From Spring Hollow Organic Song Farm deep in the East Texas piney woods, performing songwriters Lynn Adler and Lindy Hearne serve up fresh harvests of homegrown music, mixed with seasoned tunes from their collections of original ballads and story songs.
Adler & Hearne's self-imposed categorical handle for their music is "a spirited blend of folk-country blues-grass." One minute they're crooning songs of love and longing, losing and finding. The next, camping it up with modern-day spirituals steeped in dry wit, children's songs laced with grownup overtones, and an occasional odyssey into their own brand of musical theatrics.
The two met in Nashville while on solo musical journeys. Years later - their paths have merged. Adler & Hearne share roots in gospel and classical music - organic influences that lend themselves to the duo's harmonies and phrasing. The subject matter of their songs, though, knows no bounds. Nor does their musical style. As songwriters, the two take themselves seriously enough. As artists, they're at ease with being hard to define.
The pair produced Adler's 2002 Spring Hollow Records indie release "Bird on the Wing" with bassist/engineer Paul "Pappy" Middleton, who for 15 years and counting has toured with Bonnie Raitt, helping deliver her inimitable live sound. The CD was recorded at Middleton's famed Palmyra Studios in Palmer, Texas. Lynn penned all songs except for her cover of Peter, Paul and Mary's classic "If I Had Wings." She was joined in the studio by guest artists including partner Lindy Hearne, along with Don Conoscenti, Darcie Deaville, Max Dyer, Warren Jackson Hearne, Terri Hendrix, Lloyd Maines and Sam Taylor.
Hearne's 2003 Spring Hollow release - "Lifetime Supply" - was produced by fellow musician and producer, Sam Taylor (the mutual friend who introduced the duo that fateful day in Nashville). Also recorded at Palmyra, the CD's 15 songs were written or co-written by Hearne, with co-writers Hal Greenwood, John McClung, Freddy Lovvorn and Lynn Adler. Lindy was joined in the studio by guest artists including partner Lynn Adler, along with Mike Gage, Kate Hearne, Lloyd Maines, Sam Taylor and Jerry Wasley.
Released late spring 2005, "Opposites Attract" is Lynn Adler and Lindy Hearne's 'long overduo' debut on the Spring Hollow label. Recorded live at The Monastery - a monthly house concert series in Wood County, Texas - the CD is the duo's musical homage to house concert hosts and audiences everywhere. The CD's 16 songs were written or co-written by Adler & Hearne, with co-writers Hal Greenwood and Lisa Aschmann.
Recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by Sam Taylor, "Opposites Attract" captures the nuances of an evening spent with Adler & Hearne in concert. Unvarnished by the sometimes too-perfect sound of studio recordings, Adler & Hearne's live performance is deeply musical, listenable, soulful, spontaneous, fun. The audience brings much to the spirit of the recording. Even the between-song banter wears well; equal parts sweetness and spark.
Next up for the duo, two studio projects in the works - one filled with more fresh produce from the song farm, the other - a collection of songs especially for children.
Adler & Hearne were two of 10 finalists in the national 2001 Wildflower Festival Performing Songwriter Showcase in Richardson, Texas. In 2004, Hearne placed again as a Wildflower Festival finalist. He and co-writer Hal Greenwood won first place in two song categories in the 2002 Walnut Valley Festival NewSongs Showcase at Winfield, Kansas. The two, along with Adler, penned another first-place song in the same event for 2003. Adler is a two-time Kerrville Folk Festival NewFolk semifinalist; and finalist in the 2001 and 2004 B.W. Stevenson Memorial Singer/Songwriter Competition in Dallas. A&H also were 2nd place finalists in 2004's 57th Annual Original Ozark Folk Festival in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
As song farmers, Lynn and Lindy welcome opportunities to lead songwriting workshops on a variety of related topics. Their favorite venues include festivals, colleges, coffeehouses, churches, community concert halls, and especially - house concerts. If you're interested in starting your own house concert series, hosting an Adler & Hearne concert in your home is a great way to share a truly grassroots and authentic musical experience with your family and friends, while helping to keep music (and the people who make it) alive and well!
Come back soon for brief descriptions of each track on "Opposites Attract!"
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