Heather Waters – Interview
Heather Waters will be performing live at the Surf Café on the 27th of March 2016 and ShowMe Plett had the pleasure of interviewing her.
Heather Waters Interview
ShowMe: Can you tell me a little about yourself and how your musical path began?
Heather: I’ve always been very musical and a writer from a young age. In about 2004 I started writing a lot of songs and kind of knew they weren’t for me. I was encouraged by a friend of mine, who also played guitar, to work further on the songs. We worked together and started doing small shows around Cape Town at folk clubs and coffee shops, etc. Later, I then went to the UK for other work and got involved on the music scene there, through open mike nights, community fairs and other events.
I recorded some demos and in 2007 my first album in SA, ‘Lyrics in my Pocket’ was recorded. I had just bought my kombi so I thought it was great opportunity to live in my kombi during the 4 weeks of recording! It was a pain to drive from Gordons Bay to Fish Hoek every day. It was summer, so I parked down at the beach and slept in my kombi every night after studio – it was epic! Since then I’ve pretty much kept on doing what I love.
ShowMe: Do you play any instruments on stage or do you just compose and do vocals?
Heather: I compose my songs on guitar and piano, but when I’m on stage I play only guitar and sing.
ShowMe: How would you explain your musical style?
Heather: I love writing all kinds of songs – from a waltz to a jangly, uplifting folk song. I also love music with a rock edge and that also comes through in quite a few of my songs. Since I love playing with words and telling stories, there are quite a few folksy songs. In South Africa they are calling it folk-rock. I think my latest album is more like pop-rock and eclectic folk-rock – it’s been said there’s a nostalgic 60’s/70’s sound to my style.
ShowMe: What is the name of your latest album and when was it released?
Heather: I’ve just released my latest album ‘Castles & Towers’ and we are launching it over this year through tours and other promotional events and shows. The single from it ‘Pick Daisies’ was released mid-January and is doing very well on the radio at the moment. Since its release, it has been Number 1 on Cape Town’s Bush Radio for 6 weeks, Number 9 on Zone Radio’s Top40, and its play-listed on over 43 radio stations. It’s the first time I’m releasing a song to radio like this so we are all pretty stoked!
The ‘Pick Daisies’ video was filmed on the Garden Route. It’s a great representation of life on the Garden Route and living LEKKER! It’s a short, uptempo, fun filled video and we had loads of fun shooting it. It was recently placed on PlettTube, which I really appreciate!
‘Pick Daisies’ by Heather Waters
ShowMe: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Heather: The highlight of my career so far is that I can do this full time!
There have been many wonderful successes along the way, which we take time to celebrate, because the road is not always easy. The FIA World Cup performances and playing my original music to cheering audiences at little cafe’s in Corsica are some of the many highlights. Getting the songs on the radio has been a surprise for me – there’s a lot of talk saying radio doesn’t support local music here, and I think this is true to an extent – most surely with the larger stations. However, I’ve found ‘Pick Daisies’ play-listed pretty easily among most stations where the song suits their playlists. I feel grateful for the support we are receiving from the varsity, community and in store stations!
ShowMe: Where do you for see yourself in the future?
Heather: As a songwriter – I would love my songs to be used commercially, as a live performer – I would love more adventurous opportunities for tours and shows and as a guitarist – I would love to be able to rip a kickass guitar lead behind my back before I die! Since writing ‘Pick Daisies’ 10 years ago, I have had a ridiculous picture in my head of doing that one live on stage with the Muppets at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
ShowMe: How do you feel about Plett and your audience here?
Heather: Since the first time I visited Plett, I was hooked! I knew I had to come back, and I have over and over again! I was doing gigs with my little band at Surf Café most holidays, from about 2008 to 2013 – people are always warm and friendly there! It’s a great live music venue in Plett that suits our vibe, and they’ve always worked in integrity with the local and travelling muso’s – we always had fantastic times there!
With a new album to launch, we have started visiting plett again. We did a few shows at the Beach House Backpackers which were amazing and intimate and it was great to see old friends and locals again, and of course meet the new ones!!! We’ve done a few brilliant shows at Surf Café since and are looking forward to being there again this Sunday evening!
For more information on her gig at Surf Cafe on the 27th March 2016
For more info on Heather Waters.