Her independence has been hard-won and well-earned – a classic tale of the music business. At the height of her success with The Murmurs, Heather was singing on stage at Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair. Meanwhile, however, the band’s label was reshuffling, meaning despite their success and the promises made about promoting their next album, The Murmurs were without a record deal. Undeterred, Heather and her Murmurs bandmate Leisha Hailey formed a new group, Gush, and later Heather started her own band, Redcar.
Taking a break from the kind of songwriting she’s done traditionally, Heather pushed her creative boundaries writing Dear Bernard, a musical about love and the search for fame in 1970s New York. It ran for 24 performances in 2004 in Los Angeles before moving to London to be developed for the West End. The show ignited a passion for a new kind of writing for Heather, one where she could tell stories beyond her own experience and create a lively fantasy world (with dancers and backup singers too).
However, on Cross Words, her new album, Heather herself is front and center as a solo artist. It’s a record about heartbreak for sure, but not about feeling sorry for yourself. “It's about owning my own role in the heartbreak and finding joy in the process of falling and getting back up again,” says Heather.
Songs like “Be Mine Tonight” and “Walk Away” reflect a sort of resilience and optimism, while “Ivy” shows a more somber and reflective side of the story. As she always has, Heather tells a story in each song that’s true to where she is in the moment. That authenticity is how Heather has always been able to connect to her listeners and why she’s excited to share her new material with her fans.
