Anne Heaton
Encyclopedia
Anne Heaton is an American
pop
-influenced folk
singer/songwriter and pianist
from New York City
. She majored in liberal studies at the Notre Dame
, and grew up in the Chicago
suburb of Wilmette
. She regularly toured with "Live from New York" on the eastern coast of the United States. In 2007, Heaton moved to Boston
, and generally tours and performs with multi-instrumentalist Frank Marotta.
and started playing piano at the age of 3. She was trained in classical music and turned down a scholarship to study at Boston’s Berklee School of Music in classical piano. In an interview with The New York Times
Online, Heaton said she gave up classical piano because she found it too inhibiting and exact. Thinking she would one day be a philosophy professor, Heaton pursued philosophy
and theology
at the University of Notre Dame
in Indiana.
Heaton sang in a cover band in college and later found her calling in music and songwriting. She cites Peter Gabriel
, Tori Amos
and The Indigo Girls
as her biggest influences. After college, Heaton made her way to NYC. There she played in a Latin band and sang in a gospel choir in Harlem.
In 2004, she released Give In, which she created in collaboration with Mike Denneen.
Her sophomore release, Give In, in 2005 was called "tender, amusing, barbed and spiritual by turns" by The Washington Post
.
Heaton toured extensively across the US in support of her albums. In 2004, Heaton won the Soul City Café competition and earned the opening slot for Jewel
during her West Coast tour. Heaton has also played with/ opened for Melissa Ferrick
, HEM
, Jill Sobule
, The Pernice Brothers
, Catie Curtis
, Jennifer Kimball
, Jonatha Brooke
, and Edie Carey.
Blazing Red, released March 3, 2009, is Heaton's latest offering. She teamed up with Gary Maurer (of HEM
) to produce Blazing Red and gathered funds to record the album by taking preorders from fans. Heaton says “this record is about going inward to connect to the truest part of yourself in order to make changes in your life.” The raw honesty and emotional content of Blazing Red has resonated positively with audiences. New York Times Online praised 'Jump' the opening track of Blazing Red, calling it “absolutely gorgeous.”
(with Antje Duvekot
, Meg Hutchinson
, and Natalia Zukerman
)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-influenced folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer/songwriter and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She majored in liberal studies at the Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and grew up in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
suburb of Wilmette
Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located north of Chicago's downtown district and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore district...
. She regularly toured with "Live from New York" on the eastern coast of the United States. In 2007, Heaton moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and generally tours and performs with multi-instrumentalist Frank Marotta.
Early life
Anne Heaton grew up in Wilmette, IL, a suburb of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and started playing piano at the age of 3. She was trained in classical music and turned down a scholarship to study at Boston’s Berklee School of Music in classical piano. In an interview with The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
Online, Heaton said she gave up classical piano because she found it too inhibiting and exact. Thinking she would one day be a philosophy professor, Heaton pursued philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in Indiana.
Heaton sang in a cover band in college and later found her calling in music and songwriting. She cites Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, Tori Amos
Tori Amos
Tori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
and The Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
as her biggest influences. After college, Heaton made her way to NYC. There she played in a Latin band and sang in a gospel choir in Harlem.
Music
Heaton's debut release in 2002, Black Notebook, was met with critical acclaim and garnered "Top DIY Pick" from Performing Songwriter Magazine.In 2004, she released Give In, which she created in collaboration with Mike Denneen.
Her sophomore release, Give In, in 2005 was called "tender, amusing, barbed and spiritual by turns" by The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
.
Heaton toured extensively across the US in support of her albums. In 2004, Heaton won the Soul City Café competition and earned the opening slot for Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
during her West Coast tour. Heaton has also played with/ opened for Melissa Ferrick
Melissa Ferrick
-Early life:Ferrick was raised in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Herfather John was a well-liked public school teacher who managed several free-jazz bands on the side. As a child, Ferrick would often accompany her father to clubs on Boston's North Shore to watch the bands play. She began taking...
, HEM
Hem
To hem a piece of cloth is to sew a cut edge in such a way as to prevent unraveling of the fabric.There are many different styles of hems of varying complexities. The most common hem...
, Jill Sobule
Jill Sobule
Jill Sobule is an American singer-songwriter best known for the 1995 single "I Kissed a Girl", and "Supermodel" from the soundtrack of the 1995 film Clueless...
, The Pernice Brothers
The Pernice Brothers
Pernice Brothers are an indie rock band. Formed by Joe Pernice in 1996 after the breakup of his old band, the Scud Mountain Boys, and including Joe's brother Bob Pernice , the band recorded their first album, Overcome by Happiness, for Sub Pop in 1998...
, Catie Curtis
Catie Curtis
Catie Curtis is an American singer-songwriter. Her music has been categorized in several genres, including pop, rock, alternative country, indie and folk. She has recorded 11 CDs. The most recent, Stretch Limousine On Fire, will be released in August 2011 on Compass Records.-Early life:Catie...
, Jennifer Kimball
Jennifer Kimball
Jennifer Kimball is a vocalist and songwriter who is notable for being part of the acclaimed folk duo The Story. She is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and has released two albums Veering from the Wave and Oh Hear Us....
, Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist from Illinois.Her music merges elements of folk, rock and pop, often with poignant lyrics and complex harmonies...
, and Edie Carey.
Blazing Red, released March 3, 2009, is Heaton's latest offering. She teamed up with Gary Maurer (of HEM
Hem
To hem a piece of cloth is to sew a cut edge in such a way as to prevent unraveling of the fabric.There are many different styles of hems of varying complexities. The most common hem...
) to produce Blazing Red and gathered funds to record the album by taking preorders from fans. Heaton says “this record is about going inward to connect to the truest part of yourself in order to make changes in your life.” The raw honesty and emotional content of Blazing Red has resonated positively with audiences. New York Times Online praised 'Jump' the opening track of Blazing Red, calling it “absolutely gorgeous.”
Solo Albums
- Black Notebook (2002)
- Give In (2004)
- I Know This (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) (2005) - Blazing Red (2009)
Collaborative Albums
- Winterbloom: Winter Traditions (2009)
(with Antje Duvekot
Antje Duvekot
Antje Duvekot is a singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Somerville, Massachusetts. holds three top songwriting awards, including the Kerrville New Folk Competition's Best New Folk Award, Boston Music Award for Outstanding Folk Act and Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting...
, Meg Hutchinson
Meg Hutchinson
Meg Hutchinson is an American folk singer songwriter known for distinct alto vocals, poetic lyrics, and sophisticated songwriting. Originally from rural western-most Massachusetts, Hutchinson is now based in the Boston area. Influences include poet Mary Oliver, songwriter Shawn Colvin, and mood...
, and Natalia Zukerman
Natalia Zukerman
Natalia Zukerman is an American artist and musician raised in Manhattan, New York. She is the daughter of violist/conductor Pinchas Zukerman and flutist/writer Eugenia Zukerman, and the sister of opera singer Arianna Zukerman...
)