Heather Masse - Beautiful Dreamer

New York-based singer-songwriter Heather Masse is a member of the acclaimed Juno Award-winning Canadian band The Wailin' Jennys, and she has performed at hundreds of venues across Europe, Canada, and the states. She appeared regularly on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion," where she shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Arlo Guthrie, and Tom Rush. She has performed with the bluegrass band The Wayfaring Strangers on NPR's World Cafe, and at Boston's Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Heather also performs locally with a Brooklyn-based collaboration, "Heather & the Barbarians." Heather grew up in rural Maine and began singing at an early age. With a degree in Jazz Voice from the New England Conservatory of Music, the jazz tradition informs her distinct approach to singing music of all sorts. Heather's rich, soulful voice elegantly moves through numerous styles organically and with sincerity — a quality learned from some of her early influences including Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, and Chet Baker. Recently, she took the time to answer some questions about her musical background, appearing on APHC, and her new album.

What can you tell me about ‘Hold On’?  It's your second full-length solo project.

I recorded my new album 'Hold On' with Jed Wilson this winter when I was 8 months pregnant with my little girl.  We have been playing music together for almost 20 years and had never made a full-length album together. We had the songs, and a little window of time before Ida Rose arrived so we went for it! The album is mostly originals of mine. I wrote the title track ‘Hold On’ about trusting humanity and finding hope and peace amidst today’s chaos. The album carries this theme from intimate matters of the heart to holding the weight of these troubling times.

You will be touring with Garrison over the next few months before joining the cruise to Jamaica next March.  Might we hear any of the new music on the cruise since Jed Wilson will be joining you?  Do you have a favorite song to sing live from the new cd?
Definitely!  I really love singing the medley we do on the album. We put Nick Drake's 'Which Will' together with 'If I Loved You' from Carousel. I love both of these songs so much!

‘Beautiful Dreamer’ was released last year and features duets with Garrison.  It’s a mixture of standards and covers, many of which had been performed on "A Prairie Home Companion."  How did you go about choosing the songs for this record?
We chose some of our favorites songs we sang as duets on the show and revamped them. It was a really fun project.
My favorite is ‘Wild Horses.’ How did you discover this song? Did you bring it to the duets project?

Garrison suggested that we sing on 'Wild Horses' a show we did together with a faster bluegrass feel and it was a blast. For the Duets project we pared it down a little more and I think it turned out really nice!

What is your favorite song to perform from the record?
I love singing the Bob Dylan song, 'Tomorrow Is A Long Time.'
Listen to 'Beautiful Dreamer'

How did you get your start in music? 

I come from a very musical family. My mother is a classical pianist, music teacher, and church organist, my dad was the lead singer/guitarist for a country rock band for about 8 years in the 80s and I have 4 very musical siblings. So I was singing and listening to music very early on. My first experience performing was when I was about 8 years old. I attempted to sing a solo at church with my mother accompanying me on piano, but as she began to play the introduction, I suddenly got shy and ran downstairs crying. I'm still surprised when I think back to that awful morning that I became a professional musician! 

'Red is the Rose'

Who were your earliest influences, and where do your influences come from today?

My earliest influences came from singing hymns and folk songs with my family, and then later I became totally immersed in the singing of Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and Bonnie Raitt, as well as the singing and songwriting of Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young and many more. These days so many artists influence me. To name a few: Lucinda Williams, Greg Brown,  Iris Dement, Leslie Feist, Nancy King, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Mississippi John Hurt, Gillian Welch, Eva Cassidy, Mahalia Jackson, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Bob Dylan, Chet Baker, and many musicians and teachers I met while attending The New England Conservatory of Music. 

'Light of a Clear Blue Morning'

Your group The Wailin' Jennys are known for the crisp vocal harmonies of the three lead voices along with great songwriting. How did you come to join the group?

