Album Notes

Born in Iceland, but based in NZ for the past decade, Hera is one of the most promising singer songwriters on the world stage today.
A prodigious talent from early on, Hera began playing classical guitar at the age of 8, and writing her own songs by the time she was 14. Now, at 22, Hera features on over 13 compilations and has released five studio albums - four in English and one in Icelandic, “Hafid Thennan Dag ”(2003), which went Gold last year in Iceland.

Hera’s first two albums were independently produced, published and distributed. However , when a track from her second album, “Itchy Palms”, was chosen as the title song the Icelandic film, “Hafi_(The Sea)”, Hera found herself not only performing at the premier, but having the title song in a film that went on to win eight Edda Awards (Iceland’s Oscar equivalent) and be distributed in over 30 countries.

Hera claimed two nominations at the 2002 Icelandic music awards, winning “Best Singer”; an award that had been dominated by the likes of Bjork and Emiliana Torrini for the past decade. Her song “Makebelieve” was a finalist in the 2002 USA songwriting competition, and became the third most played song on Icelandic radio in 2003.

Hera’s tour figures are just as impressive. She completed a tour of Iceland with Bubbi Morthens, performing 37 shows in just two months; during this tour she became the first woman to tour Iceland as a solo musician. Hera has also supported Nick Cave in two sell out shows in Iceland; Joe Cocker in Iceland’s biggest concert hall; played at the renowned Glastonbury Festival in 2005; and recently completed a tour of Europe and the UK through the European Roadworks music project.

Hera’s latest album “Don’t Play This” was released late 2005, and was enthusiastically received. A video commissioned for “Feathers In A Bag” was directed by Einar Snorri of the Snorri Brothers who has worked with the likes of R.E.M., The Streets, and Simple Minds. In December 2005 Hera finished the year with a triumphant concert in one of the most remote places on earth, Amassalik in Greenland, becoming the first solo musician from Iceland to perform there.