanity and finding hope and peace amidst today’s chaos. The album carries this theme from intimate matters of the heart to holding the weight of these troubling times.

You will be touring with Garrison over the next few months before joining the cruise to Jamaica next March.  Might we hear any of the new music on the cruise since Jed Wilson will be joining you?  Do you have a favorite song to sing live from the new cd?
Definitely!  I really love singing the medley we do on the album. We put Nick Drake's 'Which Will' together with 'If I Loved You' from Carousel. I love both of these songs so much!

‘Beautiful Dreamer’ was released last year and features duets with Garrison.  It’s a mixture of standards and covers, many of which had been performed on "A Prairie Home Companion."  How did you go about choosing the songs for this record?
We chose some of our favorites songs we sang as duets on the show and revamped them. It was a really fun project.
My favorite is ‘Wild Horses.’ How did you discover this song? Did you bring it to the duets project?

Garrison suggested that we sing on 'Wild Horses' a show we did together with a faster bluegrass feel and it was a blast. For the Duets project we pared it down a little more and I think it turned out really nice!

What is your favorite song to perform from the record?
I love singing the Bob Dylan song, 'Tomorrow Is A Long Time.'
Listen to 'Beautiful Dreamer'

How did you get your start in music? 

I come from a very musical family. My mother is a classical pianist, music teacher, and church organist, my dad was the lead singer/guitarist for a country rock band for about 8 years in the 80s and I have 4 very musical siblings. So I was singing and listening to music very early on. My first experience performing was when I was about 8 years old. I attempted to sing a solo at church with my mother accompanying me on piano, but as she began to play the introduction, I suddenly got shy and ran downstairs crying. I'm still surprised when I think back to that awful morning that I became a professional musician! 

'Red is the Rose'

Who were your earliest influences, and where do your influences come from today?

My earliest influences came from singing hymns and folk songs with my family, and then later I became totally immersed in the singing of Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and Bonnie Raitt, as well as the singing and songwriting of Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young and many more. These days so many artists influence me. To name a few: Lucinda Williams, Greg Brown,  Iris Dement, Leslie Feist, Nancy King, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Mississippi John Hurt, Gillian Welch, Eva Cassidy, Mahalia Jackson, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Bob Dylan, Chet Baker, and many musicians and teachers I met while attending The New England Conservatory of Music. 

'Light of a Clear Blue Morning'

Your group The Wailin' Jennys are known for the crisp vocal harmonies of the three lead voices along with great songwriting. How did you come to join the group?

I got a call from my good friend Aoife O'Donovan (who sings in the band Crooked Still). She told me about this great band that was looking for a new alto voice.  Ruth and Nicky are mutual friends of Aoife and they had asked her for recommendations. Luckily, Aoife recommended me! So I went to Philadelphia to hear them perform and have an informal audition — it happened in the World Cafe's handicap women's bathroom to be exact. I loved their concert and they loved the music we made in the bathroom so we called it a deal!

Do you have a favorite memory of performing on the show?

My grandfather Keith Clark was also a musician. He was a very esteemed trumpet player and always respected Wynton Marsalis' trumpet playing. I have so many incredible memories from performing on Prairie Home, but the one that sticks out in my mind was a moment while I was singing "Peel me a Grape" at Town Hall in NYC with Wynton Marsalis and the Shoe Band. There was a point in the middle of the song where time felt liked it stopped, and I looked around at the crowd and the unbelievable musicians I was playing with, and for a moment I felt my grandfather's presence looking down and smiling.     

Were there any experiences of singing duets with Garrison Keillor or performing with the program's other guests that stand out?

We played an hour and a half encore at Tanglewood one summer. It was a magical night and the encore brought an amazing feeling of unity through the crowd and on stage. There were so many great moments singing with Garrison and the sea of a crowd on a freshly rained lawn with the night just falling on us all. It felt like we were all one big family (as cheesy as it sounds)! 

 

What's next for you? Aside from the appearances with Garrison Keillor, will you be performing either solo or with the Wailin' Jennys? Tell us how to keep up with your appearances.

You can find my tour dates and updates about my music on my website www.heathermasse.com.

 

Purchase the MUSIC:

Beautiful Dreamer >>>

Hold On >>>

Live from the Hollywood Bowl >>>

40th Anniversary Collection >>>

 


329 comments

  • I understand that losing access to your wallet or bitcoins can be stressful, or stolen usdt crypto from your wallet address. Still, I must emphasize the importance of exercising caution and seeking assistance through legitimate channels. I have seen and perused cryptocurrency scams. It reminds me of some heartache experience when I lost 547k dollars to a fake online crypto investment scam when I invested a huge amount of money. I searched online and came across a recovery expert A1 WIZARD HACKES Email { A1wizardhackes@cyberservices.com } who in a short while helped recover my scammed money, and I was pleased. I will advise you to contact the aforementioned contact for assistance, A1 WIZARD HACKES, he is fast and reliable.