I got a call from my good friend Aoife O'Donovan (who sings in the band Crooked Still). She told me about this great band that was looking for a new alto voice.  Ruth and Nicky are mutual friends of Aoife and they had asked her for recommendations. Luckily, Aoife recommended me! So I went to Philadelphia to hear them perform and have an informal audition — it happened in the World Cafe's handicap women's bathroom to be exact. I loved their concert and they loved the music we made in the bathroom so we called it a deal!

Do you have a favorite memory of performing on the show?

My grandfather Keith Clark was also a musician. He was a very esteemed trumpet player and always respected Wynton Marsalis' trumpet playing. I have so many incredible memories from performing on Prairie Home, but the one that sticks out in my mind was a moment while I was singing "Peel me a Grape" at Town Hall in NYC with Wynton Marsalis and the Shoe Band. There was a point in the middle of the song where time felt liked it stopped, and I looked around at the crowd and the unbelievable musicians I was playing with, and for a moment I felt my grandfather's presence looking down and smiling.     

Were there any experiences of singing duets with Garrison Keillor or performing with the program's other guests that stand out?

We played an hour and a half encore at Tanglewood one summer. It was a magical night and the encore brought an amazing feeling of unity through the crowd and on stage. There were so many great moments singing with Garrison and the sea of a crowd on a freshly rained lawn with the night just falling on us all. It felt like we were all one big family (as cheesy as it sounds)! 

 

What's next for you? Aside from the appearances with Garrison Keillor, will you be performing either solo or with the Wailin' Jennys? Tell us how to keep up with your appearances.

You can find my tour dates and updates about my music on my website www.heathermasse.com.

 

Purchase the MUSIC:

Beautiful Dreamer >>>

Hold On >>>

Live from the Hollywood Bowl >>>

40th Anniversary Collection >>>

 


854 comments

  • Get IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, CPSO, Degree & other documents 100% authentic WhatsApp: +447401473736

    Get your Degree & Certificate without Exams and get the best results

    We also issue fake & legal documents likes ( PASSPORT, ID CARD, DRIVING LICENSE, DEATH CERTIFICATE, BIRTH CERTIFICATE, IELTS, DEGREE, CPSO)and other documents as well. very authentic documents within a short time frame, for more information

    Our large platform is a professional team committed to providing you with valid DALF, DELF, TCF, TEF, CELPIP, IELTS, PTE, Goethe & other language certifications without Exam. we provide Official Language certificate with registration into the database and also actual center stamps for customers interested in obtaining the certificates without taking the test.

    1) Get exam materials to prepare you for upcoming test.

    2) Renew your expired certificate without taking another test.

    3) We also assist candidates to register for any of the above tests.

    4) Obtain a certificate without taking the exam if you meet the requirement.

    5) Follow our guide and change your failed results to a pass.

    Email-: qualitybills-documents@hotmail.com
    Wickr: Ranko322
    Telegram: @Ranko3222
    WhatsApp: +447401473736

    USE ANY OF THE ABOVE TO CONTATC IF ONLY YOU ARE 100% SERIOUS/ NO TIME WASTERS

    DOCUMENTS AND BANK NOTES
  • My sincere appreciation goes go to Supreme Peregrine Recovery for their outstanding help in getting back the $210,000 worth of Ethereum that I lost due to a poor investment. Although I was devastated to learn that my money was gone, their staff acted quickly and expertly. To assist in the recovery of my assets, they carried out a comprehensive investigation, tracked down the transaction, and applied their expertise skills. I got my hard-earned money back because of Supreme Peregrine Recovery. Their ability and commitment really made a difference that was really unexplainable , I heartily recommend them to everyone who might find themselves in the same situation.

