Heather Styka was interviewed and recorded on Tom May's radio program, River City Folk. The show will air Tuesday, February 20, 2007 on WDCB 90.9 FM radio. The show is syndicated to 200 radio stations including College of DuPage 90.9 FM, airing at 9:00 pm on February 20th. The show also streams on the internet at http://www.wdcb.org. On the show Styka plays seven of her own songs, and is interviewed. During the show, listeners will also get to hear four artists that have influenced Styka's music. The songs include music by Simon and Garfunkel, Peter Himmelman, October Project, and Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
Heather Styka has just released her second twelve song CD. Heather's voice and style have been compared to Ani DiFranco, Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman, and Fiona Apple, but her roots go much deeper than that. Her songwriting has been compared to that of John Prine and Leonard Cohen, and she receives inspiration from countless performers from Nick Drake to the Beatles to Ella Fitzgerald. Heather's music is about what it means to be human: living fully in the present, dealing with loss, finding love, seeking truth, and expressing joy and thankfulness.
Heather sings, writes her own songs, and plays guitar and piano. Lilli Kuzma played "Artist and the Doctor", based loosely on Vincent Van Gogh and "Soldier Song" on WDCB, College of DuPage Public Radio. "Soldier Song" was inspired by a piece done on NPR about a soldier going to Iraq (it is hidden in track 12) Kuzma said, "Heather Styka's vocals and harmony vocals are excellent, the piano and guitar work is fine. Overall, I am very impressed with Heather's talent, and I think she can really get somewhere in the biz!"
Musician/Composer Peter Himmelman says, "Heather's got a very rich and evocative voice. Her songs sound well crafted and modern."
Dave Humphreys/Two Way Street Coffee House:
"Her entertaining songs share insight beyond her years. Her CD has a distinctly live feel — crisp and melodic piano and guitar support her clear voice and poetic lyrics without getting in the way. Lots more good stuff to come from this engaging new artist. Stay tuned."
Heather enjoyed performing her song "Beale Street" at "A Tribute to Memphis" at Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on June 5, 2004. The tribute included Devil in the Wood Pile, and Jimmy Johnson and Dave Specter, two of Chicago's premiere blues guitarists.
Heather Styka has played at Two Way Street Coffee House in Downers Grove, Grafton Pub in Chicago, many Borders stores, Changes Coffee House in Park Forest, Illinois, and a regular gig at Espresso Cup in Addison. She has also played summer festivals, including Downers Grove Heritage Fest.
Heather Styka is a member of the National Folk Alliance. Heather was a winner in the Great Lakes Songs Contest for her song Linden Street.
Heather's songs have been played on radio stations where people enjoy
listening to: Dave Carter and Tracy Grammar, Josh Ritter, Ellis Paul, Richard Thompson, Dan Zanes, Yusuf, Ani De Franco, Richard Shindell, Dar Williams,
Joe Jencks, Lucy Kaplansky, Lyle Lovett, Houston Jones, Tim Grimm, Doug Spears, David Olney, Jeff Talmadge, Patti Griffin, Erin McKeown, Caren
Armstrong, Eilen Jewell, Christoper Smith, Kate Wolf, Greg Brown, The Waybacks, Drew Nelson
Joni Mitchell, Jorma Kaukonen, Randall Williams, Kris Delmhorst, Danny Britt, Ben Bedford, Danny Schmidt, Anne Hills, John Gorka, Joe Crookston, Jimmy LaFave, David Wilcox, and Alison Kraus.
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