    E-mail : A1wizardhackes@cyberservices.com
    whatsApp : +1 678 439 9760
    Telegram : @A1wizardhackes

    Makram paul
  • Considering the financial revolution sparked by cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the digital era has opened up a plethora of opportunities. But this exciting new world also comes with a terrible reality: in the harsh, brutal blockchain environment, there’s always a danger you could lose your precious digital assets. Services like ADMIN HACKER PROGRAM are not merely recovery agents in this case; they are crypto lifelines, and my own experience attests to their vital importance. I had an amazing time exploring the world of Bitcoin on my own; it was exciting to be in a completely new place and to see the possibility of independent money. However, a careless mistake of choosing the incorrect platform for my investment sent me into total despair. It seemed as though my digital lifeblood, Bitcoin, had been devoured by the blockchain’s vicious maw. Overwhelmed with hope, I began a frantic quest for solutions, looking up any clue of assistance on the internet. I discovered Admin HACKER PROGRAM at that point. Initially, I was filled with misgivings, but their unwavering professionalism and clear communication offered me a glimpse of hope. I set them the very impossible task of locating my missing fortune. The ADMIN HACKER PROGRAM team of professionals meticulously penetrated the labyrinthine depths of the blockchain with the aid of cutting-edge technology and years of honed experience, treating my case with the utmost care and respect and keeping me informed at every turn. I had never encountered anything like the recuperation process. The days of confusing technical jargon and excruciatingly long wait times were over. And then the miraculous happened. My Bitcoin miraculously reappeared in my wallet, coming safe and sound from the digital void in an almost amazing length of time. Integrating ADMIN HACKER PROGRAM into your Bitcoin recovery process is not as magical as waving a wand, but it sure feels like it with the seamless and effective tools it offers. By following best practices, training your staff, and learning from successful case studies, you can optimize your Bitcoin recovery efforts and stay ahead of potential risks. The future outlook for Bitcoin recovery with Admin HACKER PROGRAM looks promising, providing users with the confidence and tools they need to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital assets. It was a very happy moment that showcased the ADMIN RECOVERY SPECIALIST team’s remarkable talent and dedication. However, my experience serves more purposes than just self-interest; it serves as a sobering reminder of the expanding demand for dependable and trustworthy bitcoin recovery services, such as Admin online recovery. Contact ADMIN HACKER PROGRAM now with:

    Email. admin@weicherthallmarks.com
    Telephone: +1336-441-4118

    Zeyner Howard
  • THE BEST CRYPTOCURRENCY IS OPITMISTIC HACKER GUAIS/USDT/BTC/LOST WALLET/STOLEN BITCOIN/ OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS IS THE BEST

    Hello everyone. My name is Olivia Thom . I want to publicly thank OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS for retrieving my stolen bitcoins. I never believed in bitcoin recovery because I was made to understand that it is not possible. I fell victim to an internet investment fraud. I am lucky today to have recovered my bitcoins, I had put in $884,000 worth of bitcoins. I found myself in a state of despair after falling victim. A friend of mine told me about OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS. Their expert team specializes in recovering lost assets from scammers, and within just 72 hours, they were able to successfully retrieve my funds. My trust in OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS and humanity has been restored by their professionalism, knowledge, and capacity to retrieve my money. They are unquestionably a reliable option for getting misplaced bitcoin back. I am pleased because of how fast they acted in recovering my stolen bitcoins. They are really so professional and reliable, when it comes to bitcoins recovery, quick contact OPTIMISTIC HACKER GAIUS

    WhatsApp at +1..6..0..1..4..6..0..9..4..7..7.
    email… optimistichackergaius @ seznam.cz

    website: https://optimistichackegaius.com

    olivia
  • Do You Need A Hacker To Recover Cryptocurrency? Hire iBolt Cyber Hacker

    Cryptocurrency has revolutionized the way we think about money, offering a decentralized and secure form of digital currency. However, the complex nature of blockchain technology can sometimes lead to issues such as lost or stolen cryptocurrency. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, don’t panic – help is available.
    Contact iBolt Cyber Hacker, a trusted and reliable professional with extensive experience in recovering lost cryptocurrency. With their expertise and advanced tools, they can assist you in retrieving your digital assets safely. Whether you’ve fallen victim to a phishing scam, experienced a wallet hack, or simply misplaced your private keys, iBolt Cyber Hacker is here to help.

    You can rest assured that your sensitive information and funds are in good hands. They are transparent.

    More Info:
    Email: Support@iboltcyberhack.com
    Contact/Whatsapp: +39 350 929 0318
    Website: https://iboltcyberhack.com/

    George Azim
  • Do You Need A Hacker To Recover Cryptocurrency? Hire iBolt Cyber Hacker

    Cryptocurrency has revolutionized the way we think about money, offering a decentralized and secure form of digital currency. However, the complex nature of blockchain technology can sometimes lead to issues such as lost or stolen cryptocurrency. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, don’t panic – help is available.
    Contact iBolt Cyber Hacker, a trusted and reliable professional with extensive experience in recovering lost cryptocurrency. With their expertise and advanced tools, they can assist you in retrieving your digital assets safely. Whether you’ve fallen victim to a phishing scam, experienced a wallet hack, or simply misplaced your private keys, iBolt Cyber Hacker is here to help.

    You can rest assured that your sensitive information and funds are in good hands. They are transparent.

    More Info:
    Email: Support@iboltcyberhack.com
    Contact/Whatsapp: +39 350 929 0318
    Website: https://iboltcyberhack.com/

    George Azim

Leave a comment