    +1,3,1,8,5,5,3,0,6,7,9
    Mail: supremeperegrinerecovery()proton(.)me supremeperegrinerecovery567()zohomail(.)com
    info(@)supremeperegrinerecovery(.)com

    Halcomb Stephen
  • I was lured into a crypto currency investment platform that I came across on Instagram. I lost about $508,000 to this evil scheme after I invested and accumulated profits, I was denied withdrawals on the specified date. I wrote to the customer support but I was given no feedback, I knew I had been scammed and I started to search for a way to recover my crypto. I considered myself fortunate that I stumbled upon a post on the internet web about a recovery expert, Hack Michelle Tyler. I would highly recommend Hacker Michelle Contractor agent to anyone who wants to recover their lost funds from any scam. she is best in the business and will do anything possible to help you get your money back. I never thought it would be possible to get back crypto once it is sent but I’m super happy and grateful for the services of Hac Michelle Contractor. Kindly reach out to her if you need any help or any assistance in recovering your money from these scammers. If you lost access to your crypto wallet or lost your crypto password, or your phone was compromised I would highly recommend Hac Michelle Contractor to anyone who wants to recover their lost wallet or you lost your crypto password or from any scam. She is the best in the business and will do anything possible to help you get your information and money back. I never thought it would be possible to get back those information that I lost or my crypto once it was sent but I’m super happy and grateful for the services of Hac Michelle Contractor. Kindly reach out to the company if you need any help.
    Email :: rightwaylawrecoveryservice@gmail.com
    Telegram info ‪‪+1 513 602 3179‬‬

    Robert Bruce
  • Just a few months ago, I was on the verge of losing everything.Like many people trying to grow their savings, I ventured into the world of crypto. It felt exciting and promising too promising, in hindsight. I was introduced to what seemed like a lucrative investment opportunity involving USDT (Tether). The platform looked polished, the people sounded professional, and they promised incredible returns.After transferring my USDT, everything changed. My login credentials stopped working, support emails bounced back, and the person who introduced me to the investment vanished. That’s when the realization hit me like a truck: I had been scammed.These online scammers didn’t just steal my money they stole my trust, my peace of mind, and my sense of security. I was crushed. Sleepless nights followed, filled with regret and self-blame.I tried reporting it, but every time I reached out for help, I hit a wall. Then came the miracle Washington Recovery Pro.At first, I was skeptical. After what I’d been through, who wouldn’t be? But the way they approached me was different. No overblown promises. No vague assurances. Just honest professionals with a track record and a plan.What shocked me most was their determination. They cared. In a world where I felt abandoned, Washington Recovery Pro stood tall, not as a company, but as allies.And then it happened.A notification popped up on my wallet one quiet Thursday morning. my USDT was back in my account.I stared at the screen in disbelief. My hands shook. I cried.It wasn’t just about the money. It was about justice. It was about hope. It was about getting a piece of myself back.Sometimes the biggest comeback begins at your lowest point. And sometimes, all it takes is the right people fighting by your side.Washington Recovery Pro is more than just a name. To me, they’re the reason I still believe in miracles.DM via

    Email:WashingtonRecoveryPro@engineer.com

    WhatsApp:‪+1 (903) 249‑8633‬

    Aurelia Golden
  • Baba power is Real and powerful. Hello friends, I am Becky Smith. This is so real and unimaginable. When you contact Baba Powers, please never doubt him. Believe whatever he tells you, and do whatever he tells you to do. The black mirror can cast a spell, bring love and light, bring you riches and wealth, fortunes, good luck, power, respect, freedom, success, fame, etc. IN FACT, THE BLACK MIRROR IS A FORTUNE WHICH IS WORTH POSSESSING. I have the black mirror which I bought from Baba Powers and it is awesome and amazing to have it. This is not a fallacy of any type. This is real and this is reality. I will continue to give testimonies online about Baba Powers and his powerful black mirrors. I want the whole world to know of him and how powerful he is and how useful his black mirror has been to me. I beg you to contact him now so that you can also buy the black mirror from him; Babablackmirrors@gmail.com    and he also have a website; Babablackmirrorsofpowers.blogspot.com  Oh Baba Powers, God bless you always and forever. Thank you.

    Becky Smith

Leave a comment