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 >>>

 


857 comments

  • I’m willing to talk about my experience investing in bitcoin. You can, however, get your stolen bitcoins back. I was taught that recovering bitcoin was impossible, therefore I never thought it was conceivable. I recently lost close to $99,000 after falling for a forex scam that promised absurdly large returns. I looked everywhere for assistance before finding a Seeker Assets Recovery article online. When I contact Seeker Assets Recovery, my excitement was once more total. Get in touch with Seeker Assets Recovery as soon as possible. They are a registered hacking group that can help with a quick and efficient bitcoin recovery. Contact Seeker Assets Recovery at:
    Website: seekerassetsrecovery . com
    Email: info@seekerassetsrecovery.com

    Seipp Kidwell
  • Email info: Adwarerecoveryspecialist@auctioneer.net 
    WhatsApp info:+12 723 328 343

    Investing is often seen as a pathway to financial growth, but the reality can sometimes be starkly different. The rise of online scams has left many investors devastated, myself included. I experienced this firsthand when I fell victim to a fraudulent investment scheme, losing a staggering $16,000. It felt like a crushing blow, and for a while, I was filled with despair and uncertainty about my financial future. my story didn’t end in defeat. I decided to take action and seek help. Through extensive research, I discovered  ADWARE RECOVERY SPECIALIST a skilled recovery specialist who focused on helping individuals reclaim their lost funds. Their expertise in the complex world of trading and recovery made a significant difference in my situation. With their guidance, I was able to reclaim an impressive 95% of my lost investment. Working with this recovery specialist not only restored my finances but also equipped me with valuable insights into safer investment practices. They provided me with tools and strategies to navigate the trading landscape, helping me to understand the signs of potential scams and how to avoid them in the future. This knowledge has been empowering, allowing me to approach investments with renewed confidence. If you’ve faced a similar ordeal—losing your hard-earned money to binary options or online trading scams—I encourage you not to lose hope. There are professionals out there, like those at ADWARE RECOVERY SPECIALIST, who specialize in helping individuals like us recover lost or stolen funds. They understand the emotional toll these experiences can take and offer a lifeline for those seeking to reclaim their financial well-being. It’s easy to feel isolated in such situations, but remember, you are not alone. Many people have successfully navigated their way back to financial security with the right support. Don’t hesitate to reach out and explore your options. Recovery is possible, and there’s always a path forward. Stay resilient, and take that first step towards reclaiming your financial future.

    Audra LaBelle
  • I’m willing to talk about my experience investing in bitcoin. You can, however, get your stolen bitcoins back. I was taught that recovering bitcoin was impossible, therefore I never thought it was conceivable. I recently lost close to $99,000 after falling for a forex scam that promised absurdly large returns. I looked everywhere for assistance before finding a Seeker Assets Recovery article online. When I contact Seeker Assets Recovery, my excitement was once more total. Get in touch with Seeker Assets Recovery as soon as possible. They are a registered hacking group that can help with a quick and efficient bitcoin recovery. Contact Seeker Assets Recovery at:
    Website: seekerassetsrecovery . com
    Email: info@seekerassetsrecovery.com

    Seipp Kidwell
  • Recommendation of a recovery expert. I lost my bitcoin to fake blockchain impostors on trustpilot, who contacted me posing as blockchain official support, and I fell for their scam, allowing them to gain access to my blockchain wallet, where they took a total of 9.0962 bitcoins. I was stunned because this was my only source of savings. Then I went online and located a recovery expert, whose contact information was talk2us@sacluxcomptechspecialst.com and I described my loss to the professional. As a result, he assisted me in recovering my bitcoin within 14 hours of initiating the recovery process, and the culprits were also detected, all thanks to his expertise SACLUX COMPTECH SPECIALST. I hope I was able to offer assistance to someone else as well. To recover lost funds from any type of internet scam, consult sacluxcomptechspecialst@engineer.com
    Telegram: SacluxComptechTeam

    Micheal Lucas
  • Germans are known for their precision and caution, yet even the most meticulous among us can fall victim to sophisticated scams. I had diligently accumulated $500,000 worth of Bitcoin as part of my retirement plan, carefully nurturing my investment for years. However, everything changed when I received a phishing email that looked identical to my wallet provider’s legitimate website.
    Without a moment’s hesitation, I entered my login details, trusting that I was interacting with a secure source. Within minutes, I realized my grave mistake. My account was wiped clean, and I was left staring at the screen in disbelief. I felt utterly devastated, as if all my hard work and careful planning had vanished in an instant. The weight of my failure pressed heavily on my shoulders, and I was crushed by the thought of letting down not only myself but also my family, who had supported my investment journey.
    In my desperation, I reached out to a colleague who worked in the cryptocurrency field. He recommended Lee Ultimate Hacker
    Support @ leeultimatehacker . c o m
    LEEULTIMATEHACKER@ A O L . C O M
    tele gram: LEEULTIMATE, sharing glowing reviews he had heard about their expertise in recovering stolen funds. Initially skeptical, I felt like I had no other options left. I decided to take a leap of faith and contacted them.
    From the moment I reached out, the team at Lee Ultimate Hacker was professional and understanding. They immediately set to work, carefully tracking the fraudulent transaction. Their knowledge of blockchain technology and recovery methods was impressive, instilling a renewed sense of hope within me. I found solace in knowing that I was no longer alone in this battle to reclaim what was rightfully mine.
    The waiting period was tense, filled with anxiety and uncertainty, but the team kept me informed every step of the way. After several nail-biting days, I received the phone call that changed everything: they had successfully retrieved my stolen funds. I couldn’t believe my ears—I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Lee Ultimate Hacker had not only saved my retirement plan but had also restored my faith in the cryptocurrency community.
    If you ever find yourself in a similar predicament, I wholeheartedly recommend Lee Ultimate Hacker. Their expertise, compassion, and determination are unmatched, and they are genuinely committed to helping individuals reclaim their hard-earned wealth. Thanks to them, I can now look to the future with renewed optimism, confident that my financial dreams are still within reach.

    Anthon Dogan

Leave a comment